Chicken Biryani – Pakistani Style
Summary
- This video demonstrates how to prepare a flavorful chicken biryani, a classic South Asian dish. The chicken is marinated in a rich blend of spices and yogurt, then layered with partially cooked basmati rice, fried onions, and fresh herbs, before being slow-cooked to perfection.
All Ingredients - For Chicken Marinade
- Chicken (bone-in, cut into pieces) 2.5 lbs
- Plain Yogurt 1 cup
- Ginger-Garlic Paste 3 tbsp
- Red Chili Powder 2 tbsp
- Turmeric Powder 1 tsp
- Salt 1 tbsp
- Coriander Powder 2 tbsp
- Cumin Powder 1 tbsp
- Star Anise 1
- Green Cardamom Pods 4
- Black Cardamom Pods 2
- Cloves 6
- Black Peppercorns 10
- Cinnamon Stick 1 (2-inch piece)
- Cumin Seeds 1 tsp
- Biryani Masala 4 tbsp
- Green Chili and Mint-Coriander Paste 1/2 cup
- Lemon Juice from 1 lemon
- Fresh Cilantro (chopped) 1/2 cup
All Ingredients - For Frying Onions
- Large Onions (thinly sliced) 3
- Cooking Oil 2 cups
All Ingredients - For Chicken Curry
- Cooking Oil or Ghee 3 tbsp
- Large Potatoes (peeled and quartered) 2
All Ingredients - For Boiling Rice
- Water as needed
- Green Chilies 5
- Bay Leaves 2
- Salt 2 tbsp
- Green Cardamom Pods a few
- Cooking Oil 1 tbsp
- Basmati Rice (soaked for 30 minutes) 4 cups (720g)
All Ingredients - For Layering and Garnish
- Orange/Red Food Coloring 1/4 tsp
- Water or Milk 2 tbsp
- Fresh Cilantro (chopped) 1/4 cup
- Fresh Mint Leaves (chopped) 1/4 cup
- Lemon Slices 3 thin slices
Tools You'll Need
- Pan
- Pot
- Mixing bowl
- Slotted spoon
- Colander
Plan Ahead
Up to 30 min of hands-off time you can shift to earlier.
- Step 1 · Refrigerate30 min
…again. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, or preferably longer in the refrigerator.
Don't have an ingredient? Try these swaps
No Yogurt?
- Sour cream (1:1)
- Buttermilk (1:1, slightly thinner result)
No Garlic (fresh)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
- 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
No Lemon juice?
- Lime juice (1:1)
- 1/2 the amount white vinegar — In dressings, savory dishes.
No Cilantro?
- Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
- Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
No Onion?
- 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
- 3 tbsp dried minced onion
- Shallots or leeks (1:1)
No Ghee?
- Unsalted butter (1:1)
- Neutral oil (1:1, lacks the toasted note)
No Bay leaf?
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme (per leaf)
- Pinch of dried oregano
No Milk?
- Unsweetened almond / soy / oat milk (1:1)
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water (per 1 cup)
⚠ Contains Allergens
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
Add the chicken pieces to a large mixing bowl. Then add yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, coriander powder, cumin powder, whole spices (star anise, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds), and biryani masala. Pour in the green chili and mint-coriander paste, squeeze in the juice from one lemon, and mix everything thoroughly with your hands until the chicken is well coated. Finally, add the chopped fresh cilantro and mix again. Let it for at least , or preferably longer in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Prepare Fried Onions
Heat 2 cups of cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the thinly sliced onions and fry them, stirring occasionally, until they turn golden brown and crispy, which should take about . Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried onions from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken Curry
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil or ghee. Add a handful of the prepared fried onions. Then, carefully add the chicken to the pot. Stir well and cook the chicken over medium heat for about , or until it is partially cooked and the oil starts to separate from the masala. Add the peeled and quartered potatoes, mix gently, and cover the pot. Let it cook for another until the potatoes are slightly tender and the chicken is almost cooked.
Step 4: Prepare the Basmati Rice
While the chicken curry is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the green chilies, bay leaves, 2 tablespoons of salt, a few green cardamom pods, and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the boiling water. Carefully add the soaked basmati rice to the pot. Cook the rice for about , or until it is 70-80% cooked (). The grains should be elongated but still firm. Drain the rice thoroughly using a colander.
Step 5: Layer the Biryani
Once the chicken curry is ready, spread a layer of the partially cooked basmati rice evenly over the chicken and potatoes in the pot. Sprinkle some of the remaining fried onions and chopped fresh cilantro over the rice. Add another layer of the chicken curry on top of the rice. Follow with another layer of the remaining rice. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 teaspoon of orange or red food coloring with 2 tablespoons of water or milk, then drizzle this mixture over the rice. Garnish with the remaining fried onions, chopped fresh cilantro, chopped mint leaves, and thin lemon slices.
Step 6: Dum (Steam Cook) the Biryani
Cover the pot tightly with a lid, preferably with a clean kitchen towel placed between the pot and the lid to create a tight seal. Cook the biryani on very low heat for . This 'dum' cooking method allows the flavors to meld and the rice to finish cooking perfectly.
Step 7: Serve the Biryani
After the dum cooking, carefully uncover the pot. Gently fluff and mix the biryani from the bottom up to combine the chicken curry and rice layers. Serve the hot biryani immediately, garnished with fresh red onions on the side.
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