Biryani is a popular rice dish from the Indian subcontinent. It is made with layers of rice, meat, vegetables, and spices. There are many different regional variations of biryani, but the basic ingredients and cooking method are the same.
**Ingredients:**
* For the rice:
* 2 cups basmati rice
* 4 cups water
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon oil* For the chicken:
* 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
* 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
* 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
* 1 teaspoon red chili powder
* 1 teaspoon coriander powder
* 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup yogurt
* 2 tablespoons oil* For the vegetables:
* 2 onions, sliced
* 2 tomatoes, sliced
* 1 green bell pepper, sliced
* 1 tablespoon oil
* 1 teaspoon salt* For the biryani masala:
* 2 cloves
* 2 bay leaves
* 2 cardamom pods
* 1 black cardamom pod
* 1 star anise
* 1 cinnamon stick
* 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
* 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
* 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
* 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
* 1 teaspoon red chili powder
* 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
* 1 teaspoon garam masala
**Instructions:**
1. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes.
2. Marinate the chicken in the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt, and yogurt for at least 30 minutes.
3. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened.
4. Add the tomatoes and bell pepper, and cook for 5 minutes more.
5. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned on all sides.
6. Add the biryani masala and cook for 1 minute more.
7. Drain the rice and add it to the pot.
8. Pour in 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.
9. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through.
10. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.
[Image of Biryani]
**Tips:**
* For a more flavorful biryani, you can cook the rice with a little saffron.
* You can also add other vegetables to the biryani, such as potatoes, carrots, or peas.
* If you don’t have garam masala, you can make your own by combining 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder.
* Biryani is best served with raita, a yogurt-based sauce with cucumber and onions.
