Chicken Biryani – Easy and tasty -

Ingredients -

raw rice – 2 bowls

chicken – 1 pound/ ½ kg. approx.

tomatoes (medium size) – 2, finely chopped

onion – 1 large, finely chopped

2 onions (medium size) sliced and deep fried

2 medium size potatoes  boiled, sliced and deep fried

Masala –  5 cloves,  8-10 peppercorns, 3-4 cinnamon sticks, ½ tsp funnel seeds  – grind in a mixer

Whole garam masala – 5 cloves, 10 peppercorns, 3-4 cinnamon sticks, 2 black cardamom, 4-5 green cardamom, 2 bay leaves, 1 tbsp cumin seeds

Garam Masala powder – 2 tsp

Coriander seeds power – 1 tbsp

Cumin seeds powder – ½ tbsp

Red chilli powder – 2 tsp

Turmeric powder – 1 tsp

Ginger paste – 1 tbsp

Garlic paste – 1 tbsp

Fresh mint leaves - 1 bowl chopped

Coriander leaves - 1 bowl chopped

Curd - 1 bowl

Oil for deep frying

3 tbsp ghee

Salt to taste

Procedure-

1. Marinate the chicken atleast for 2 hours with curd, little salt, freshly ground dry masala and ginger –garlic paste, chopped mint leaves and ½ of the fried onion.

2.  Cook the rice with 4 bowls of water.

3.  Heat the ghee in thick bottomed pan and add whole garam masala. Cook well.

4. Add finely chopped onions and sauté till golden brown.

5. Add finely chopped tomatoes and sauté till leaves the ghee.

6. Add marinated chicken, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, coriander and cumin seeds powder and salt to taste.  Sauté for 2 minutes.

7.  Add chopped coriander leaves and chopped mint leaves and sauté.

8. Add cooked rice, fried potatoes and mix well.

9. Cook the rice on low flame for atleast 15-20 minutes.

10. Spread remaining fried onions and serve hot with onion-tomato or cucumber raita.