Chicken Pulao

I had jotted down this recipe ages ago based on a recipe I had found on the internet. Recently tried it all over again.

Serves - 2-3 people

Ingredients:

1. Chicken - 300gms (Cleaned and marinated with chili powder, turmeric powder and salt)
2. Rice - 2 cups
3. Onion - 1 large vertically chopped
4. Tomatoes - 2 medium chopped
5. Ginger paste - 1 tsp
6. Garlic paste - 1 tsp
7. cardamom - 3-4
8. Cinnamon - 1 large stick
9. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
10. Cloves - 7-8
11. Curd - 1 tbsp
12. Green chili - 1 vertically slit
13. Mint leaves - a handful - chopped
14. Coriander leaves - a handful
15. Chili powder - 1 tsp
16. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
17. Water - 4 cups
18. Oil - 4-5 tbsp

Method

1) Heat oil. Add all the dry spices (Ingredients 7-10). Fry for 2-3 minutes

2) Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for few more minutes

3) Add the onion. Fry till translucent

4) Add salt, turmeric powder and chili powder. Fry for 2 more minutes

5) Add the tomatoes and fry for 5-6 minutes

6) Add the chicken pieces. Fry for 4-5 minutes

7) Add the curd and mix well. Fry for 2 more minutes

8) Add half of the chopped mint leaves. Add little water. Mix well.

9) Pressure cook ( 1 cooker whistle)

10) Open the pressure cooker and ensure that chicken is cooked. Take 1 cup water from the chicken mixture and mix with 4 cups water. Heat this.

11) Add the rice, green chili coriander leaves and remaining mint leaves. Add salt as per taste.

12) Pressure cook the rice

13) On a serving plate serve the rice. Spread the chicken mixture on top and devour!!

Chicken biryani

Serves - 4 people

Ingredients

For marinade

1. Coriander leaves - 1 cup
2. Mint leaves - 1 cup
3. Garlic - 25-30 cloves
4. Ginger - about 10 finger sized pieces
5. Chili powder - 1 tbsp
6. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

For chicken

1. Chicken - 800 gms
2. Onion - 3 medium sized vertically slit
3. Tomatoes - 2 medium sized finely chopped
4. Ginger - 1 tbsp minced
5. Garlic - 1 tbsp minced
6. Cloves - 3-4
7. Cinnamon - 3-4 sticks
8. Cardamon - 3-4
9. Biryani masala - 2 tbsp
10. Chili powder - 3 tbsp (adjust as per taste)
11. Turmeric powder -  3 tsp
12. curd - 2 tbsp
13. Oil - 4-5 tbsp (For frying)

For rice

1. Basmati rice - 3 cups
2. Mint leaves - a handful
3. Bay leaves - 3-4
4. Cardamon - 3-4
5. Cloves - 3-4
6. Star anise -3-4
7. Saffron - 1 pinch soaked in about 2 tbsp milk

For garnishing

1. Onion - 1 large vertically chopped
2. Cashew nuts - a handul (cut into pieces)
3. Oil - 3 tbsp (For frying)

Method:

1) Grind all the ingredients for the marinade except the chili powder and turmeric powder into a smooth paste.

2) Apply to the chicken along with chili powder, turmeric powder and salt. Allow to marinate for 3-4 hours

3) Heat oil. Add ingredients 4-8 for the chicken and fry for 2 minutes

4) Add the onion. Fry till translucent.

5) Add the tomatoes. Fry till oil separates.

6) Add turmeric powder, chili powder , biryani masala and salt. Fry for 2 minutes

7) Add the curd. Fry for 2 minutes.

8) Add the marinated chicken.  Mix well. Keep covered and let cook.

9) Mix all the ingredients for the rice except the safforn milk with 6 cups water. Keep covered and let cook. Stir intermittently and add more water if required till the rice is cooked

10) Heat oil set aside for the garnishing. Add the onion and fry till its brown.Drain on a tissue paper

11) Similarly fry the cashew nuts.

12) Transfer the chicken to a deep bottom kadhai or handi. Add the rice on top. 

13) Add the saffron milk

14) keep covered and let cook for 15-20 minutes. Garnish with onion, cashew nuts and coriander leaves

15) Server hot.

Prawns Pulao

My mother in law's recipe, I prefer it over my mom's elaborate recipe (posted here) as its quick to prepare and tastier :)

Serves - 3 people

Ingredients:

1. Prawns - 1 cup
2. Rice - 1.5 cup
3. Onion - 2 large chopped vertically
4. Ginger (grated) - 1 tbsp 
5. Garlic (minced) - 1 tbsp 
6. Cloves - 6-7
7. Peppercons - 7-8
8. Cinnamon - 4-5 sticks
9. Cardamom - 4
10. Cumin - 1 tsp
11. Bay leaves - 4
12. Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
13. Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
14. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
15. Chili powder - 2 tsp
16. Malvani masala - 1 tsp
17. Oil - 4 tbsp

Method:

1) Heat oil. Add all the dry spices (Pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin and bay leaves). Fry for 2 minutes.

2) Add the ginger and garlic paste. Fry for 2 minutes

3) Add the onion. Fry till translucent

4) Add the turmeric powder, chili powder and malvani masala. Add salt

5) Add the prawns. Fry for about 10 minutes or till the prawns appear to be cooked

6) Add rice. Fry for 5 minutes

7) Add about 4 cups of water.

8) Keep covered and let cook. Add water if required while cooking till the rice is fully done

9) Garnish with coriander and grated coconut. Serve hot

White pulao

Perfect accompaniment for any gravy dish. I normally prepare it with chicken

Serves - 2-3 people

Ingredients

1. Rice - 1.5 cup 
2. Water - 3 cups
3. Cloves
4. Cinnamon
5. Bay leaves
6. Cardomom
7. Green chillies - 3 (Slit vertically)
8. Ginger
9. Garlic
10. Onion
11. Mint leaves
12. Butter - 1 tsp

Method

1) Wash the rice. Drain the water. Add 1/2 tea spoon of oil. Squeeze a little lime. Leave for about an hour

2) Heat oil. Add the cloves,cinnamon sticks, cardamom  and bay leaves. 

3) Add the green chilles, ginger and garlic.

3) Add the onion.

4) Add the rice and stir for 2 minutes.

5) Add 4 cups water.Add mint leaves. Add butter and salt

6) Pressure cook for 3 whistles.