Chicken Dum Biryani Recipe

Step 1: To begin making the Chicken Biryani recipe, we will first begin with the rice preparation

Step 2: To cook basmati rice separately, wash and soak the basmati rice in water for 20 minutes

Step 3: Meanwhile add about 3 litres of water in a large vessel and bring it to boil

Step 4: Once water starts to boil, add about 1 teaspoon of cooking oil and 1 teaspoon of salt

Step 5: Add the soaked and drained rice, stir gently once and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes (I usually take it off heat by 3-1/2 minutes)

Step 6: Keep an eye on rice as some brands of basmati rice cooks very fast and some takes time

Step 7: My rice was cooked in 5 minutes

Step 8: Drain the water immediately and spread the rice on a large plate

Step 9: In a deep bottomed pan, heat oil on medium flame,  add 1 sliced onion and fry it until brown (don’t burn the onions)

Step 10: Remove browned onion from oil and keep it aside

Step 11: This will be used for garnishing and to make the layers

Step 12: The next step is to marinate the chicken for the Chicken Dum Biryani Recipe

Step 13: Clean and wash the chicken thoroughly

Step 14: In a mixing bowl, marinate the chicken with thick curd, red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt

Step 15: Marinate for at least 30 minutes

Step 16: In a large pan, add oil and heat on medium flame, add the remaining sliced onions and saute for 3 minutes or until the onions turn translucent

Step 17: Next add ginger-garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off

Step 18: Add slit green chilies and mix for a minute

Step 19: To this add chopped tomatoes and saute till tomatoes turn slightly mushy

Step 20: Once the tomatoes are mushy add red chili powder, coriander powder and salt and saute it for about 2 minutes

Step 21: Add 3 tablespoons of both coriander and mint leaves and mix

Step 22: Finally, add  the marinated chicken for the biryani and mix well

Step 23: Cook until chicken is fully cooked

Step 24: Once chicken is cooked, if you find there is excess water, increase the flame and thicken the masala

Step 25: We need the masala just to coat the chicken

Step 26: Take a large wide, deep vessel, add ghee and spread it to coat all the bottom and sides of the pan, reduce the flame to low

Step 27: Add about 2 full tablespoons of the thick chicken biryani masala and spread it all over the bottom

Step 28: Next, add cooked basmati rice over the chicken biryani masala and gently spread the rice to cover the chicken

Step 29: Use a tea spoon and remove the top oily layer from masala and drizzle over the rice, this will add flavours to the rice and also give colour

Step 30: Repeat the layering process until you have used up all rice and chicken

Step 31: Over the top sprinkle coriander and mint leaves and browned onions and close with a lid

Step 32: Ensure the flame is low and place a heavy weight on top of lid to trap the steam inside to cook the Chicken Dum Biryani recipe

Step 33: Leave the dum biryani aside for 10 minutes until all the flavors seep through

Step 34: Scoop out the Chicken Dum Biryani from the edges of the pan, making sure not to break the rice grains

Step 35: Serve Chicken Dum Biryani Recipe with Pickled onions, Burani Raita and Mirchi Ka Salan Recipe (Chillies in Tangy Spicy Peanut Sesame Curry) for Sunday afternoon lunch