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Chicken Biryani – Traditional Grandma's Recipe

Recipe by Grandma Menu

  • Ready in120 min
  • Prep60 min
  • Cook60 min
  • CuisineIndian · South Indian
  • Serves8-10 People
  • Calories~600 kcal
Chicken Biryani – Traditional Grandma's Recipe

Ingredients

For Marinating Chicken

  • 2 KgChicken
  • 2 tbspSalt Powder
  • 4 tbspChili Powder
  • 1 tbspTurmeric Powder
  • 3 tbspGarlic Ginger Paste
  • 10 tbspCoconut Oil
  • 10 tbspCurd
  • from 2 limesLime Juice

For Biryani Powder

  • 8 tbspCoriander Seeds
  • 2 tbspFennel Seeds
  • 4 tbspCumin Seeds
  • 1 tbspBlack Pepper
  • few sticksCinnamon
  • as neededDried Chili
  • as neededCurry Leaves
  • as neededPandan Leaves
  • 10 pcsCardamom
  • 10 pcsCloves
  • 1 tbspTurmeric Powder
  • 4 tbspChili Powder
  • 1 tspSalt Powder

For Biryani Gravy

  • 6 tbspGhee Oil
  • 8 tbspCoconut Oil
  • 3 largeOnion
  • 10-12 pcsGreen Chili
  • 5-6 mediumTomato
  • 1/2 bunchCoriander Leaves
  • 1/2 bunchMinchi Leaves (Mint Leaves)
  • 6 tbspBiryani Powder
  • 2 KgMarinated Chicken

For Biryani Rice

  • 2 KgSoaked Basmati Rice
  • as neededWater
  • few podsCardamom
  • fewCloves
  • few sticksCinnamon
  • as neededCurry Leaves
  • 1 tbspSalt Powder
  • 2 tbspCoconut Oil

For Minchi Sambol

  • 1 bunchMinchi Leaves (Mint Leaves)
  • 1 inch pieceGinger
  • 5-6 clovesGarlic
  • 3-4 pcsGreen Chili
  • 1 smallRed Onion
  • 1 tspBlack Pepper Powder
  • 1 tspSalt Powder
  • 1/2 cupScraped Coconut
  • from 1/2 limeLime Juice

For Tomato Sambol

  • 2 mediumRed Onion
  • 3-4 pcsGreen Chili
  • 2 mediumTomato
  • from 1/2 limeLime Juice
  • 1 tspSalt Powder
  • 1 tspBlack Pepper Powder

For Fried Eggs

  • 10-12 pcsEggs
  • 4-5 tbspCoconut Oil

For Garnishing

  • as neededPineapple Slices

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1.Prepare Garlic Ginger Paste

    Add ginger to a mortar and grind it. Then add garlic cloves and continue grinding until a smooth paste is formed. Transfer the paste to a bowl.

  2. 2.Marinate the Chicken

    Place chicken pieces in a large pot. Add salt powder, chili powder, turmeric powder, garlic ginger paste, coconut oil, and curd. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the chicken. Mix all ingredients thoroughly by hand, ensuring each piece is well coated. Cover the pot and let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes.

  3. 3.Soak Basmati Rice

    Pour basmati rice into a large bowl. Add water, gently wash the rice, then drain the cloudy water. Add fresh water to cover the rice and let it soak for 20 minutes.

  4. 4.Prepare Biryani Powder

    Heat a large pan over fire. Add coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper, cinnamon sticks, dried chilies, curry leaves, pandan leaves, cardamom, and cloves. Roast the spices until fragrant. Transfer the roasted spices to a grinding stone and grind them into a fine powder. Add turmeric powder, chili powder, and salt powder to the ground spices and mix well.

  5. 5.Prepare Vegetables for Gravy

    Wash and slice the onions. Slice the green chilies. Chop the tomatoes. Pluck fresh coriander and mint leaves.

  6. 6.Cook Biryani Gravy Base

    Heat ghee oil and coconut oil in a large pot over fire. Add sliced onions and sauté until translucent. Add green chilies and chopped tomatoes, cooking until they soften. Stir in coriander leaves and mint leaves. Add the prepared biryani powder and mix well, cooking until the oil separates from the mixture.

  7. 7.Add Marinated Chicken

    Add the marinated chicken to the gravy base. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Cover the pot and let the chicken cook until tender and the gravy thickens.

  8. 8.Cook the Biryani Rice

    Drain the soaked basmati rice and add it to the cooked chicken gravy. Add enough water to cover the rice. Add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, curry leaves, salt powder, and coconut oil. Stir gently to combine. Cover the pot and cook until the rice is fluffy and all the water has been absorbed.

  9. 9.Prepare Minchi Sambol

    Pluck fresh mint leaves and wash them. On a grinding stone, grind mint leaves, ginger, garlic, green chilies, red onion, black pepper powder, and salt powder. Add scraped coconut and lime juice, then grind until a coarse green paste is formed. Transfer to a serving bowl.

  10. 10.Prepare Tomato Sambol

    Slice red onions, chop green chilies, and slice tomatoes. Combine them in a bowl. Add lime juice, salt powder, and black pepper powder. Mix well by hand.

  11. 11.Fry Eggs

    Boil eggs until cooked. Peel the eggs. Heat coconut oil in a pan and fry the boiled eggs until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.

  12. 12.Serve Chicken Biryani

    Serve the hot chicken biryani in a traditional clay pot or plate. Garnish with fried eggs, pineapple slices, minchi sambol, and tomato sambol. Enjoy!

Printed from Fullmeals.com — turn any cooking video into a recipe.

Chicken Biryani – Traditional Grandma's Recipe

Ready in

120 mins

Cuisine

Indian · South Indian

Prep Time

60 min

Cook Time

60 min

Serving

8-10 People

Calories / Serving

~600 kcal
Recipe by Grandma Menu on YouTube
Adjust Servings
Measurements
Tap an ingredient to mark it ready0 of 56 ready
All Ingredients

For Marinating Chicken

All Ingredients

For Biryani Powder

All Ingredients

For Biryani Gravy

All Ingredients

For Biryani Rice

All Ingredients

For Minchi Sambol

All Ingredients

For Tomato Sambol

All Ingredients

For Fried Eggs

All Ingredients

For Garnishing

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow each step to make the recipe successfully.

  1. 1

    Prepare Garlic Ginger Paste

    Add ginger to a mortar and grind it. Then add garlic cloves and continue grinding until a smooth paste is formed. Transfer the paste to a bowl.

  2. 2

    Marinate the Chicken

    Place chicken pieces in a large pot. Add salt powder, chili powder, turmeric powder, garlic ginger paste, coconut oil, and curd. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the chicken. Mix all ingredients thoroughly by hand, ensuring each piece is well coated. Cover the pot and let the chicken for .

  3. 3

    Soak Basmati Rice

    Pour basmati rice into a large bowl. Add water, gently wash the rice, then drain the cloudy water. Add fresh water to cover the rice and let it soak for .

  4. 4

    Prepare Biryani Powder

    Heat a large pan over fire. Add coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper, cinnamon sticks, dried chilies, curry leaves, pandan leaves, cardamom, and cloves. Roast the spices until fragrant. Transfer the roasted spices to a grinding stone and grind them into a fine powder. Add turmeric powder, chili powder, and salt powder to the ground spices and mix well.

  5. 5

    Prepare Vegetables for Gravy

    Wash and slice the onions. Slice the green chilies. Chop the tomatoes. Pluck fresh coriander and mint leaves.

  6. 6

    Cook Biryani Gravy Base

    Heat ghee oil and coconut oil in a large pot over fire. Add sliced onions and until translucent. Add green chilies and chopped tomatoes, cooking until they soften. Stir in coriander leaves and mint leaves. Add the prepared biryani powder and mix well, cooking until the oil separates from the mixture.

  7. 7

    Add Marinated Chicken

    Add the chicken to the gravy base. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Cover the pot and let the chicken cook until tender and the gravy thickens.

  8. 8

    Cook the Biryani Rice

    Drain the soaked basmati rice and add it to the cooked chicken gravy. Add enough water to cover the rice. Add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, curry leaves, salt powder, and coconut oil. Stir gently to combine. Cover the pot and cook until the rice is fluffy and all the water has been absorbed.

  9. 9

    Prepare Minchi Sambol

    Pluck fresh mint leaves and wash them. On a grinding stone, grind mint leaves, ginger, garlic, green chilies, red onion, black pepper powder, and salt powder. Add scraped coconut and lime juice, then grind until a coarse green paste is formed. Transfer to a serving bowl.

  10. 10

    Prepare Tomato Sambol

    Slice red onions, chop green chilies, and slice tomatoes. Combine them in a bowl. Add lime juice, salt powder, and black pepper powder. Mix well by hand.

  11. 11

    Fry Eggs

    Boil eggs until cooked. Peel the eggs. Heat coconut oil in a pan and fry the boiled eggs until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.

  12. 12

    Serve Chicken Biryani

    Serve the hot chicken biryani in a traditional clay pot or plate. Garnish with fried eggs, pineapple slices, minchi sambol, and tomato sambol. Enjoy!

Before You Cook

Helpful details before you start
Spice LevelFiery
Chili powder · Ginger · Black pepper · Chili · Green chili
Ingredient SubstitutionsMissing something? View suitable alternatives.
View 7 swaps
  • No Garlic (fresh)?

    • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
    • 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
  • No Yogurt?

    • Sour cream (1:1)
    • Buttermilk (1:1, slightly thinner result)
  • No Curry leaves?

    • 1 bay leaf + a pinch of lemon zest — Aroma only — flavor is unique.
  • No Ghee?

    • Unsalted butter (1:1)
    • Neutral oil (1:1, lacks the toasted note)
  • No Onion?

    • 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
    • 3 tbsp dried minced onion
    • Shallots or leeks (1:1)
  • No Cilantro?

    • Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
    • Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
  • No Egg?

    • 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water (rest 5 min) — Per egg, best in baking.
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce — Per egg, in sweet baked goods.
    • 1/4 cup silken tofu, blended — Per egg.
Ingredient Substitutions
  • No Garlic (fresh)?

    • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
    • 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
  • No Yogurt?

    • Sour cream (1:1)
    • Buttermilk (1:1, slightly thinner result)
  • No Curry leaves?

    • 1 bay leaf + a pinch of lemon zest — Aroma only — flavor is unique.
  • No Ghee?

    • Unsalted butter (1:1)
    • Neutral oil (1:1, lacks the toasted note)
  • No Onion?

    • 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
    • 3 tbsp dried minced onion
    • Shallots or leeks (1:1)
  • No Cilantro?

    • Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
    • Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
  • No Egg?

    • 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water (rest 5 min) — Per egg, best in baking.
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce — Per egg, in sweet baked goods.
    • 1/4 cup silken tofu, blended — Per egg.
AllergensThis recipe contains dairy and eggs.
dairyeggs

Variations

Simple ways to adapt this recipe.

  • 1
    For a vegetarian optionDietary option

    Replace chicken with paneer or mixed vegetables.

  • 2
    Add saffron soaked in warmCustomise

    Add saffron soaked in warm milk for a richer color and aroma in the rice.

Helpful Tips

Small details that can improve the final result.

  • 1
    TipMarinating the Chicken for at

    Marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes ensures it absorbs all the flavors and cooks tenderly.

  • 2
    Flavour tipAdjust the Amount of Green

    Adjust the amount of green chilies and chili powder according to your spice preference.

  • 3
    Flavour tipUsing a Traditional Grinding Stone

    Using a traditional grinding stone for the biryani powder enhances the aroma and flavor of the spices.

  • 4
    PreparationSoaking the Basmati Rice for

    Soaking the basmati rice for 20 minutes before cooking helps achieve perfectly fluffy and separate grains.

Your Notes

Save your personal tweaks, substitutions and cooking adjustments.

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Example: Used less salt, cooked 5 minutes longer, added extra coriander.

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