Chicken Biryani

Chicken Biryani is a highly aromatic, mouth-watering staple dish that needs no introduction. Because of its endless nuanced flavors, it is perhaps the most comforting meal of Indian cuisine that has been a part of community feasts, family gatherings, and almost every Indian household for ages.

Packed with fragrant rice and juicy, tender chicken pieces, it’s a perfect one-pot dinner recipe that your whole family will love!

If you are a traditional Indian food enthusiast, then I invite you to celebrate the authentic flavors of this culinary masterpiece, Chicken Biryani, that has delighted palates for generations.

Chicken Biryani is not just a dish; it’s an ambrosial experience, flavorful, aromatic, and completely divine!

The traditional Chicken Biryani recipe appears intricate owing to the extensive list of ingredients and elaborate cooking techniques, which stops many from attempting it at home.

But, I have tried to dispel that myth and simplified the process of making authentic biryani to help you create this culinary masterpiece with confidence.

With some time, a little patience, and a dash of passion, you can now unveil this exquisite recipe’s secrets and enjoy its rewards.  

What is Chicken Biryani?

‘Biryani’ or ‘Biriyani’ is ’a layered rice dish’ in its literal meaning. It is a dish with layers of rice corresponding with the layers of marinated meat/ chicken or veggies or paneer/ tofu, slow-cooked in a sealed pot.

Aromatic spices lend exclusive flavors to the dish and infuse the dish with irresistible deliciousness.

The spice blend varies from region to region, but it is a harmonious mix of exquisitely chosen, most flavorsome spices.

Today, I am sharing a Dum Pukht chicken Biryani that dates back to the era of the Mughals. A unique style of steam cooking characterizes this stove-top Chicken Biryani recipe. 

In Dum Pukht Biryani, rice, chicken, aromatic spices, and herbs are cooked in traditional handis or heavy-lidded cast iron pan, which is later sealed with kneaded flour to keep all the steam and flavor locked in.

This layered and sealed utensil is then simmered over low heat until the flavors mingle and rice absorbs in all the protein juices, resulting in a rich and impressively flavorful meal.

One of the most intriguing facts is that when you serve biryani, you are serving the celebration of flavors and togetherness!

Reasons You’ll ♡ Chicken Biryani

Whether you are a seasoned home cook or a novice in the kitchen, this Biryani recipe empowers you to create a mouth-watering dish regardless of your culinary prowess. Other reasons that will make you fall in love with this recipe are —

• Wholesome and hearty
• Provides an exquisite symphony of flavors and textures
• One-pot complete meal
• Scalable recipe
• Can be made in advance and stored and
• Revered and admired by all age groups!

One of the fascinating attributes of this dish is the joy of making it and savoring it with your loved ones. So, whether it is any special occasion, a festive celebration, or a family get-together, biryani brings your loved ones together. 

Introduce the Chicken biryani casserole to the table tonight and let its ‘oh-so-good’ aroma steal the spotlight!

Ingredient List for Chicken Biryani

Chicken — Chicken drumsticks and thighs are ideal for this recipe, as these retain moisture during the slow cooking process, resulting in juicy and succulent chicken.  

Rice — Extra long Basmati rice is the most preferred choice for making Chicken Biryani. When cooked, the grains stay separate and fluffy and absorb the flavors of the spices and chicken well. Look out for the properly aged fragrant basmati rice for best results.

Ginger and Garlic paste — A fundamental component of most savory dishes, ginger and garlic infuse the dish with a depth of flavor. The zesty warmth of ginger combines with the spicy earthiness of the garlic, adding an aromatic richness to the marinade. 

Fresh herbs — Cilantro and mint are vital components of this Chicken biryani as they elevate the overall taste of the recipe. They add a burst of freshness to the dish and infuse a delightful fragrance while balancing the richness of spices and other ingredients. 

Onions — They are one of the significant ingredients of this Chicken Biryani, and a lot of them are used here. The crispy fried caramelized onions, called Birista, are the key components that are used for garnishing and adding a smokey sweetness to the dish. 

Whole Spices — The hallmark of traditional biryani recipes, whole spices create an aromatic base that infuses into the entire dish, imparting a unique flavor profile. Bay leaves, whole black cardamom, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, peppercorns, and shahi jeera are the significant spices rendering depth and complexity of flavors to the recipe. 

Spices and seasonings — Creating a delectable balance of heat, earthiness, and sweetness, the spices and herbs elevate the deliciousness of the biryani. Degi mirch, coriander powder, turmeric, garam masala powder, mace, and salt are the essential spices and seasonings used to make this soul ravisher.

Milk and Saffron — Saffron threads soaked in warm milk impart a vibrant yellow color to the dish besides the exquisite aroma. Saffron-infused milk enhances the overall taste and adds a subtle, luxurious flavor to the recipe. 

Yogurt and Lime juice — Used in the marinade for their unique qualities, yogurt and lime juice are the essential ingredients of this recipe. Lime juice tenderizes the chicken while also adding citrusy notes to the dish. Yogurt also helps tenderize the chicken while rendering creamy richness to the marinade. 

Ghee + Oil — Any neutral, refined oil is good for cooking the biryani. But homemade desi ghee will create wonders. 

Chicken Biryani Tips and Variations

Basmati rice is the best — Basmati rice is the best option for Biryanis as it is the most flavorful and aromatic rice with beautiful long grains. The adequately aged Basmati produces a fluffy and fragrant biryani; therefore, I recommend using it.

Avoid overcooking completely — Biryani is all about rice; therefore, cooking the rice right is imperative. Biryani calls for 70 percent cooked rice, which means it’s al dente. At this stage, the rice grains are slightly firm (not tough) when pressed in between the fingers. However, care should be taken to avoid turning them mushy with overcooking. 

How to tell if your rice is overcooked? Well-cooked rice will be extra plump and fluffy as it has passed the al dente stage. At this point, it breaks easily when pressed between fingers. If your rice has reached this stage, please do not proceed with the recipe, or you will end up with a very mushy and unappetizing dish.

Spices and herbs bring magical flavors — The magical deliciousness that conjures the senses is lent by the authentic spices and herbs as they infuse the rice with a remarkable aroma and drool-worthy flavors. Simply put, without the spices and herbs, the biryani would not be the masterpiece it is!

Marinating makes all the difference — The importance of marinating the chicken pieces is evident from the amount of flavor it brings to the biryani. The marinade, which comprises spices, herbs, and other flavoring ingredients, furnishes lip-smacking deliciousness to the dish. Marinating the chicken for an hour allows the chicken to become succulent and also to soak up the flavors. Overnight marinating is best if you have some extra time on hand.

Preparing the chicken for marination — Before adding the marinade, it is important to pat dry each chicken piece to remove the moisture, as it may interfere with the proper coating of the marinade on the chicken pieces. Once dry, add the marinade to the chicken pieces and leave it, therefore allowing time for the marinade to work on the chicken. This resting time lets the flavors seep into the chicken pieces and helps them to become irresistibly juicy and succulent.

Birista as an essential add-on — Crispy fried onions or Birista are the essential element of the recipe that renders a magical flavor to the dish. Without the birista, biryani would lack the necessary flavor and be incomplete. You can easily prepare birista at home by frying the onion slices, or you can use the store-bought ones. When using the store-bought birista, remember to check the date on it as the stale ones will have a smell to them, which will ruin the biryani. 

For the crunchy birista — Biryani tastes superb when layered with the crunchy birista on the top. To make crunchy birista, I prefer to coat the onions with cornstarch. You may use besan in the place of cornstarch if the latter is not available. However, don’t forget to shake off excess flour, else it will mess up the oil.

Fry the onions with patience — If you haste with the process, you will end up with greasy, mushy onions. So take your time and fry them till they are golden brown and crisp. Brown them as you desire; if you prefer a lighter shade, remove them from the oil after a couple of minutes when they color up. Otherwise, fry it a little longer till it reaches your desired shade. Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried onions from the hot oil. 

Shelf-life of the fried onions/ birista — Fried onions can be used to flavor many other recipes like pulaos, cutlets, marinades, and some soups. Therefore, you can make a big batch and store it for later use. They keep well for a month in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Cook in the sealed pot for maximum flavors — The pressure cooking in a sealed pot pumps the flavor into the rice and makes the dish irresistibly aromatic and flavorsome. Therefore, always cook biryani in a pot sealed with either kneaded dough or with a cloth cover so that the steam and the flavors remain locked in.  

Selecting the right cookware — Biryani is slowly cooked over low heat, and the pot is sealed to lock in the steam and the flavors. For this, a heavy-bottomed pan is the most appropriate choice, as this will prevent the rice from sticking or burning at the bottom. For this recipe, I have used a Dutch oven. If you don’t have a thick-bottomed pan, use a grill below your thin skillet to prevent burning. 

Substitute for Shahi Jeera — Cumin seeds substitute Shahi Jeera perfectly. So, if you don’t have shahi jeera on hand, you can conveniently use cumin seeds.

Authentic dum-cooking in clay pots — The authentic way of preparing this dish involves cooking in a clay pot, where the nutrients are preserved, and the prepared dish becomes more nutritious and healthier.

A helpful modification — The traditional biryani-making procedure includes adding marinated chicken to the parboiled rice and then steaming it in the sealed handis (pot). But I prefer to cook the chicken a little before layering it with rice. Small raw chicken pieces cook well with the parboiled rice, but the big chicken pieces and bone-in chicken remain undercooked. From an efficiency standpoint, I prefer to pre-cook these pieces slightly before layering. The downside benefit is that you end up with tender, juicy, and well-cooked chicken pieces. It’s a win-win with just a slight modification in the approach, and you get the most irresistible biryani to relish!

Add a restricted amount of yogurt — Yogurt helps tenderize the chicken and lends a slight tang to the flavor. But, since yogurt can blunt the taste of the chicken, I prefer adding just a small amount of it to the marinade. 

Use Greek yogurt for best results — Full-fat Greek yogurt is the most preferred choice for this recipe as it brings excellent results.

Irresistible oven-cooked biryani — If you don’t prefer the traditional method of cooking biryani in the pan/pot, try baking it in the oven. After assembling, bake it in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. Trust me, the oven biryani tastes equally good as compared to the stovetop biryani, as the consistent heat of the oven works great and brings fantastic results.

Let me know what you think!

Are you ready to embark on your biryani-making adventure? I am sure you are!

So, gather your ingredients, and we are all set to begin our journey to curate a wonderful dish that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also brings the vibrancy and flavors of India’s culinary heritage to your dinner table tonight.

Should you make this Chicken Biryani recipe, please let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment below.

And don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.

CRAVING FOR MORE, TRY SOME OTHER MOUTHWATERING RECIPES –

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to make the best Chicken Biryani recipe