Chicken briyani north indian dish (main course)

6 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
-Chicken Savoury ===============
1 3/16kilogramsChicken or Chicken pieces
5tablespoonsGhee or oil
2tablespoonsBlanched almonds
2tablespoonsSultanas
4smallsPotatoes, peeled & halved
2largesOnions, finely chopped
5Cloves garlic, finely chopped
1tablespoonFresh ginger, finely chopped alf tsp chilli powder half tsp ground black pepper half tsp ground turmeric
1teaspoonGround cummin
1teaspoonSalt
2mediumsTomatoes, peeled and chopped
2tablespoonsYoghurt
2tablespoonsChopped mint leaves half tsp ground cardamom
5Cm piece of cinnamon stick Briyani Rice ============
500gramsBasmati (Long Grain) rice
2& a half Tbl ghee
1largeOnion a good pinch of powdered saffron
5Cardamom pods
3Whole cloves
Cm piece of cinnamon stick half tsp powdered aromatic ginger
2teaspoonsRose water (essence)
1& half tsp salt
4cupsStrong chicken stock

Directions

A) Chicken Savoury Cut chicken into serving pieces. Heat half the ghee in a small frying pan, fry almonds until golden; drain. Fry sultanas for a few seconds and set aside. Fry peeled and halved potatoes until brown, drain and reserve. Pour any ghee left in the pan into a large saucepan, add remaining ghee and fry onion, garlic and ginger until onion is soft and golden. Add chilli, pepper, turmeric, cummin, salt & tomato. Fry, stirring constantly for 5 mins.

Add yoghurt, mint, cardamom and cinnamon stick. Cover and cook over low heat stirring occassionally until tomato is cooked to a pulp. (It may be necessary to add a little hot water if mixture becomes too dry and starts to stick to the pan). When mixture is thick and smooth, add chicken pieces and stir well to coat them with spice mixture.

Cover & cook over very low heat until chicken is tender, approx.

35-45 minutes. There should be very little thick gravy left when chicken is cooked. If necessary, cook uncovered for a few minutes to reduce gravy.

B) Briyani Rice Wash rice well and drain in colander for at least 30 minutes. Heat ghee and fry onion until golden. Add saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, aromatic ginger and rice. Fry stirring, until rice is coated with the ghee. Add rose water and salt to hot stock, pour over rice mixture and stir well. Add chicken savoury and potatoes and gently mix into rice. Bring to boil. Cover saucepan tightly, turn heat to very low for 20 minutes. DO NOT lift lid or stir while cooking (Impt!). Spoon briyani onto a warm serving dish.

Garnish with almond & sultanas and serve immediately.

From: Imran Chaudhary Date: 21 Apr 94 From: Dale Shipp Date: 09-18-94