Best Authentic Spicy Chicken Biryani Recipes

HYDERABADI BIRYANI

Steps:

• Slice onion thinly, separate the layers and set aside.
• Heat 4 tbsps oil or ghee in a deep pan.
• Fry the onions stirring often until deep golden to brown.
• Do not burn else they turn bitter. Remove them from oil & set aside.
• Cool & pour this oil to the marinade later.
• Add yogurt, salt, turmeric, chili powder, biryani or garam masala powder, cardamom powder, green chilli, ginger garlic paste & lemon juice to a mixing bowl.
• Mix well & taste this. If needed add more salt or spice.
• Next add in chicken & marinate for 2 hours to overnight for best results.
• Overnight marination in fridge yields best soft succulent chicken.
• Wash rice till the water runs clear. Soak for 30 minutes. Drain & set aside.
• Heat 6 to 7 cups water in a pot. Add 1 tsp oil, whole spices & salt.
• Taste this. The water has to be slightly salty.
• Boil water rapidly for 5 mins to release the aroma of spices.
• Add rice & cook till it is ¾ or 75% done.
• The center of the rice must be still slightly uncooked.
• Do not make the rice mushy. Drain off to a colander.
• While the rice cooks, transfer marinated chicken to a heavy bottom casserole or non-stick pan.
• Add oil, ½ of the fried onions, mint & coriander leaves. Mix & spread chicken in a single even layer.
• Layer the cooked rice evenly, sprinkle fried onions, mint & coriander leaves over the chicken.
• Sprinkle ¼ tsp masala powder. Pour the saffron milk all over & then ghee.
• Cover the pot with a foil to trap the steam or dum. Then cover with a tight & heavy lid.
• Bake for 30 to 40 mins at 200 C in a preheated oven. The timings will slightly vary depending on the depth of the casserole/pot used. Once done, if the chicken is too moist then bake for another 10 mins.
• Place this over a thick hot griddle or tawa. Set the flame to medium high such that the flame reaches all over the diameter of the casserole. Cook this way for exactly 20 mins.
• Reduce the flame to lowest. Cook for exactly 15 mins. Off the flame. Rest for 20 to 30 mins.
• Garnish hyderabadi biryani with fresh chopped coriander leaves & serve with raita.

AUTHENTIC SPICY CHICKEN BIRYANI

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken pieces in yogurt, 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, and vinegar. Keep in refrigerator for about 1 hour.
• Soak basmati rice for 30 minutes in water. Drain. Fry the soaked rice in 3 tablespoons of ghee for only 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee in another pan. Over medium heat, fry cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves for 2-3 minutes. Add turmeric and onions and fry until soft, stirring constantly. Add the other 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste and fry for another 3 minutes.
• Add tomatoes. Cook until very mushy. After that, stir in the salt and cayenne pepper and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Add marinated chicken pieces and cook for 2 minutes, then mix in only half of the chopped cilantro leaves.
• Add coriander powder, garam masala, saffron threads, and chicken masala, frying together for about 5 minutes.
• Add the fried mixture to a pressure cooker with 3 cups of water and pressure cook for one whistle (or for roughly 20-25 minutes if you do not have a whistle mechanism).
• Remove from heat. Open lid when pressure is released. Stir in the fried rice and remaining cilantro and mix well. Pressure cook again for one whistle or 20 minutes.
• When done, sprinkle rose water over finished biryani and garnish with hard boiled eggs.

CHICKEN BIRYANI RECIPE

Steps:

• To a bowl, add yogurt, ginger garlic paste, ½ tsp salt, garam masala, turmeric, lemon juice & red chili powder.
• Mix up well and taste the marinade. Add more salt and spice if needed.
• Make slits on the chicken pieces. Add it to the marinade &mix well. Cover and set aside for 1 hour to overnight.
• Rinse basmati rice thrice and soak for 30 mins. Drain to a colander after 30 mins.
• Heat ghee or oil in a pot or pressure cooker.
• Add whole spices - bay leaf, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, shahi jeera & mace. Skip them if you do not have.
• When the spices begin to sizzle, add onions & fry them evenly stirring often until uniformly light brown but not burnt.
• Add chicken & saute until pale for 5 mins on a medium heat.
• Cover & cook on a low flame until the chicken is soft cooked or tender. Saute to evaporate any excess moisture in the pot.
• Taste test and add more salt if needed. I add about ¼ teaspoon salt. Add ¼ cup yogurt (curd), 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves, 1 slit green chili, ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder & 1 teaspoon garam masala.
• Mix everything well and layer chicken evenly at the bottom. (check video)
• Spread drained rice in a layer over the chicken.
• To a separate bowl, pour 3 cups water. If cooking in a pot use 3 ½ cups water.
• Add ½ to ¾ tsp salt and mix. Taste the water. It must be slightly salty.
• Pour 2 cups of this water across the sides of the cooker or pot. Gently pour the rest on top of the rice. (check video)
• Level the rice if needed. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons mint leaves. Optionally add 2 tablespoons fried onions & saffron soaked milk if using.
• Pot method - If cooking in a pot, cover and cook on a low flame until the chicken biryani is done to your liking. If the rice is still under cooked or hard, pour ¼ to ½ cup boiling water and cook further. When done it has to be fully cooked, yet remain grainy.
• Cooker method - Set the flame to medium high. Cover & place the whistle. Cook for 1 whistle. Move the cooker away from the burner to stop cooking further.
• Rest until the pressure settles. Fluff up the chicken biryani with a fork.
• Serve from top to the bottom layer. Each serving gets biryani rice from top and chicken from the bottom layer.
• Enjoy chicken biryani with raita and sliced veggies, papad and shorba (biryani gravy).