Bhopali Red Rice Chicken Biryani

Ingredients

• 250 gms chicken
• 1 cup red rice
• 1/2 cup oil
• 3 onions sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 green cardamoms
• 1 black cardamom
• 8-10 black peppercorns
• 1 ” cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 6 cloves
• 1/2 cup curd
• 2-3 green chillies chopped
• 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp salt or to taste
• 1 tbsp mint
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp kewda water
• 1 tbsp biryani masala (see below)
• 1 tbsp desi ghee
• 6 cloves
• 10 peppercorns
• 1 piece of cinnamon
• 1 black cardamom
• 5 green cardamoms
• 1 star anise
• 1 piece mace
• 2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds

Steps

1. To begin, wash the red rice well and soak it for at least half an hour.
2. Heat oil in a wide bottom pan. Add the sliced onions and fry until golden. Remove half and keep aside.
3. Into the remaining onions, add in the garam masala – bay leaf, green cardamoms, black cardamom, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds, and cloves. Allow them to crackle.
4. Next, add in the chicken pieces and sear on high heat.
5. Now add the curd, chopped green chilies, ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, coriander powder, and salt, with the chopped mint. Saute well. Cover and cook on low flame until the chicken is semi-cooked. And oil starts appearing on the sides.
6. Add in the water. It should be double the quantity of rice. Allow it to boil.
7. Now add in the drained rice with lemon juice. Mix well.
8. Add in kewra water. Wait for it to boil. Add in the biryani masala and mix well. Cover with a lid and cook on low flame.
9. Once the rice is done, sprinkle some barista on top and add a tbsp of desi ghee. Fluff it up a bit. Cover and let it rest for a few more minutes.
10. The Bhopali Red Rice Chicken Biryani is ready on top. Garnish with barista and mint leaves. Serve with tadka raita.