Chicken Dum Biryani

Chicken Dum Biryani  -  Shwetha Amit Pai

Recipe:

Chicken – 1kg
For masala,
Red chillies – 20
green chillies – 5-6
coriander seeds – 2tbsp
cumin seeds – 2tbsp
turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
peppercorns – 1/2tsp
ginger, chopped 2tsp
garlic pod – 1
coriander leaves – 1/2 cup
mint leaves – 10-15
onion sliced 1/2cup
For the Ghee rice,

Basmathi rice – 3 cups
Ghee : 5 tbsp
Star anise : 1
Cloves : 4
Cinnamon : 1 inch piece
Green cardamom : 4 pods
Onions : 3 sliced
Salt to taste
Water : 6 cups
For the garnish

Saffron (Kesar) – about 2 pinches soaked in milk
Fried onion
Coriander leaves – a few sprigs
Method
For the gravy
Grind all the ingredients of masala to a fine paste. Mix with chicken cubes and let it marinate for an hour. Cook on low flam till meat is cooked and gravy becomes thick and coats chicken pieces.
For the ghee rice

Heat ghee in a cooker, Add the cloves, cinnamon, star anise, cardamon and stir fry for a minute
Add the sliced onions, and saute till its pink in color, Now add the rice and 6 cups of water,
Adjust the seasoning.
To Assemble 
Make layers of gravy and the ghee rice in a vessel.
Cover it tightly, and cook on a low heat for 15 min, See that the flavour doesn’t go out.
Serve with raita of your choice, Enjoy !!

Note : This recipe can be substituted with 10 eggs instead of chicken for the egg etarians !!