Biryani is the most favorite dish among we Indians. There are many versions of it. Here, lets see the making of Punjabi version of chicken biryani and taste it.

Ingredients

  • Chicken – 1/2 kg
  • Basmati Rice – 1/2 kg
  • Red chilli – 3
  • Pepper – 1/4 tablespoon
  • Coriander – 1/2 tablespoon
  • Cumin – 1/4 tablespoon
  • Anise – 1/4 tablespoon
  • Star anise – little pinch
  • Javitri – few
  • Bay leaf – 5
  • Cardamom- 3
  • Clove – 3
  • Cinnamon – 3
  • Salt – 2 1/2 tablespoon
  • Chilli powder – 1/2 tablespoon
  • Ginger garlic paste – 3 tablespoon
  • Curd – 100 ml
  • Tomato – 1
  • Oil – 150 ml
  • Onion – 2
  • Mint leaves – few
  • Coriander leaves – few
  • Potato – 150 grams
  • Water – 2 litre
  • Lemon – 1

Things to be done before we start cooking

  • Rinse 1/2 kg of basmati rice softly in clean water. Repeat it again to clean it fully and then soak it in a bowl with fresh water. Let the rice soak in water for 1 hour – Keep it aside.
  • Grind together 100 grams of ginger and garlic using a mixer jar – to obtain the required ‘ginger-garlic paste’ – keep it aside in a small bowl.
  • Tomato – 1 (medium sized – chop it into small pieces)
  • Onion – 2 medium sized – chopped into small pieces.
  • Potato – 3 medium sized (or 150 grams) – chop into medium sized pieces.
  • Keep the cut potato pieces in a bowl with water – to avoid discoloration.

Steps to Prepare

  • Take a mixer jar – then add the below into it –
    • Red chilli – 3
    • Pepper – 1/4 tablespoon
    • Coriander – 1/2 tablespoon
    • Cumin – 1/4 tablespoon
    • Anise – 1/4 tablespoon
    • Javitri – few (2 or 3)
    • Star Anise – 1/4 of one star
    • Clove – 3
    • Cardamom – 3
    • Cinnamon – 3 (small pieces)
  • Run the mixer machine – grind all the contents to a coarse powder and transfer them to a small bowl.
  • Take a big bowl – then add the below into it
    • Chicken – 1/2 kg
    • Masala prepared in ‘step: 1’
    • Salt – 1/2 tablespoon
    • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tablespoon
    • Kashmiri Chilli powder – 1/2 tablespoon
    • Curd – 100 ml
    • Ginger-garlic paste – 3 tablespoons
    • Tomato – 1 (1 medium sized – chopped into small pieces)
    • Mix them well using a spoon.
  • Leave the chicken to marinate in the masala mix for 30 to 45 minutes.
  • Place a pan on the big burner – let the pan get a little hot.
  • Pour oil – 100 ml. Let the oil get hot – then turn the flame to LOW mode. Then, add the onions (2 medium sized – chopped) to the hot oil. Start stirring it till onions fry to a golden brown colour.
  • Remove 75% of the fried onions to another bowl – keep it aside. The remaining 25% of fried onions will remain in the pan itself.
  • Put the below into the pan carrying 25% of fried onions –
    • Chicken pieces marinated in masala mix
    • Coriander leaves – few
    • Mint leaves – few
    • Green chilli – 3 (Chop into small pieces)
    • Potato – 3 (3 medium sized potatoes & chopped to medium sized pieces)
    • Stir well.
  • Close the pan with a lid. Keep the flame in LOW mode. Let the contents cook in low flame for next 20 minutes.
  • After 20 minutes, remove the lid.
    • Keep flame in high mode. Put 1 bay leaf.
    • Let the water evaporate in high flame for 2 minutes. We will get a concentrated masala now.
    • Keep the pan aside for now.
  • Place another 3-litre vessel on the big burner.
    • Pour water – 2 litres.
    • Bay leaf – 1 (big one)
    • Cardamom – 2
    • Cinnamon – 1
    • Lemon – cut half of the lemon into thin slices and add it to water after removing seeds.
    • Salt – 2 tablespoons
    • Close the vessel with a lid. Keep the flame in HIGH for the water to boil.
  • Once the water boils – we can see steam coming out of lid sides or from hole in top of lid. Remove the lid now. Add half kg of rice that has been soaked for 1 hour, to the boiling water.
  • Let the rice cook to 95%. Drain the water using a steel strainer.
  • Place another 3-litre vessel on the burner. Flame in high mode. Pour 3 tablespoons of oil and shake the vessel to spread it evenly over the surface of vessel.
  • Once the oil gets hot, turn the flame to low. Put in a little of chicken, potato and masala mix (from the pan). Spread it evenly over the surface.
  • Now,
    • put a little of boiled rice over the masala (use just 1/4 of the cooked rice now).
    • Place 3 thinly sliced tomatoes (take 2 medium sized tomatoes – and chop them to thin slices) over the rice. The remaining slices will be placed in later part.
    • Sprinkle a little of coriander and mint leaves all over the rice.
    • Now put a little of chicken, potato and masala gravy over the rice again.
    • Put another portion (1/4) of cooked rice over the chicken gravy.
    • Spread it evenly.
  • Pour a little of food colorant (orange or yellow) on the rice. Place another 3 slices of tomatoes on the rice. Sprinkle few of coriander and mint leaves.
  • In low flame continue –
    • Now, put the remaining chicken, potato and masala gravy over the rice.
    • Put the remaining portion of cooked rice over the chicken gravy.
    • Spread it evenly.
    • Pour a little of food colorant (orange or yellow) on the rice.
    • Sprinkle the fried onions over the rice.
  • Close the vessel with a lid – in Low flame let the contents get cooked for 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Remove the lid after 10 minutes. Turn off the flame. Stir it from bottom to top.

Thus, our biryani is ready.

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