How to make chicken biryani

Here's a detailed recipe for making delicious chicken biryani:

### Chicken Biryani Recipe

#### Ingredients

**For the Chicken Marinade:**

- 500 grams chicken, cut into pieces

- 1 cup yogurt

- 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste

- 2-3 green chilies, slit

- 1 tablespoon red chili powder

- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

- 1 tablespoon garam masala

- Salt to taste

- Juice of 1 lemon

- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves

- 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves

**For the Rice:**

- 2 cups basmati rice

- 4 cups water

- 2-3 whole cloves

- 2-3 green cardamoms

- 1-2 bay leaves

- 1 stick cinnamon

- Salt to taste

**For the Biryani:**

- 3 tablespoons cooking oil or ghee

- 1 large onion, thinly sliced

- 1-2 green chilies, slit (optional)

- 1/4 cup fried onions (optional, for garnish)

- Additional mint and coriander leaves for garnish

### Instructions

#### Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

1. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, salt, lemon juice, and chopped herbs.

2. Add the chicken pieces, ensuring they are well coated. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour (or overnight in the fridge for best results).

#### Step 2: Prepare the Rice

1. Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for about 30 minutes, then drain.

2. In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the soaked rice, whole spices (cloves, cardamoms, bay leaves, and cinnamon), and salt.

3. Cook the rice until it's about 70% done (it should still have a bite to it). Drain the rice and set aside.

#### Step 3: Cook the Chicken

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil or ghee over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.

2. If using, add the slit green chilies and sauté for another minute.

3. Add the marinated chicken to the pot. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked and the oil begins to separate (about 15-20 minutes). Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

#### Step 4: Layer the Biryani

1. Once the chicken is cooked, reduce the heat to low.

2. Layer the partially cooked rice over the chicken evenly.

3. Sprinkle fried onions (if using), additional garam masala, and more chopped mint and coriander on top.

#### Step 5: Dum Cooking

1. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. You can seal it with a kitchen towel and then place the lid on to trap the steam.

2. Cook on low heat for about 25-30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the rice to finish cooking.

#### Step 6: Serve

1. Gently fluff the biryani with a fork before serving to mix the layers.

2. Serve hot with raita (yogurt sauce) or a side salad.

### Tips

- For extra flavor, you can add saffron soaked in warm milk to the rice before the final dum.

- Adjust spices according to your heat preference.

- This biryani can also be made in a pressure cooker for quicker cooking.

Enjoy your homemade chicken biryani!