Chicken Tikka Biyani

With my in-laws, its almost like a traditional routine to make biryani for lunch on fridays

It get kind of monotonous with the same flavors.

So last week, i thought about doing something different, either make a Sindhi Biryani or Chicken Tikka Biryani. So, i asked my husband and he says Chicken Tikka biryani right off the bat, no surprise there as he is crazy for barbecued stuff and i was hoping he'd say that :D

Anyways, this turned out better than i expected. Really different than the ones we usually make.

Smokey and succulent and really restaurant quality !

For this recipe you'll need :

(For Marination):

1 kg of Chicken

1 cup of Yogurt

1 tbsp of Ginger Garlic paste

Salt to taste

½ tsp of Black pepper

Juice of 1 large or 2 medium Lemons

1 tsp of Red Chili Powder

a few drops of Yellow food color.

(For Masala):

2 Large Onions (sliced)

½ bunch of Coriander leaves

½ bunch of Mint leaves

2 large Tomatoes (diced)

5-6 Green Chilies (chopped)

1 tsp of Red Chili powder (adjust according to taste)

½ tsp of Turmeric powder

½ of Coriander powder

2-3 Potatoes (peeled and cubed)

(For the Rice):

1 kg white Rice

½ tsp of Black Pepper Corns

½ tsp of Cloves

1 stick of Cinnamon

2-3 Black Cardamom

1 tsp of salt

(For Tarqa):

1 large Onion (sliced)

Boil Rice with black pepper corns, cloves and 1 cinnamon stick till they are 2/3rd done.

Drain and keep aside.

Marinate chicken with yogurt, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, salt, red chili powder, black pepper, all spice and a few drops of yellow food coloring.

Leave for 30 minutes.

Than add it in a little bit of oil and cook till done.

Give dam of coal by putting a heated coal on a piece of bread and adding a few dops of oil on it. Cover immediately and leave for 10 minutes. Remove coal and bread.

In a separate pan. Fry Onions till light golden brown

Add coriander and mint

Tomatoes, Green Chilies..

Red chili powder, turmeric ,coriander powder ...

...and potatoes. Cook with a little water till the potatoes are done.

Than add the cooked chicken. Cook for a minute and add lemon slices.

The masala is done !

Layer with boiled rice. Pour saffron soaked in warm milk (i did use a bit of yellow color as well) and cumin.

Fry onion for tarqa in a little oil, add on top with the oil when brown.

Put this pot on a 'Tawa' , cover an leave on low flame for 15 minutes.

Best served with raita and salad !

Enjoy!