Delicious Chicken Biryani Recipe: Step-by-step guide to make spicy and flavorful biryani at home

Chicken biryani is a favorite dish that combines tender chicken, aromatic spices and flavorful rice, making it a delicious and satisfying meal. Whether you are an experienced cook or a novice in the kitchen, this step-by-step guide will show you how to make spicy and flavorful chicken biryani at home.

Ingredients for Chicken Biryani

Before getting into the recipe, gather all the ingredients you need to make Chicken Biryani:

Ingredients for Chicken:

500 grams chicken pieces (boneless or with bone)

1 cup curd

1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste

1 tbsp. red chili powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tbsp. lemon juice

Salt to taste

For Rice

2 cups basmati rice

4 cups water

2-3 cloves

1 inch cinnamon stick

2-3 green cardamom pods

1 bay leaf

Salt to taste

For Biryani

tbsp. ghee (clarified butter)

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 tomatoes, chopped

2-3 green chilies chopped

1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste

1 tsp red chili powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped1/2 cup fried onions (optional, for garnish)

Step-by-step chicken biryani recipe:

Step 1: Marinate the chicken
Start by marinating the chicken. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, lemon juice and salt. Add the chicken pieces to this marinade and mix well, making sure each piece is coated with the marinade. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes or preferably a few hours, so that the flavors get absorbed into the chicken.

Step 2: Prepare the rice

Wash the basmati rice thoroughly in cold water to remove excess starch. Boil 4 cups of water in a large vessel. Add cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, bay leaves and salt. Once the water starts boiling, add the rice and cook until it is 70% cooked (the rice should still have a slight firmness). Drain the rice and keep it aside.

Step 3: Cook the chicken

In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add the marinated chicken pieces and fry them until they turn brown on all sides and are almost cooked through. Remove the chicken and keep it aside. In the same pot, add another tablespoon of ghee, then fry the onions until they turn golden brown and crispy. Add the ginger-garlic paste, tomatoes, green chilies, red chili powder, coriander powder, and garam masala. Cook this mixture until the tomatoes turn soft and the oil starts separating.

Step 4: Layer the biryani

Now it’s time to layer the biryani. Once the chicken and masala mixture is ready, top it with a layer of cooked rice. Sprinkle chopped mint leaves, coriander leaves, and fried onions (if using) over the rice. Repeat the layering process if needed, and top with a layer of rice.

Step 5: Cook the biryani

Cover the vessel tightly with a lid or seal it with dough to keep the steam inside. Cook the biryani on low flame for about 15-20 minutes so that the flavours blend together and the rice is cooked completely. You can also place a heavy pan or tawa under the biryani vessel to avoid direct exposure to heat and ensure even cooking.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy

Once the biryani is ready, gently fluff the rice and mix the chicken and rice together. Serve the delicious chicken biryani with raita, salad or boiled eggs.

Tips for a perfect chicken biryani:

Use basmati rice: Basmati rice has long grains and a distinctive aroma, which makes it perfect for biryani.

Marinate the chicken well: The longer the chicken marinates, the tastier and tender it will be.

Flake the rice and chicken properly: This ensures that every bite is infused with flavour and aroma.