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Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a silver plate

Chicken Biryani

Grace based on the Shan Biryani recipe
Chicken Biryani made simple! Using Shan Biryani Spice Mix, you'll create the most delicious of chicken and rice dishes in no time!
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Prep Time 12 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 42 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 8 people

Equipment

  • large skillet or pot to cook the chicken and curry sauce
  • large pot to cook the rice

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bx Shan Biryani Spice Mix
  • 2 onions large and very thinly sliced
  • 5 tablespoon ghee split; can sub olive oil or canola oil
  • 2.5 lbs Chicken (meat on bones) - cut into small portions if possible buy a whole cut up chicken for use in this recipe
  • 3 tomatoes medium sized diced
  • 1 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1 cup plain and natural yogurt
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • salt optional add to taste
  • mint leaves chopped; optional garnish

Basmati Rice

  • 2 cups Basmati Rice
  • 3.5 cups water to cook the basmati rice
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • yellow food coloring optional but fun!

Instructions
 

  • Heat 4 tablespoon of ghee in a very large skillet (one that you can cover with a lid) or large pot on medium high heat. Fry the onions approximately 10-15 minutes or until softened and golden brown stirring every so often. Be careful not to let the onions burn.
    Onions
  • Remove the onions and place on a plate. Then add the remaining tablespoon of ghee, and then the chicken and the Shan Biryani Spice Mix, and cook for around 5 - 10 minutes. Leave undisturbed for a bit and turn every so often to ensure all sides of the chicken are browned.
    Chicken pieces coated with spices in a pot
  • Return the onions to the skillet. Add 1 cup natural yogurt and 1 cup chicken broth. Stir and reduce heat to to a simmer, and then cover and continue to cook until the meat is tender. Because the chicken should be cut up into small portions, it should only take around 10 min or so for the meat to be cooked to tender. AT THIS TIME REFER TO STEP 5 SO THAT YOU CAN START PREPARING YOUR BASMATI RICE :-)
    Chicken pieces with sliced cooked onions chicken broth and yogurt
  • Return the heat to medium high, and add the tomatoes. Heat on med high for around 5 min or so. Once done you can leave this covered on a very low heat setting until your basmati rice is ready.
    Chicken pieces in broth with onions, diced tomatoes and yogurt
  • Meanwhile prepare your basmati rice. Heat your stove to medium and add olive oil to a medium sized saucepan. Once the oil is hot, add the rice, and stir for around 1 minute, being sure to coat each grain of rice with the oil.
    Basmati Rice
  • Add the water, and bring to the boil. Boil rice for a few seconds, then turn your heat down to the low to medium low setting on your stove, cover, and cook for around 10-15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Check every so often to make sure the rice is still moist and not sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. After the rice is cooked and the water is absorbed, remove from the heat, and allow to rest (covered) for about 10 minutes. You can sprinkle a pinch of yellow food color at this point if you like!
    basmati rice in a pot
  • Now it's time to mix! Lay your rice out and gently mix together the chicken and curry sauce with the rice. Add salt to taste if you like. Sprinkle chopped cilantro on top to garnish and mint leaves as well as an optional and delish garnish!
    Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a silver plate with a second plate of the same in the background

Notes

Basmati rice is the king of rices, and biryani is the king of rice dishes!  Serve this during a special occasion or anytime you want to treat yourself!  If you are a fan of mint, you can also add mint as a garnish.  Bring a taste of India home to your table tonight!
Keyword Chicken, Rice
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