Malabar Chicken Biryani

This delectable lip smacking dish comes from the Malabar region of Kerala and is very popular, especially amongst Biryani lovers. If you love Biryani , then you definitely need to try this dish once. If you have visited Kerala then I am sure you must have tasted this Biryani at least once. This is also one of my favorite rice dish and perfect for any occasions or parties

Since I belong to Malabar region and Malabar is famous for all kinds of non- veg dishes. This Biryani is one amongst them. This is made with Special Kaima rice or Jeeraka sala rice, now if you have neither of them you can use Basmati rice (Long grain rice) as substitute

Notes

*Here Kerala Chicken Biryani Masala is used to prepare the dish. In case you do not get it, you can use regular Biryani Masala too

**Malabar Biryani is rich and heavy, it uses larger amount of ghee in the dish. I have reduced the ghee content and substituted some amount of ghee with oil too. You can use additional 2 tbsp ghee for richer flavor and prepare this dish completely with ghee. I wouldn’t recommend substituting ghee completely from this dish as the flavor of the dish would greatly reduce

Do watch the video for better clarity in preparation and share your experience once you prepare it

Preparation Time: 60 mins Cooking Time: 45 mins Total time: 105 mins

Servings: 5

Ingredients

For Chicken gravy

• 1/2 kg Chicken with bones
• 3 tbsp Oil +Ghee (Clarified butter)
• 2 Onion thinly sliced
• 5 Green Chillies crushed
• 1 tbsp Garlic crushed
• 1/2 tbsp crushed Ginger
• 2 tbsp Mint leaves chopped
• 2 small Tomatoes cut lengthwise
• 1/2 teaspoon black Pepper powder
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt or as per taste
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1 tbsp Lime juice
• 1 teaspoon Kerala biryani Masala powder
• 2 tbsp chopped Coriander leaves (Cilantro)

For Rice

• 1.5 cups Basmati Rice/Kaima Rice/Jeerakasala rice
• 3 cups hot Water
• 3 tbsp Oil + Ghee  (Clarified butter)
• 1 small inch Cinnamon
• 2 Cloves
• 2-3 green cardamom
• 1 bay leaf – optional
• 1 teaspoon rose Water
• 1/2 teaspoon Kerala biryani Masala powder (homemade/store-brought)
• Salt as per taste

For Garnish

• 1/2 tsp Saffron soaked in 4 tbsp hot milk
• 1 tbsp fried Raisins
• 10-12 fried Cashews
• 1 cup fried Onions (Caramelized onions)
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander (cilantro)+ mint leaves

Steps to prepare

• Wash and soak the rice for 1 hour, drain excess water and keep it aside
• Heat oil and ghee in a deep bottom sauce pan over medium heat, add onions with little salt and saute until lightly golden brown
• Add ginger garlic and mint leaves , saute well for 1 minute.
• Add green chilies and mix well for few seconds
• Add tomatoes with spice powders, salt and saute until mushy and tender
• Add cleaned chicken and mix well such that chicken is well coated with spices
• Add water and mix well
• Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes then reduce the flame to low and cook for another 10 minutes until chicken is tender and gravy is thick. Add lime juice and coriander leaves. Mix well. Keep it aside
• In a heavy bottom Pan, heat the oil and ghee , add cinnamon cardamom , cloves, bay leaf
• Saute until aromatic
• Add rice and fry for 4-5 minutes over medium heat
• Add the hot water ,salt biryani masala powder and rosewater to the rice. Mix well.
• Cover and cook until rice is done.
• Gently stir the rice and keep it aside
• Now grease a heavy bottom pan, layer with 1/2 of chicken masala, then layer with half of rice, garnish with half of cashews, raisins and fried onions. Sprinkle half of saffron milk on top.
• Layer again with remaining chicken masala, rice and cashews raisins and fried onions. Sprinkle remaining saffron milk on top. Add some coriander +mint leaves on top.
• Cover tightly with lid and seal with dough
• Cook on a very low heat for 10 to 12 minutes , switch off the heat, let it remain on the conuer for 10 minutes
• Remove the sealed dough and the lid ,gently mix without breaking the grains.
• Serve hot with raita chutney and Pickle

Malabar Chicken Biryani

Posted in Rice and Tagged Biryani Chicken Biryani Kerala Chicken Biryani Kerala Dish Malabar Chicken Biryani Malabar Dish Rice Talasheri Chicken Biryani Thalaserry Chicken Biryani Thalasherry Chicken Biryani Traditional Dishes