Monthi Monis’ Chicken Biryani Recipe

A Delicious One-Dish Indian Meal

Cook Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Chicken Biryani is a celebrated dish that brings together the rich flavors of spiced chicken and fragrant basmati rice. This recipe, adapted from Monthi Monis’ original version published in Thursday Magazine, offers a delightful culinary experience. Garnished with cashews, raisins, and fresh coriander, this biryani is perfect for any special occasion or a comforting family dinner.

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Recipe Details

Category	Keywords
One Dish Meal	Chicken, Poultry, Meat, Asian, Indian, Savory, Stove Top, < 4 Hours

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Ingredients

Quantity	Ingredient
1	Chicken (cut into pieces)
½	Basmati rice (cup, uncooked)
15	Garlic cloves
2	Fresh ginger pieces (inch)
1	Onion (thinly sliced)
15	Green chilies (chopped)
2	Fresh mint leaves (handful)
1	Turmeric powder (tsp)
½	Milk (cup)
½	Plain yogurt (cup)
4	Ghee (tbsp, divided)
2	Cinnamon sticks (3-inch)
3	Green cardamoms
4	Cloves
5	Cashews (tbsp, chopped)
15	Raisins
15	Fresh coriander leaves (tbsp, chopped, for garnish)
NA	Salt (to taste)
NA	Water (as needed for cooking rice)

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Nutritional Information

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	825.4 kcal
Fat	35.1 g
Saturated Fat	11 g
Cholesterol	97.9 mg
Sodium	113.4 mg
Carbohydrates	98.8 g
Fiber	7.9 g
Sugar	15.4 g
Protein	31.5 g

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Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Masala

1. Grind the Ingredients
   Using a blender, grind the garlic, ginger, and cashews together with ½ cup of milk until it forms a smooth paste.

2. Incorporate Turmeric and Yogurt
   Add 1 tsp of turmeric powder and ½ cup of plain yogurt to the mixture. Blend again to ensure all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.

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Step 2: Cook the Chicken

3. Heat the Oil and Ghee
   In a large wok or deep skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of oil and 1 tablespoon of ghee over medium heat.

4. Sauté the Onion
   Add the thinly sliced onion and sauté until it turns golden brown.

5. Cook the Chicken
   Add the chicken pieces to the wok and stir-fry for 5 minutes to lightly sear them.

6. Incorporate the Masala
   Stir in the chopped green chilies and the ground masala paste prepared earlier. Mix well to coat the chicken evenly.

7. Season and Simmer
   Add salt to taste and toss in the fresh mint leaves. Stir to combine. Cover the wok and let the chicken cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.

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Step 3: Prepare the Rice

8. Heat Ghee and Spices
   In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of ghee. Add the cloves, cardamoms, and cinnamon sticks, and sauté for 2 minutes until aromatic.

9. Toast the Rice
   Add the drained basmati rice to the pot and stir-fry for 2 minutes to coat it with the spiced ghee.

10. Add Water and Cook
    For every 2 cups of rice, add 4 cups of boiling water. Add salt to taste, stir, and bring to a boil.

11. Incorporate Cashews and Raisins
    Toss in the cashews and raisins. Cover the pot and cook until the rice absorbs all the water and is fully cooked.

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Step 4: Assemble the Biryani

12. Layer the Rice and Chicken
    In a large serving dish, create alternating layers of rice and chicken. Start with a layer of rice, followed by a layer of chicken, and repeat until all components are used.

13. Garnish
    Sprinkle the top layer with chopped fresh coriander leaves for a burst of color and flavor.

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Step 5: Serve

14. Accompany with Raita
    Serve the biryani hot, accompanied by a refreshing cucumber raita or any cooling yogurt-based side dish.

Enjoy the delightful aromas and flavors of this authentic Chicken Biryani. A dish like this is sure to impress your guests and bring joy to your dining table.

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