Chicken Briyani - Pakistani Style

Ingredients:-

 For marinating Chicken:-

• Chicken - 1 lb
• Ginger garlic paste- 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste

For Rice:-

• Basmati Rice - 4 cups
• Bayleaves - 1
• Cinnamon stick -1
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste

For briyani masala:-

• Onion, sliced - 1 big
• Tomato - 2 , chopped
• Green chillies - 5 
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Curd - 1/4 cup
• Mint leaves, chopped - 1/2 cup
• Coriander leaves, chopped - 1/2 tbsp
• Red chilli powder - 2 tbsp
• Cloves - 1
• Bayleaves - 1
• Cinnamon stick - 1
• Cardamon - 1
• Javitri - 1
• Star anise - 1
• Ghee as needed
• Vegetable oil/ canola oil as needed
• Salt to taste

For layering and garnishing:-

• Fried onion - 2 big 
• Food color - 1/4 tbsp, 
• Saffron soaked Milk - 2 tbsp 
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Mint leaves / coriander leaves, chopped - few

Preparation:-

Cooking the Rice:-

1. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes.
2. In a electric cooker/pressure cooker, add soaked rice, cumin seeds, cinnamon, bay leaves, lemon juice and salt.
3. Cook the rice until its done. Set it aside.

Marinating chicken:-

1. In a bowl, add red chilli powder, lemon juice, salt, ginger garlic paste and chicken. combine well and allow it to marinate for 1 hour. 
2. Fry the marinated chicken lightly for about 5-10 minutes. Do not fry much as the chicken will further cook in the briyani masala. Keep it aside.

For making briyani masala:-

1. Heat ghee and oil in a large pan. 
2. Add cloves, bayleaves, cinnamon stick, cardamon, javitri, and star anise . Saute for a minute.
3. Add ginger garlic paste, onion, tomato and green chillies.  Stir well and allow the tomatoes to soften.
4. Add coriander leaves and mint leaves. Saute until raw smells disappears.
5. Now add lightly fried chicken, red chilli powder, curd and salt. Mix well and cook untill chicken is tender.

For layering rice and briyani masala:-

1. In a broad pan, apply some ghee on bottom. 
2. Place 1/2 of the rice, add some coriander and mint leaves and briyani masala on top of it. 
3. Place the layer of rest of the rice on top of the briyani masala. 
4. Sprinkle some coriander leaves, mint leaves and fried onions.
5. Finally add saffron soaked milk , food color and ghee on top of the rice.
6. Close the lid and let it be on low flame for 15 minutes.
7. Remove from flame and Mix gently.
8. Garnish with  coriander leaves and serve hot with raita or boiled egg.