Chicken Biryani For A Crowd Recipes

CHICKEN BIRYANI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or ghee) fry potatoes until brown, drain and reserve the potatoes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and fry onion, garlic and ginger until onion is soft and golden. Add chili, pepper, turmeric, cumin, salt and the tomatoes. Fry, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Add yogurt, mint, cardamom and cinnamon stick. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until the tomatoes are cooked to a pulp. It may be necessary to add a little hot water if the mixture becomes too dry and starts to stick to the pan.
• When the mixture is thick and smooth, add the chicken pieces and stir well to coat them with the spice mixture. Cover and cook over very low heat until the chicken is tender, approximately 35 to 45 minutes. There should only be a little very thick gravy left when chicken is finished cooking. If necessary cook uncovered for a few minutes to reduce the gravy.
• Wash rice well and drain in colander for at least 30 minutes.
• In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil (or ghee) and fry the onions until they are golden. Add saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger and rice. Stir continuously until the rice is coated with the spices.
• In a medium-size pot, heat the chicken stock and salt. When the mixture is hot pour it over the rice and stir well. Add the chicken mixture and the potatoes; gently mix them into the rice. Bring to boil. Cover the saucepan tightly, turn heat to very low and steam for 20 minutes. Do not lift lid or stir while cooking. Spoon biryani onto a warm serving dish.

CHICKEN BIRYANI FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 Wrap cardamom , cinnamon,ginger, and cumin seed in cheesecloth; secure with twine. In heavy-bottomed pot bring water, spice s and salt to boil then simmer, partially covered, until spices have infused water, about 30 minutes. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat butter until foaming subsides; add half of onions and cook until soft and dark brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Add half of jalapeños and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to medium bowl, wipe skillet clean with paper towels, and repeat with second batch of onions, jalapenos, and garlic. Transfer to bowl with rest of onion mixture. Wipe out skillet, return heat to medium-high, and place chicken skin side down in skillet; cook, without moving chicken, until well browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Flip chicken and brown second side, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate and remove and discard skin. Tent with foil. If necessary, return spice-infused water to boil over high heat; stir in rice and cook 5 minutes. Drain rice through fine-mesh strainer, reserving 3 cups cooking liquid. Transfer rice to medium bowl; stir in saffron and currants and season with salt. Spread half of rice in bottom of pot. Scatter half of onion mixture over rice, then place chicken thighs, skinned side up, on top of onions; add any accumulated chicken juices. Evenly sprinkle with cilantro and mint, scatter remaining onions over herbs, then cover with remaining rice; pour 1 1/2 cups reserved cooking liquid over rice. Cover pot and place in oven. Cook for 30 minutes. Uncover and check bottom of pan. If dry, add up to 1 cup reserved cooking liquid. Cook 20 minutes or rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Transfer chicken to separate plate. Spoon biryani into individual bowls.