|

Mildly Spicy Homestyle Chicken Biryani


Prepared By Lakshmi Aparna


Aromatic homestyle chicken biryani served in a traditional dish

Welcome to our delightful recipe for Mildly Spicy Homestyle Chicken Biryani. This dish combines tender chicken pieces with fragrant basmati rice, infused with a harmonious blend of spices that offer a perfect balance of flavor without overwhelming heat. Ideal for family gatherings or a comforting meal, this biryani is both nutritious and delicious, making it a favorite among all age groups.

Important: Please note that this is a "Mildly Spicy Biryani," prepared with just 2 teaspoons of Ghee (Clarified Butter). Because it is devoid of oil, the recipe will not taste the same as its restaurant counterpart. However, it is definitely a healthier option, especially for kids, since less spice, no oil, and a little Ghee are always good for digestion.

Serve it hot and consume it immediately. If there is a delay between cooking and serving, use Basmati Rice instead of regular rice and add a little more Ghee to maintain the texture and flavor.

If you are looking for a spicier biryani, you can check out our Special Chicken Biryani Version 2.0 by clicking HERE.

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4-5

 

Quick Navigation:

 

Ingredients

Chicken (Large Pieces): 750 grams

Fresh chicken pieces prepared for biryani

Regular Rice or Basmati Rice: 1/2 kg (We used regular rice for this recipe)

Basmati rice grains for cooking biryani

Water: 1 and 1/4 liters

Fresh lemons used for seasoning the biryani

Lemon: 1/2

Ghee: 2 teaspoons

Clarified butter enhancing the biryani's flavor

Pasupu (Turmeric Powder): 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder adding color and aroma to the biryani

Allam Velulli Paste (Ginger Garlic Paste): 4 teaspoons

Fresh ginger garlic paste for marinating the chicken

Ullipaya, Pachimirapa (Onion, Green Chillies): 1 small onion, 3 or 4 green chillies

Sliced onions and green chillies for the biryani

Kothimeera, Pudina (Coriander Leaves, Mint Leaves): 1 cup

Fresh coriander and mint leaves adding freshness to the biryani

Jaji Kayi (Nutmeg): 1

Whole nutmeg for aromatic flavor in the biryani

Marathi Moggu (Dried Capers): 5 or 6

Japatri (Mace): 2 or 3

Whole mace adding a subtle flavor to the biryani

Anasa Puvvu (Star Anise): 2 or 3

Star anise for a hint of licorice flavor in the biryani

Nalla Yelukalu (Black Cardamom): 3

Black cardamom pods enhancing the biryani's aroma

Toka Miriyalu (Long Pepper): 10

Long pepper adding depth to the biryani's spice profile

Biriyani Aaku (Bay Leaf): 2

Bay leaves infusing a subtle fragrance into the biryani

Lavangalu (Cloves): 15

Whole cloves contributing to the rich aroma of the biryani

Yelukalu (Green Cardamom): 5

Green cardamom pods adding sweetness to the biryani

Dalchina Chakka (Cinnamon): 2 sticks

Cinnamon sticks providing warmth and flavor to the biryani

Seemsopu Ginjalu (Shahjeera, Caraway Seeds, Black Cumin Seeds): 1 teaspoon

Caraway seeds adding a unique flavor to the biryani

Salt: 4 teaspoons

Cloth (Kerchief):

Cloth used for straining masala in the biryani preparation

Procedure

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

Clean the chicken pieces thoroughly. In a large bowl, add 1 teaspoon of Turmeric Powder, 2 teaspoons of Salt, 2 teaspoons of Red Chilli Powder, juice of half a lemon, 5 cloves, 1 stick of Cinnamon, 2 Green Cardamoms, and 2 teaspoons of Ginger Garlic Paste. Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the spices.

Marinating chicken with spices for biryani

Step 2: Refrigerate the Marinated Chicken

Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 1 hour. For best results, refrigerate the marinated chicken to enhance the flavors.

Refrigerated marinating chicken for biryani

Step 3: Prepare the Spice Blend

In a blender, add 1 stick of Cinnamon, 3 Green Cardamoms, 10 Cloves, 2 Bay Leaves, 10 Long Peppers, 3 Black Cardamoms, 2 Star Anises, 3 Mace pieces, 5 Dried Capers, 1 Nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon of Caraway Seeds.

Spice blend for biryani masala preparation

Step 4: Blend the Spices

Blend the spices once until they form a coarse powder. Avoid over-blending to maintain the texture.

Coarse spice powder for biryani masala

Step 5: Prepare the Masala Cloth

Transfer the blended spices to a clean cloth and tie it securely to form a masala cloth (Muta kattukovali).

Masala cloth preparation for biryani

Step 6: Boil the Masala Cloth

Dip the masala cloth into 1 and 1/4 liters of water and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to extract the flavors.

Boiling masala cloth to create biryani gravy

Simmering masala cloth for enhanced flavor

Step 7: Cook the Marinated Chicken

Cook the marinated chicken in a heavy-bottomed pan on low flame until the water evaporates completely. Do not add any additional water to ensure the chicken remains tender and juicy.

Cooking marinated chicken for biryani

Step 8: Prepare the Garnishes

Slice the onions thinly, chop the coriander leaves, and cut the green chillies into small pieces. These will be used as garnishes and for layering the biryani.

Preparing garnishes for biryani

Step 9: Prepare the Rice

Clean 1/2 kg of rice thoroughly and add 2 teaspoons of Ghee into a pressure cooker.

Preparing rice for biryani

Step 10: Fry the Onions and Green Chillies

Fry the sliced onions and green chillies in the Ghee until they turn light golden brown. This step enhances the flavor and adds a crispy texture to the biryani.

Frying onions and green chillies for biryani

Step 11: Add Ginger Garlic Paste

Add 2 teaspoons of Ginger Garlic Paste to the fried onions and green chillies. Sauté for a few minutes until the raw aroma disappears.

Adding ginger garlic paste to the biryani

Step 12: Incorporate Fresh Herbs

Incorporate the chopped Coriander Leaves and Mint Leaves into the cooker. These herbs add a refreshing flavor to the biryani.

Adding fresh herbs to the biryani

Step 13: Add the Rice

Slowly add the cleaned rice to the cooker, mixing it well for about 2 minutes to ensure the rice is evenly coated with the spices and herbs.

Mixing rice with spices and herbs for biryani

Final mixing of rice with chicken in the biryani cooker

Step 14: Combine Chicken with Rice

Add the cooked chicken to the rice mixture and gently mix to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.

Combining cooked chicken with rice in biryani

Step 15: Add Masala Water

Remove the masala cloth from the masala water and squeeze it to extract all the flavorful liquid. Add this masala water to the cooker to enhance the biryani's taste.

Adding masala water to the biryani for extra flavor

Final steps in preparing the biryani before cooking

Step 16: Season and Cook

Taste the biryani to check if the salt level is adequate. Add more salt if necessary. Close the cooker and cook on high flame.

Adjusting seasoning in the biryani before final cooking

Step 17: Final Cooking and Serving

After the first whistle, turn off the flame just before the second whistle begins. Allow the biryani to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Final presentation of the cooked biryani ready to serve

Served mildly spicy chicken biryani garnished with herbs

Enjoy your Very Tasty, Mildly Spicy Chicken Biryani, perfect for a hearty meal with family and friends. Its balanced flavors and wholesome ingredients make it a delightful dish that everyone will love.

As per many of your requests, we have also prepared a restaurant-style biryani. The cooking time is slightly longer, but it is well worth the wait. If you are deciding which version to choose, we highly recommend the Special Chicken Biryani Version 2.0. Try it and let us know your thoughts. Click the image below to see the step-by-step procedure.

Special Chicken Biryani Version 2.0 with detailed preparation steps

Comments powered by CComment

 

 

Website

Contact

 

Our Latest Recipes

Chat Support

Chat support is over WhatsApp messages. Post the complete question, and also mention this website. Thanks.