Ambur Star Chicken Biryani Recipe

Step 1: To begin making the Ambur Star Chicken Biryani, thoroughly wash and clean the chicken and set aside

Step 2: Soak the Seeraga samba rice, for a minimum of 30 minutes

Step 3: In an open pan, add ghee, bay leaf, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom

Step 4: To this add 2 cups of water and bring to a single boil

Step 5: Add the washed and drained rice and cook until the rice is about 70% cooked

Step 6: (The rice grain should be undercooked in the center) Set aside

Step 7: In a deep kadai, on medium flame, heat 4 tablespoons of oil, add the sliced onions and cook till transparent for about 5-7 minutes

Step 8: At this stage mix in the ginger paste, garlic paste and salt

Step 9: Saute for a couple of minutes

Step 10: Mix in the chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft

Step 11: At this stage add in the red chilli powder and coriander seeds powder

Step 12: Once the onion-tomato mixture comes together, slightly tilt the kadai, and remove the excess oil, spoon by spoon into a small cup/katori

Step 13: Now that the excess oil has been drained out, add the yogurt/curd and chicken and mix well

Step 14: Allow the chicken to cook until almost done to about 80%

Step 15: Mix in the mint leavesTo assemble to biryani, while the chicken continues to be in the kadai, add the 70% cooked seeraga samba rice on top of the chicken pieces and pour the excess flavoured oil over the rice and cover the kadai with a plate

Step 16: Turn the flame to the lowest heat possible

Step 17: In a saucepan, boil water and turn off the flame and place this hot pan on the lid of the kadai

Step 18: This process is done in order to seal the kadai in which the biryani is cooking

Step 19: The heat from the hot water in the saucepan provides heat from the top, while there is heat from the bottom as well creating the effect of "Dum"

Step 20: Let the biryani sit on this "Dum" for a good 20 minutes

Step 21: After 20 minutes open the lid and lightly fluff up the biryani with a fork and serve piping hot

Step 22: Serve the Ambur Star Chicken Biryani  along with Tadka Raita Recipe (Spiced Curd With Onions) and Chettinad Kathirikai Chops Recipe for Sunday Lunch