Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cardamom pods
- 4 cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk
- Handful of raisins and sliced almonds
- Chopped cilantro and mint leaves for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil or ghee
Directions
Steps
1 Done | In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some oil over medium heat and sauté the onions until soft and translucent. |
2 Done | Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant. |
3 Done | Add the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides. |
4 Done | Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, yogurt, and all the spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chili powder, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves). Mix well to coat the chicken. |
5 Done | Drain the soaked rice and add it to the pot. Stir gently to combine with the chicken and spices. |
6 Done | Pour in enough water to cover the rice and chicken (about 3-4 cups). Season with salt and pepper. |
7 Done | Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the chicken is tender. |
8 Done | Once cooked, drizzle the saffron-infused milk over the top of the biryani. Sprinkle with raisins and almonds. |
9 Done | Garnish with chopped cilantro and mint leaves before serving. Enjoy your aromatic and flavorful Arabic Style Biryani! |