Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

This recipe is dedicated to the most adorable women in my life - Neelam & Poonam. This is their recipe which has been modified a little and a couple of ingredients added, to give an additional flavor & aroma to it. I sincerely thank them for this great recipe. Love you both!!

1. Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

Biryani is one of the most popular dishes in Hyderabad, India. To make Hyderabadi Biryani the meat and the rice are cooked in an air tight pot on very low flame, so that the rice is cooked in the flavours of meat and gets the aroma of the meat. The meat gets the direct heat from the flame and the rice is cooked with steam generated by the air tight method of cooking also know as Dum method.
I have fallen in love with this authentic and elegant delicacy now for a very long time . It is worth spending time to make this at home and watch your loving ones relish the dish.

Ingredients: For Marination (Marinate chicken overnight)
Note: Please adjust the marinade ingredients according to your spice levels
1Lb Chicken skinned, washed and cut into cubes. Boneless chicken can also be used but I prefer to use whole chicken with bones. Make sure you drain all the water after washing the chicken.
1/2 Packet Shaan Bombay Biryani Masala
2 Tbsp Shaan Tandoori Masala
2 Tsps Garam masala
2 Tbsp Chilly Powder
1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
1/4 Tsps Dhania Jeera powder
2 Tsps Ginger Garlic paste
3/4 Cup Yoghurt
4-5 Green Chilly & 10 Springs Coriander Not too fnely pasted
10 Springs Finely Chopped Mint Leaves
1 Big Lemon juice
2 Pinches Saffron - Soaked in 1/4 Cup Milk
Salt to taste
1 Onion – finely sliced and deep fried till dark brown or can also use the ready made fried onion available at the Indian Store.

For the rice
Basmati rice – 2 cups.
Whole green Cardamom – 4
Cloves – 3
Black cumin seeds (Shahi jeera) – ¾ tsp
Bay leaves – 2
Black pepper corns – 4
Butter/oil/ghee – 1 tbsp
Salt – 4 tbsps
Water for boiling
Half cook rice with all the above mentioned ingredients and keep aside.

For cooking in layers
Oven tray
Pinch of red, orange color dissolved in 2 tbsps milk
Alluminium foil to cover the pan.

Now that you have all the ingredients ready lets start layering the biryani.
In a large bowl, mix all the marinade ingredients till well combined. Cover and let it rest overnight. This would let the chicken absorb all the flavours of the spices and enhance the taste of your biryani. Take a n oven tray and spray it with little ghee or oil, now arrange the entire marinated chicken at the bottom of this pon. This is your first layer. Then arrange the half cooked rice on top of the chicken. This is going to be your second and last layer. On top of the rice, add about 2 - 3 tbsps of oil, pour in the red orange color around in the center, springle some fried onins and cashew. This would give your rice the restaurant style look with some of the rice grains looking orange in color. Who would’nt want to surprise their guests with such looks!!!
Now seal the pot with an alluminium foil, pre heat the oven at 400 degrees and let the sealed biryani cook at this tempreture for one hour. Just before serving open the lid, gently mix in the chicken at the bottom with the rice. serve it hot with raita and enjoy.
This is one recipe you can never go worng impressing anyone especially your husband. Rememeber a way to mans heart is through his stomach.

Well I do hope you enjoy making this recipe as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you. Dont forget to give your comments.


2. Cucumber Raita

Cool and fresh tasting, this Middle Eastern side dish and condiment helps to balance the intensity of meats seasoned with chile peppers, curry or similar spicy ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 large English cucumber, unpeeled and chopped fine
1 Carrot Peeled and chopped finely
2 cups plain yogurt
3 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Method:
Chop cucumber and carrot very finely and keep aside. Combine yogurt, mint leaves and cumin, blending all ingredients together with a whisk. Add chopped cucumber & carrot to the mixture and stir together, adding salt and pepper to taste.
Place all ingredients in a covered container and chill in the refrigerator before serving. When served, garnish with cayenne pepper and cilantro, if desired.

Note: All the ingredients mentioned in the recipes above are easily available at the Indian Grocey Store.