## 🍗 Chicken Biryani Recipe
### ⭐ Introduction:
Chicken Biryani isn't just food; it's an experience full of rich spices, vibrant colors, and irresistible aroma. With roots in South Asian cuisine, this dish has won hearts across the globe. It combines fragrant basmati rice with tender, marinated chicken and layers of deep spices and herbs. If you want to cook restaurant-style chicken biryani at home, this step-by-step guide is your perfect companion.
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### 🧄 Ingredients:
#### ✅ For Chicken Marination:
* 1 kilogram of chicken — either with bones or boneless, depending on your taste preference.
* 1 cup thick yogurt
* 2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
* 2 teaspoons red chili powder
* 1½ teaspoons garam masala
* Salt to taste
#### ✅ For Fried Onions:
* 3 large onions (thinly sliced)
* Oil for deep frying
#### ✅ For Cooking Rice:
* 3 cups long-grain basmati rice (soaked for 30 minutes)
* 6–8 cups water
* 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
* 1 bay leaf
* 2–3 green cardamoms
* 4–5 black peppercorns
* 1 small cinnamon stick
* 2 cloves
#### ✅ For Biryani Masala/Gravy:
* 3 tablespoons oil or ghee
* 2 green chilies (slit lengthwise)
* 2 medium tomatoes (finely chopped)
* ½ cup chopped mint leaves
* ½ cup chopped coriander (fresh)
* 2 tablespoons biryani masala (store-bought or homemade)
* Half of the fried onions (from above)
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### 🍗 Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
#### 🔸 Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
Take a deep mixing bowl and add the chicken along with yogurt, freshly squeezed lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili flakes, a pinch of garam masala, and salt. Blend everything thoroughly to coat the chicken evenly. Combine well so that all pieces are evenly coated with the marinade. Seal the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge, allowing the chicken to rest for a minimum of 1 to 2 hours. For best results, marinate overnight. This step adds flavor deep into the meat and helps keep it juicy.
#### 🔸 Step 2: Fry the Onions
Heat oil in a deep frying pan. As soon as the oil heats up, carefully add the finely sliced onions. Cook them over medium flame, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Fry until they turn golden brown and crisp.Take them out and place on a clean paper towel to soak up the excess oil. Set aside half the fried onions for layering during the final stage of biryani. The rest will be used in the chicken gravy.
#### 🔸 Step 3: Prepare the Rice
Heat a generous amount of water in a deep pan until it starts bubbling vigorously. Add whole spices—bay leaf, cardamoms, peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves—and salt. Add the soaked basmati rice to the boiling water and cook until it's about 70% done. This means the grains should be slightly firm in the center. Drain the rice and keep it aside. Do not overcook the rice as it will steam further during the final layering.
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### 🍅 Step 4: Cook the Chicken Masala
Add finely cut green chilies and stir them in hot oil for half a minute.
Place the marinated chicken pieces into the pan and mix them thoroughly.
Let it cook over medium flame for about 6–8 minutes, or until the meat changes color slightly. Now add the chopped tomatoes and half of the fried onions. Stir everything together and allow it to cook until the tomatoes break down completely and oil starts separating from the masala.
Next, add mint leaves, coriander, and biryani masala. Mix thoroughly so all spices are absorbed evenly. Let the chicken simmer for 8–10 more minutes until it is 90% cooked. The gravy should be thick—not watery or dry—because this will coat the rice in layers.
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**📍 Pro Tip:** If your chicken releases too much water, cook uncovered on high flame to evaporate the excess liquid. The chicken should be tender but not falling apart.
## 🍽️ Chicken Biryani Recipe
### 🔥 Step 5: Cook the Chicken Masala
Take a deep cooking pot or handi and warm some oil or clarified butter (ghee) over medium heat. Add sliced green chilies and sauté them briefly to enhance aroma. Now add the marinated chicken into the pot and stir it gently.
Let the chicken cook for 6–8 minutes, until it turns white and slightly tender. Now add finely cut tomatoes along with a portion of the pre-fried onions (about half). Mix everything well. Cover the lid and cook for 10–12 minutes until tomatoes are soft and oil separates. This will become your flavorful chicken masala.
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### 🍚 Step 6: Layering the Biryani
Now comes the heart of the biryani — **layering**.
1. Spread half of the boiled basmati rice evenly over the cooked chicken masala.
2. Sprinkle chopped coriander, mint, fried onions, and a bit of biryani masala on top.
3. Add the remaining rice to form a second layer.
4. Top it again with the rest of the mint, coriander, fried onions, and biryani masala.
5. Optional: Drizzle saffron milk or yellow food color for a beautiful look.
6. For a rich and traditional fragrance, gently pour a few drops of both kewra and rose water over the top layer.
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### 🔒 Step 7: Dum (Steaming)
Now seal the pot for dum:
* Cover tightly with a lid (use dough or cloth to trap steam if needed).
* Place the pot on very low flame or on a tawa.
* Let it steam for **25 minutes**.
Steam will infuse all flavors together, making your biryani rich and aromatic.
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### 🍽️ Step 8: Serve & Enjoy
After dum, let the biryani rest for 5 minutes before opening. Use a spoon to lightly lift and separate the rice layers for a gentle mix without breaking the grains.
Serve hot with:
* Mint raita
* Salad (onions, lemon, cucumber)
* Boiled eggs or kebabs (optional)
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### ✅ Pro Tips for Perfect Biryani
* Use long-grain aged basmati rice.
* Marinate chicken overnight if possible.
* Don’t overcook rice during pre-boiling — keep it 70% cooked.
* Always use fresh herbs and good-quality spices.
* For extra richness, you can add fried cashews or raisins on top.
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### 💬 Final Thoughts
Homemade Chicken Biryani is pure joy when done right. With these steps, you can recreate the restaurant-style experience at home. The aroma, the spice, the juicy chicken — everything comes together perfectly.
Try this biryani for special occasions or Sunday family meals. It’s sure to become your go-to recipe!
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