CHICKEN BIRYANI

CHICKEN BIRYANI


CHICKEN BIRYANI
Ingredients
Rice
Chicken Marinade
Biryani
Instructions
Chicken
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If you are using Chicken breasts, cut them into medium sized cubes.
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Marinate the Chicken with all the Spices, Cardamom, Cumin, Coriander, Turmeric, Garam Masala, Soomph, Chilli powder, Yogurt and the pureed Tomatoes.
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Refrigerate overnight or for an hour.
Rice
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Wash rice, add Cinnamon and Cardamom. Add salt and cook as per package instructions until fully cooked.
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Sprinkle a little food coloring over (if you are not using Saffron) together with half the remaining butter. Cover and set aside.
Biryani
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Heat 2 tablespoon butter from half the remaining butter and a few drops oil.
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Add the Cinnamon sticks, Bay leaves, Stars aniseed and black Cardamom. Fry until fragrant.
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Add the Curry leaves, Thyme and Onion. Sauté until the onion is golden brown.
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Add the marinated Chicken. Add salt and cook on high heat for 5 minute.
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Add potatoes. Reduce the heat.
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Simmer until the potatoes are soft and tender. I did not need to add water to my chicken but if you feel your chicken is too dry add a half cup of water. You do require enough gravy in your chicken.
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Rinse the lentils and add to the chicken in the last ten minutes of cooking time.
Onion (Optional)
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If you want to add some crispy fried Onion on top of the Biryani.
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Heat half a cup of Oil in a pot and fry the onion until brown and crisp. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
Layering
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Once the Chicken is cooked add the leftover butter to it.
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Fluff up the Rice and spread over the Chicken.
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Pour the Saffron over. Sprinkle the fried Onions on top, if using.
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Cover the pot and steam for 5 minutes.
Notes
- Chef Owen Jullies used Basmati Rice but you can easily use long grain rice. It won't be as fragrant but it works perfectly fine.
- He used a medium Masala, called Rumbo Russo, purchased from the spice shops in Durban. However, you an increase the amount of Kashmiri chilli powder and use it just like that.
- You can totally omit the fried Onion. It does add a lovely flavor to the Biryani but not totally necessary.