Chicken Biryani

Ok now this may not look that good....but trust me this was one of the best things i have made till today...an all time favorite dish of mine whether i make it or whether i eat out...i love biryanis...

though i must warn everyone...i made this dish today and had it.that means my diet for the past 2 weeks has gone down the drain...ok so lets get started...

we will make this in 2 parts.

This is what is used for the first part...the chicken...

Butter....LOTS of it...everywhere

3 onions, sliced

1.5 kg chicken pieces (i used the ones with bones but while i was eating the biryani i realised boneless would have been better)

2 tsp grated ginger

1 whole garlic, crushed

2 tsp of of the mixture of following spices mixed in equal quantities...cumin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom..i love cinnamon so i was a little more liberal with it.also i like all my spices freshly ground whether i am making biryani or plain sabji at home.

1/2 tsp flour

1 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup yogurt

1/2 cup cream

salt to taste

heat the butter and fry the onions till golden brown.set aside.

take chicken in a vessel and cook it.yes just like that..no oil nothing...after sometime the chicken will secrete lots of fat and then it will cook in its own oil.anyways cook the chicken till its golden in color.set aside.

take oil in another pan (yes i know thats 3 vessels already...there will be more) put in the garlic, ginger, the spices and flour.cook for sometime then add the stock, yogurt and cream and cook continuously.after about 10 minutes of cooking and stirring add the ckicken and half the onions and cook it till the the chicken gets just cooked.remove it and keep it covered...dont want all that aroma drifting away do we?

now for the rice this is what you need.

butter.lots of it.

1/2 tsp saffron

big cardamom seeds...keep them whole

salt to taste

1 cup basmati rice,well washed

4 cups chicken stock

take the butter and heat it.put in the cardamom seeds, saffron and rice.fry it for sometime.put in the chicken stock and boil till the rice is cooked.cover it and let it stand.

now take an oven proof dish.put in a layer of rice.above the layer of rice put the chicken.cover the chicken layer with another layer of rice.above that put in the remaining fried onions.cover and put it in a preheated oven.at 180 degree Celsius for 20 minutes.

garnish with roasted cashewnuts.serve with raita.

yummmmmmmm!!!