wondering how to make Chicken Briyani at home? With this best chicken briyani recipe, you get the perfect fluffy and fragrant authentic restaurant-style chicken rice!
Chicken Briyani is a flavorful and aromatic dish. It originates from the Indian subcontinent. It is particularly renowned in various regional cuisines of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It is a one-pot meal made with basmati rice. The dish includes marinated chicken and a blend of spices. These ingredients create a rich and satisfying flavor profile.
Chicken Briyani is a sumptuous and aromatic rice dish. It combines succulent pieces of marinated chicken with fragrant basmati rice. A medley of spices enhances the flavor. This beloved dish originates from the Indian subcontinent. It showcases a perfect marriage of flavors. This makes it a staple in celebrations and family gatherings.
The chicken is marinated in yogurt and spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander. The aromatic dry herb Kasuri mathi imparts depth and richness. The cooking process features sautéed onions, garlic, and ginger. These ingredients create a fragrant base. Layering the marinated chicken with partially cooked rice allows the flavors to meld beautifully during the slow-cooking stage.
As the briyani cooks, the spices elevate the dish, enveloping the rice in a rich, flavorful steam. Optional garnishes like fried onions and saffron add a luxurious touch, complementing the dish’s vibrant colors. Chicken Briyani is typically served in layers. It is often accompanied by cooling raita (yogurt sauce) or a fresh salad. These sides enhance the overall experience.
Chicken Briyani can be shared at festive occasions. It can also be enjoyed as a comforting meal. It is a delightful culinary experience. It delightfully balances spice and richness with a comforting, satisfying fullness.
Key Ingredients:
- Chicken: Usually marinated in yogurt and spices, which tenderizes the meat and infuses it with flavor.
- Basmati Rice: Long-grained rice that is fluffy and aromatic, perfect for absorbing the flavors of the spices and chicken.
- Spices: A mix of spices includes cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, and cumin. These are complemented by saffron or turmeric for color and depth.
- Herbs: Fresh coriander and mint leaves are often added for freshness.
- Onions: Caramelized onions (birista) are typically used, providing sweetness and texture.
- Tomatoes and Yogurt: Sometimes included in the marination process to enhance moisture and tang.
Aroma and Flavor in Chicken Briyani:
The dish is known for its inviting aroma, which arises from the spices, marinated chicken, and fragrant herbs. The combination of tender chicken pieces with fluffy rice creates a delightful textural contrast.
Ingredients for Chicken Briyani
- 1.500 kg chicken Leg (cut into 3 pieces)
- 1.500 kg (7 cup) Extra long grain Basmati rice
- For Chicken Marinades
- 2 tablespoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 2 tablespoon Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Dry Kasuri methi
- 1 cup Yogurt
- ½ cup Coconut oil / Ghee
- 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 500 g Red onion
- 2″ 2 pieces cinnamon
- 5-6 Cardamom
- 8- 10 Cloves
- 4 tablespoon Ginger garlic paste
- 1 cup Fresh Cilantro
- ½ cup Mint leaves
- 500 g tomatoes
- 1 Star Anise
- 1-2 Javitri flower
- 3″ 2 pieces Pendant (rambai) leaves
- 1 ½ tablespoon Salt for rice
- 1 tablespoon Garam masala
- 4” 4 Green chilies
- 13 cup Water
- ¼ cup Cashew nut
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Chicken Briyani
- Add chicken pieces into the large bowl. Then add 2 tablespoon salt, turmeric, paprika, coriander powder, cumin powder, dry Kasuri mathi, yogurt.
- Mix everything well and marinate the chicken. Cover and set this aside for 1 hour. you can also rest it overnight in the fridge.
- Basmati rice often has fine starch powder on it. So, rinse the basmati rice 4 to 5 times in plenty of water until it run clear. Drain the rice and soak in fresh water for 20 minutes.
- Heat coconut oil or ghee in a heavy bottom pot or pressure cooker.
- Add mustard into the oil. When it pop add thinly sliced onions. On medium heat, fry them string often until uniformly light brown. Do not burn them as they leave a bitter taste.
- Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves fry for about few minutes. Then add the garlic and ginger paste and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic and ginger paste becomes fragrant.
- Add the marinaded chicken and sauté until it becomes pale for 5 minutes.
- Lower the flame completely. Cover and cook until the chicken is soft, tender and completely cooked.
- Check if the chicken is cooked by pricking with fork or knife. It has to be just cooked and not overdone. Evaporate any excess moisture left in the pot by cooking further without the lid.
- Taste test and add more salt if need. Add chopped cilantro and chopped mint leaves. Sauté a minute and close the lid cook 5 minutes.
- Add javitri flower and anise to the chicken. Close the lid and cook another 5 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, pendant leaves, Garam masala and green chills to the curry and Mix everything well. Spread it evenly in a single layer.
- Layer drained rice all over the chicken. Level the rice gently on top. Pour 13 cups water and add salt. If cooking in a pot (not cooker).
- Stir and taste the water. It must be slightly salty. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Add 2 tablespoons more mint leaves.Do not mix up everything, the taste of the briyani cooked in the shown method is good. Optionally you can sprinkle 2 tablespoons fried onions & saffron soaked milk.
- Finally cover the pot or cooker.
If cooking in a pot,
- cook on a medium heat until the rice is cooked completely.
- If the rice is under cooked, check the bottom of the pot for water. If there is no more water left, add ¼ to ½ cup of boiling water now. How much water to add depends on the quality of basmati rice.
- Cook covered until the briyani rice is perfectly done, grainy and fully cooked.
- Rest it covered for 15 minutes.
If cooking in a cooker,
- cook until you hear 1 whistle. Later remove the cooker from the hot burner to stop cooking further.
- When the pressure releases naturally, open the lid. Gently fluff up with a fork.
If cooking in an oven,
- put the pot in the oven to this stage. And bake it at 400 F (200 C) for 30 to 40 minutes.
- After 30 minutes remove from oven and open the lid.Gently fluff up with a spoon.
Serve chicken briyani in layers – top layer with rice and bottom layer with chicken. Enjoy with Onion salad.
Serving:
Chicken Briyani is typically served with accompaniments like raita (yogurt sauce), salad, or boiled eggs. It can be garnished with fried onions, fresh herbs, or nuts for extra flavor and presentation.
Whether enjoyed at a special celebration or as a comforting home-cooked meal, Chicken Briyani is a beloved dish. It brings together a harmonious blend of spices and ingredients. This makes it a favorite among many.
Video
Note
- Towards the end if the rice is under cooked, you can sprinkle little hot water & cook covered further.
- What you need for a good briyani?
- To make a good briyani, always use best quality ingredients. Good quality ingredients contribute to the flavors of chicken briyani. Basmati rice, whole spices, spice powders, chicken, and ghee are essential choices.
- How to make the best chicken briyani?
- Marination: Marinating chicken with yogurt & spices is the first key step to make the best chicken briyani. Yogurt tenderizes the chicken & the spices enhance the flavors. Marinating and resting chicken makes it soft & succulent, so do not skip that. If you do not eat curd then can substitute it with coconut milk.
- Preparing rice : Rinse Basmati rice thoroughly a few times. Use ample water to get rid of the starch. This prevents the rice grains from turning mushy. Soaking the rice helps to cook the rice grains to fluffy & long. So do not skip rinsing & soaking the rice well before using.
- Water : This recipe uses plain water to cook the chicken briyani. But it can be replaced with coconut milk or chicken stock. The quantity of water in the recipe card is suitable for me. I find it works well with Extra long grain basmati rice. This ratio works pretty well with any aged basmati rice.
Chicken Biryani
Chicken Briyani is a flavorful and aromatic dish that originates from the Indian subcontinent, particularly renowned in various regional cuisines of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It is a one-pot meal made with basmati rice, marinated chicken, and a blend of spices that create a rich and satisfying flavor profile.
