CHICKEN BIRYANI WITH ONION CHUTNEY

A very nice tasty biryani.

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken,cut into 8 or 12 pieces,washed & drained-1

Basmati Rice, wash and soak for half an hour-2 Cups

Garlic chopped fine-1/4 cup

Ginger chopped fine- ¼ cup

Onions chopped fine-3 large

Onion sliced-2 medium

Potato,washed, peeled, cut into 6 pieces,browned in oil on low heat-1 large

Tomatoes , chopped into small pieces-2 large

Refined oil-1/3 cup and to deep fry sliced onions

Shaan Bombay Biryani Masala-1 tbsp

Hing (Asafoetida)-1/4 tsp

Dhaniya powder(Coriander)-1 tsp

Jeera(Cummin seed) powder-1 tsp

Red chilli powder-1/2 tsp

Salt-To taste

METHOD:

1.Take 7 cups of water in a deep pan.

2.Add the washed, soaked & drained rice

3.Cook on high heat till one boil and then simmer covered, checking frequently to ensure rice is not overcooked.

4.Drain the rice in a strainer, add salt and keep it aside.

5.Prick the chicken with a fork.

6.Heat oil in a deep thick bottomed pan.

7.Add asafoetida,garlic & ginger and sauté on high heat,stirring constantly till brown.

8.Add chopped onions, sauté till slightly pink.

9.Add chopped tomatoes and sauté till the water dries up.

10.Add the semi cooked browned potatoes & chicken and brown well on high heat, stirring constantly,till oil separates.

11.Add the masalas and sauté for a minute.

12.Add 4 cups water along with salt.

13.Reduce the heat and simmer covered with a tight fitting lid till chicken and potato are tender with a thick gravy.

14.Take a deep serving dish.

15.Take little chicken curry, spread in a layer, topped with rice, then again a layer of chicken , followed by rice and repeat till all the rice & chicken is used up, taking care that the top most layer is of rice.

16.Deep fry sliced onions and garnish the biryani with this.Serve hot with onion chutney, Raita, onion-tomato-cucumber Kachumber etc.

ONION CHUTNEY :

INGREDIENTS:

Onion,cut into pieces -2 large

Dry red chillies-4

Lemon-1/2

Salt-to taste

Mustard oil-2 drops

METHOD:

1.Grind together onion with chillies.

2.Add salt, juice of ½ lemon & 2 drops of mustard oil.

3.Mix well.

VARIATIONS: Try various biryani masalas like MDH, Shaan Punjabi Yakhni/Sindhi Biryani Masala etc .