ZMSFoodies
Discover. Cook. Share.
⌕PTJoin free
Recipes / Chicken Biryani
Chicken Biryani

Ingredients

Measurements

Chicken & Marinade

1 kg Chicken
250 g Plain Yogurt
3 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
3 tbsp Lemon Juice
2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Red Chilli
1 tsp Turmeric
2 tbsp Biryani Masala
1 tsp Garam Masala

Rice

1 kg Basmati Rice
Water
Prep: as required for boiling
3 tbsp Salt
Prep: for the rice water
3 leaves Bay Leaf
6 units Green Cardamom
8 units Cloves
2 sticks Cinnamon Sticks
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 tbsp Lemon Juice

Biryani Masala

150 ml Cooking Oil
50 g Ghee
500 g Onion
400 g Tomato
6 slit Green Chilli
2 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
2 tbsp Biryani Masala
1 tsp Red Chilli
½ tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Garam Masala
Salt
Prep: to taste
30 g Fresh Coriander
Prep: chopped
30 g Fresh Mint
Prep: chopped

Layering

½ tsp Saffron
50 ml Milk
Prep: warm
100 g Onion
Prep: Fried
20 g Fresh Mint
20 g Fresh Coriander
2 tbsp Ghee

Instructions

1

Marinate the chicken

  • Combine the chicken with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, salt, chilli powder, turmeric, biryani masala and garam masala.
  • Mix thoroughly and marinate for at least 30 minutes. For better flavour, refrigerate for 2–4 hours.

2

Prepare the rice

  • Wash the basmati rice gently until the water becomes mostly clear.

  • Soak for 20–30 minutes, then drain.
  • Bring plenty of water to a boil. Add salt, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and lemon juice.
  • Add the rice and cook until the grains are approximately 70–80% cooked. The centre should still have a slight firmness.
  • Drain immediately.

3

Prepare the chicken masala

  • Heat the oil and ghee in a large heavy-bottomed pot.
  • Add the sliced onions and fry until golden brown. Remove about 100 g of the fried onions and keep aside for layering.
  • Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1–2 minutes.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes, green chillies, biryani masala, chilli powder, turmeric and salt.
  • Cook until the tomatoes soften and the oil begins to separate.
  • Add the marinated chicken.
  • Cover and cook over medium heat until the chicken is almost completely cooked and the masala becomes thick.

4

Layer the biryani

  • Keep the chicken masala at the bottom of the pot.
  • Add a layer of par-cooked rice.
  • Sprinkle over some mint, coriander and fried onions.
  • Add the remaining rice and repeat the toppings.
  • Mix saffron with warm milk and drizzle it over the rice.
  • Finish with ghee, mint, coriander and the remaining fried onions.

5

Dum cooking

  • Cover the pot tightly.
  • Cook on low heat for 20–25 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and allow the biryani to rest covered for 10–15 minutes.
  • Gently fluff the layers from the side using a large spoon.

6

🍽️ Serving

  • Serve hot with raita, cucumber salad, boiled egg, or your preferred biryani accompaniments.

Tips & Notes

⭐ ZMSFoodies Quick Tips

Perfect Basmati Rice:

Wash the basmati rice gently until the water is mostly clear and soak it for 20–30 minutes. This helps the grains cook evenly and remain long and separate.

Rest Before Serving

After cooking, keep the biryani covered and let it rest for 10–15 minutes. This allows the flavours to settle and helps keep the rice grains separate.

FAQ

Can I use boneless chicken?

  • Yes. Boneless chicken can be used, but cooking time may be slightly shorter.

Can I prepare the biryani in advance?

  • Yes. It can be prepared ahead and reheated carefully before serving.

Can I use another type of rice?

  • Basmati rice is recommended for the intended texture, but another long-grain rice can be used.

Questions & Answers

Privacy & Safety
Do not include email addresses, phone numbers, WhatsApp contacts/numbers or external links. ZMSFoodies links containing zmsfoodies.com are allowed. If prohibited contact information or another prohibited link is detected, you will be warned first. If you choose to continue with the prohibited content, your account will be suspended and the content will not be delivered.

Bone less chicken

cs

ZMSFoodies answer
sas
MA Bandhani

organic chicken

Hello
can I use organic chicken?

ZMSFoodies answer
hi
yes you can
MA Bandhani

Bone less chicken

hello
can i use bone less chicken?

ZMSFoodies answer
yes you can
Mohammad Bandhani

Bone less chicken

hllo
can i use bone less chicken?

ZMSFoodies answer
yes you can
MA Bandhani

Bone less chicken

hllo
can i use bone less chicken?

ZMSFoodies answer
yes you can
MA Bandhani
Sign in to ask a question.
Only registered users can participate in Recipe Q&A. Sign in