Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Chicken Biriyani



Mothers are always the best cooks for children.
So is my amma!

Well, I am staying back in Kottayam after the grand college re-union we had last Sunday and preparing myself to assist amma for a minor surgery which is to take place tomorrow early morning.

The Chicken Biriyani you see here was specially made by her, yesterday, for all of amma's and appa's siblings, when they were here for lunch!

I guess, this is my first post on a chicken recipe and I swear I am not much used to cooking non-veg dishes as my husband, children and in-laws are basically pure veggies.

Excuse me for the bad/medium quality pictures which were shot at random by Rajesh, brother's best pal and me :)

As I am still packing to go to Cochin to accompany her for the surgery at dawn, which is a few hours away, I better would post the recipe as soon as I get back..

So......see you soon, girls! :)...with your encouraging comments as always!! :)




Updated on 6th Aug- 10.00 pm

Thanks to all of you who had dropped in here with much concern :)
We just got back from the hospital and amma is fine.

and here's her version of Chicken Biriyani ..

You Need:

Basmathi rice- 1 kg (we used India Gate-Classic variety)
Cleaned chicken pieces- 1.5 kgs
Small bunches of coriander and mint leaves

To pulse coarsely:

Ginger- a 4" piece
Garlic- 15-20 medium sized cloves
Green chillies- 10 nos

To sauté:

Ghee- 2 cups
Refined oil- 1 cup
Cinnamon- three 2" pieces
Cloves- 10 nos
Cardamom- 10 nos
Star anise- 3-5 nos
Big Onions- sliced length wise-2 kgs
Tomatoes- 3 large-diced
Carrots-2- or 1 cup after dicing
Turmeric Powder-1/2 tsp
Dhania/coriander powder-1 tsp
Garam masala- 2 tsps (we used Eastern brand)
Chicken masala powder- 3 tsps (Eastern)
Cashew nuts(split into halves) and raisins- 50 gms each

Juice extracted from one lemon



Method:


  • Wash and soak rice for half an hour in water.
  • Cook rice in a large pot of water with salt and 2 tsps of oil added to it.Cooking time should be around 15 mins. and drain while just cooked and not mushy. Spread rice on a flat tray or a broad and flat utensil to cool.We used the traditional Uruli.
  • Heat half the amount of ghee (1 cup), fry cashew nuts until golden brown followed by the raisins.
  • Remove and keep them aside. Sauté the spices; cinnamon, cloves, cardamom & star anise.Remove and keep aside. Throw in half of the sliced onions and sauté until deep brown.
  • Transfer the fried onions along with the ghee to the cooked rice on the tray followed by the nuts, raisins and the spices. Add half the amount of coriander and mint leaves too. Mix gently and leave it alone.
  • Heat the remaining 1 cup of ghee and oil together. Sauté rest of the sliced onions, carrots, ginger-garlic-chilly paste in that order till raw smell disappears. Add the tomatoes and the powders (turmeric, dhania, chicken and garam masala) followed by the chicken pieces. Stir well to coat the masalas to the pieces. Add a cup of water along with enough salt to taste and bring to a boil. Simmer the curry until it thickens, coats and the spices seep in the soft cooked pieces and until the oil separates. Turn off and garnish with the remaining coriander and mint leaves. Add lemon juice lastly.
  • Mix in the curry with the rice gently.
  • Serve hot Chicken Biriyani with pappadam, raitha and lime pickle.I love mango pickle and enjoyed my share likewise :).

20 comments:

  1. Just looking to that step by step pictures i am drooling. I can imagine how delicous it was especially as one can't beat mothers cooking. I am sure bokmarking this one. And good luck to your mom for her small surgery tommorow.

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  2. I would love to CASE this prep of yours.... COMMENDABLE!!! Be it the prep, the presentation or the captures..... All out of this world..... I just e-savored the serve.... Hugs )))

    Ash....
    (http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

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  3. Briyani looks very delicious.. good luck to your mom's surgery..

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  4. So cool...Its so tempting clicks...

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  5. Tasty and inviting clicks... mouthwatering slurrp1!!!

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  6. I devour my Mom's food and this Biriyani makes me drool. Good luck with your Mom's surgery and I wish she feels better soon. Take care

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  7. Delicious biriyani.. Hope your mom is doing good now..

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  8. Step by step pics are looking great..big help for us beginners),hope your mom recovers soon!!

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  9. Tempting clicks...biriyani looks perfect

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  10. wow what a finger licking biriyani,first time here n i am drooling ...love ur presentation style n collection of recipes too...
    if u get time do visit my blog

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  11. Nice step by step pics and an awesome dish!

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  12. hi bharathy

    thank for ur lovely and encouraging comments on my blog...cherries are hard to find in chennai but i think u will get frozen at amma nana shop in chamiers road opposite park sheraton as it is very famous with expatriates or u can also try at any nuts and spices shop.Yes ur are i am not in chennai now as i come to US on short project with my hubby...will be back soon...oooh i miss chennai

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  13. Hi, first time here and just love your blog with yummy recipes... added yours to my blog list...

    When you find time, do give a visit to my blog... thanks.....

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  14. wow thats really delicious biryani liked the platter with mango pickle so yummy one .. amma's recipes are always perfect.. pictures are so good..

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  15. Just feel like in some restaurant by looking at your plate of Briyani.

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  16. Dear Miss, i sincerely thank u for all ur recipes...I have cooked the briyani the way u described and it came out beautifully...I have been following ur blog for all the recipes and i sincerely thank u for making me a good cook..I really feel ur love for spices...recently i feel like the spices love me too....

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    Replies
    1. What a beautiful comment!straight from the heart! I had a tiring weary day... diwali...and your words pep me up :) Hugs, dear! :)

      Delete
    2. Ms.Barathy, I am the same 'asdasda' user. Christmas is coming. I got some christian friends coming over my house. I want to cook and can you please recommend me a recipe that you think it would be the best to eat at christmas day.

      Btw, I tried your mushroom recipe. I was just lost with the taste. Yum and barathy, the flavor of the spices went deep into the mushroom's core. The ingredients have really blessed u. I had a great day eating mushrooms:)

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    3. I wanted to know more about you!Your home country and the part of the world you live right now :)Your profile doesnt seem to reveal any :)

      Thats fine, but I need to know whether your Christian friends are Indians and if so the state from which they hail.

      As a broader suggestion, homemade wines ( I have 3 in all.. you can try the easiest and the hassle free, the rice wine)and duck roast ( pls refer the recipe list) are Christmas spls..
      Since you tried this biriyani, you can go ahead with it as well.. even plain rolls/bread slices go well with duck roast.

      adjust the spice level if your friends are non-Indians :)

      bake a cake for the dessert part. or else banofee pie is a good choice. I have it in mine. ..just recommending the whole menu ..:)

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    4. Dear barathy,

      Its nice, I think cooking briyani again is not a bad idea after all. Yes, my christian friends are all Indians. Duck roast seems a little off. Something with an authentic Indian taste.And definitely, I am gonna make some desserts and the recipe is definitely from your books:)

      Wait a min, I never tried cooking mutton and referring to ur recipe, its looks simple. U think I should try the mutton? my facebook page is manoraaju@hotmail.com. Send me an add request. If you dont have facebook, then its manoraaju@gmail.com. I wanna know more about your recipes, I am honest that your cooking method is simple and the combination of spices is excellent.:)

      Delete

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