How to make restaurant quality chicken biryani at home!

Spice up your dinner tonight with this delicious biryani recipe. Made with rice, chicken, caramelized onions and a rich blend of spices, this dish is perfect for sharing with the family or getting your fill for the week.

If you’re looking for a meal that’s simple, delicious and easy to make, biryani is the way to go. It’s made with layers of rice and cooked chicken seasoned with a flavorful marinade, so it has all the elements of a good meal: spice, flavor and texture.

Biryani is the quintessential dish that transcends the barriers of cultures, nations, and languages. It’s a meal that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere—and it’s always perfect for when you’re craving some good old’ fashioned comfort food.

The fragrant spices and the heavenly combo of marinated-to-perfection meat and fluffy rice make it the ultimate meal to enjoy with your family and friends. Whether you’re celebrating an occasion or just having a simple night in with your loved ones, biryani will never disappoint!

Mixed with a variety of exotic spices, fluffy long-grain rice, tender chicken, and roasted onions, this dish will have you pleading for more. The aroma of the rice and spices is sure to tantalize your senses and prepare you for a fantastic meal.

What is Biryani?

Biryani is a traditional dish made with layers of boiled rice, cooked chicken (chicken or lamb meat) seasoned with a flavorful marinade, and caramelized onions steamed together in one pot. It is usually served with a side of fresh salad or raita to balance the heat of savory spices.

You’ll love how the bottom layer of rice beautifully soaks the marinated chicken flavors, while the top layer boasts a robust flavor thanks to the strong aroma of caramelized onions and delicious gravy.

Biryani is the perfect meal for any occasion, whether it’s a casual dinner with friends or a special celebration. It’s a flavorful and satisfying dish that is sure to be a hit with everyone. So why wait? Treat yourself to a delicious and aromatic plate of biryani today!

Marinating is the key

This chicken biryani’s succulent, exotic flavors come from the perfect chicken marinade. I used yogurt, avocado oil, garlic, ginger, cloves, salt, cilantro, and biryani masala to flavor the chicken. The key to infusing those distinct aromas into the chicken is to marinate it for at least two hours, preferably overnight. When marinating the chicken, use a large bowl and give it ample time to soak up the flavors for the best results.

What is Biryani Masala

Biryani Masala is a spice blend that can be used to add depth of flavor and texture to meat, vegetables, or rice. It adds a little spicy kick to any biryani and is a must-have ingredient of a biryani recipe that makes all the difference. One of the best things about biryani masala is that it can turn even the most boring dish into something special.

How to make Biryani Masala at Home

Did you know that you can make your own biryani masala at home with just a few simple ingredients? Making your own biryani masala at home is easy, and it’s a great way to enjoy biryani full of flavor and aroma. Plus, when you make your own spice blend, you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste.

For homemade biryani masala, you’ll need:

Whole Spices

• 3 tsp fennel seeds
• 3 Star anise
• 4 black Cardamom
• 15-20 green Cardamom
• 1 tbsp pepper cams
• 3 Cinnamon Sticks
• 2 tbsp cloves
• 4tbsp coriander Seeds
• 1 tbsp Shahi Jeera
• 1 tbsp Cumin Seeds
• 6 pieces of mace

Powdered Spices

• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 3 tsp garlic powder

Method

Dry roast whole spices on a low flame in a skillet. Allow the roasted spices to cool and then grind them in a spice grinder. Add the ground spices to powdered spices and then store this spice blend in an airtight jar. Use this aromatic biryani masala to make delicious biryani at home.

Ingredients for Biryani

Chicken – I recommend using bone-in chicken such as thighs or drumsticks for the biryani recipe. Breast meat is a good option if you are short on time, but be aware that breast meat tends to dry out when cooked for a long time.

Rice – Rice is the shining star of the blockbuster “biryani show.” Go for premium, high-quality, aged basmati rice that melds well with chicken and produces a fluffy and tender texture of biryani without turning out mushy.

Onions – Sautéed onions impart a savory aroma to this biryani recipe and are equally important as chicken and rice.

Spices – Spices and herbs work magic in this traditional subcontinental recipe. My spice blend includes whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Turmeric gives the rice its vibrant yellow color, but if you cannot find it, saffron can be substituted. 

Tomatoes – One large chopped tomato for a tangy twist

Potatoes – Potatoes provide a pleasant texture, and a mouthful feel to the biryani recipe. Additionally, potatoes are a welcome addition to this rice recipe when you don’t want to add meat for any reason.

Biryani Masala – Biryani masala is the essential ingredient of a biryani recipe that elevates the flavors of rice and chicken. You can use homemade or store-bought biryani masala, as both versions yield equally delicious results.

How to make the best biryani

The first step in making biryani is marinating the chicken with yogurt, spices and biryani masala and leave it aside. The next step is soaking rice in water. Then caramelize the onion by cooking them in avocado oil. Once done, transfer them to a plate.

Now fry the chicken pieces on both sides in batches. Add fried chicken, a cup of water with dried lemon, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, turmeric, chopped tomatoes, potatoes, biryani masala, and half of the caramelized onion back to the cooking pot and let it cook for 10 minutes or until the chicken is tender, draining the excess water.

Boil the rice until they are 75% cooked and then start assembling biryani layers in a baking tray, adding rice on the bottom, potatoes, and cooked chicken over the rice, followed by another layer of rice followed by gravy and another layer of rice topped with caramelized onion. Cover with Aluminium foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

What to serve with biryani?

Raita is an excellent accompaniment to a bowl of delicious biryani. Yogurt can be mixed with mint leaves and cucumbers for a simple raita. This will help balance the heat of the intense flavors of biryani.

It is also a great idea to serve a simple, fresh salad of cucumbers and tomatoes along with the biryani. Many people think yogurt and biryani are a perfect match since yogurt also perfectly balances the spice factor.

Which is the best rice for biryani?

Buy the best quality aged basmati rice available. The best rice for biryani is aged basmati rice, as it absorbs flavors better than other varieties and holds its texture well in the curry.