Description
A vibrant and flavorful dish of rich butter chicken biryani combining tender chicken, fragrant spices, and fluffy basmati rice, perfect for gatherings or comforting weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 500g chicken, cut into pieces
- 1 cup yogurt
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- Green chilies to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Start by marinating the chicken. In a bowl, mix the chicken pieces with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, garam masala, cumin seeds, and salt. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes to absorb all those lovely flavors.
- In a large pot, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté them until they turn golden brown. Stir them from time to time to ensure they don’t burn.
- Once the onions are beautifully caramelized, add the marinated chicken along with the marinade. Cook it until the chicken is browned and fully cooked, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and green chilies to the pot. Cook this mixture until the tomatoes begin to soften and blend in with the chicken.
- Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Soak it for about 30 minutes to allow the grains to soften.
- After soaking, drain the rice and set it aside. In the chicken pot, add about 4 cups of water and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, add the soaked rice. Cook it until the rice is about half done (it should still have a bit of bite to it).
- Layer the chopped cilantro and mint over the half-cooked rice. Cover the pot tightly with a lid and lower the heat. Cook on low until the rice is fully cooked and fluffy, about 15-20 minutes.
- Once done, remove the pot from heat and let it sit for an additional 10 minutes with the lid on. This resting period helps the flavors settle beautifully.
Notes
Serve with cucumber raita or a crisp salad, and garnish with extra cilantro and mint.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: biryani, butter chicken, Indian cuisine, comfort food, family meals