Kerala Special Chicken Biriyani

Kerala special chicken biriyani

Today I would love to share the recipe for an extremely tasty Kerala style chicken biriyani. I guarantee that it will be a big hit at your Christmas Party..do give it a try!

Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas!

Kerala Special Chicken Biriyani Recipe

Ingredients (Serves 6)

Recipe Courtesy – Adapted from Annies Kitchen

1. Chicken – 1 kg, cut into medium pieces

    Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp

     Salt – As required

2. Coconut oil / vegetable oil + ghee – 2 tbsp + 2 tbsp

3. Ginger – 1.5 inch, roughly chopped

    Garlic – 7 large cloves

    Green chilies – 5 – 6

4. Onion – 2 cups, thinly sliced

5. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp

    Kashmiri chilly powder – 1 tsp

    Coriander powder – 2 tsp

6. Biriyani masala powder – Recipe below (powdered ingredients numbered 9)

7. Tomato – 2 small, chopped

    Yoghurt – 1 tbsp

    Cilantro / coriander leaves – 3 tbsp, chopped

    Mint leaves – 3 tbsp, chopped

    Fried onion – 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup for garnish (Thinly slice 1 medium-sized onion and deep-fry it. Set aside 1/2 cup for garnishing)

    Coconut milk, medium thick – 1/2 cup

8. Salt – To taste

For biriyani masala powder

9. Fennel seeds – 2 tsp heaped

    Poppy seeds – 1.5 tsp

   Star anise – 2

   Cinnamon stick – 1 inch

   Cloves – 10

   Cardamom – 12

   Kala jeera / shahi jeera – 3/4 tsp

   Mace / jathi pathri – 1/2

   Cloves – 10

For the rice

10. Basmati rice / jeeraka shala rice – 2.5 cups (I used jeerakashala rice. Soak rice in enough water for 30 minutes and drain well)

     Ghee – 2 tbsp

     Whole spices – Cardamom – 4, cloves – 6, cinnamon stick – 3/4 inch

    Kala jeera – 1/2 tsp

    Fried onion – 1/4 cup

    Salt – To taste

    Hot water – 3 3/4 cups (For 1 cup rice, use 1.5 cup water. Some varieties of basmati rice might need 2 cups of water for 1 cup rice)

11. Hot milk –1/4 cup (optional)

      Saffron – 1 pinch (optional)

      Rose water – 1 tsp (optional)

Add saffron and rose water to hot milk and set aside.

To garnish

12. Fried onions – 1/2 cup

     Cashews – 1/4 cup, fried in 1 tsp ghee

     Raisins – 1/4 cup, fried in 1 tsp ghee

     Cilantro – 1/4 cup, chopped

     Mint leaves – 1/4 cup, chopped

Method

1. Coarsely grind ginger, garlic and green chilies (ingredients numbered 3) in the small jar of a mixie.

2. Heat 2 tbsp oil + 2 tbsp ghee in a pan. Add ground ginger-garlic-green chilly mixture and saute until golden, around 6 minutes. Add thinly sliced onion, a pinch of salt and saute for 5 – 6 minutes. Bring down the heat to low. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder and coriander powder. Saute for a minute. Add freshly ground biriyani masala powder and mix well. Next add the chicken pieces, salt and mix well. Increase the heat to medium and add tomatoes, yoghurt, cilantro, mint leaves and fried onion. Mix well and cook for a minute. Add coconut milk and mix well. Cover with a lid. Cook for 30 – 35 minutes until oil separates and the chicken pieces are done, stirring a few times in between. Open the lid and cook for 5 – 6 minutes at medium-high heat until most of the water evaporates and the chicken pieces are well-coated with the masala. Switch off the stove.

3. Meanwhile heat 2 tbsp ghee in a 4 or 5 liter pressure cooker or any vessel. Add cardamom, cinnamon stick and cloves. Stir for a few seconds until fragrant. Add drained rice, shahi jeera/kala jeera and fry for 2 – 3 minutes at medium heat. Add 3 3/4 cup hot water, 1/4 cup fried onion (optional) and enough salt, to taste. The watre should be slightly salty. Cover with pressure cooker lid and cook until steam starts coming out profusely from the lid. Put on the whistle and cook for 2 – 3 minutes at low heat. Switch off. Set aside for 10 – 15 minutes or until pressure releases.  Open the cooker. The rice will be perfectly cooked. Add saffron milk, if using and mix gently.

4. To layer-  Apply ghee inside a medium-sized bowl with 1/2 tsp ghee. Sprinkle 1 tbsp fried onion, chopped cilantro, mint, 2 – 3 fried cashews and raisins. Top it with 1/2 cup hot cooked basmati rice followed by 1 – 2 pieces of chicken coated with gravy. Top the chicken pieces with cooked rice and press well. Place the serving plate on top of this layered bowl and flip it. Tap the bowl gently and remove it. Yummy Kerala chicken biriyani is ready! Serve with boiled egg, raita, lemon pickle and pappadam. Enjoy!

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Kerala Special Chicken Biriyani

Kerala special chicken biriyani

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Maya Akhil

Wife, Mother, Blogger and above all, an ardent lover of good food. I cook, serve, and eat with almost the same passion. The divine aroma that fills the kitchen when I cook or bake is simply what keeps me going!

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Maya Akhil

Wife, Mother, Blogger and above all, an ardent lover of good food. I cook, serve, and eat with almost the same passion. The divine aroma that fills the kitchen when I cook or bake is simply what keeps me going!

Every Recipe Since 2010

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