AMBUR CHICKEN BIRYANI

Ambur Biriyani is one of the south-indian special biriyani recipe which is equally famous as Dindgul Biriyani. Though each one uses somewhat same types of ingredients, but still they have got their own unique taste. If you ask me which one is my fav, then i would surely say Ambur Biryani. Ambur is close to my native so i have tasted this biriyani lot of times whenever i visit my native. Last year i had posted Ambur Mutton Biriyani which is a quite popular recipe in my blog. I have replaced mutton with chicken and tried this biriyani. No words to explain as this was awesomeDo check out other varieties of Biriyani here. Lets move on to the recipe,

Serves : 2-3Preparation time : 20 minsCooking time : 50 mins

Ingredients :250-300gms Chicken - with or without Bones2 cup Basmati Rice (or) Seeraga Samba Rice - soaked in water for 20 mins3 medium sized onions - finely chopped3 tomatoes - finely chopped2 green chilies - slit at the end2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste1 cup mint leaves1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves1/4 tsp turmeric powder1 tsp red chili powder1/2 tsp coriander powder (or) chicken masala powder - optional1 cup whisked curd / yogurtsalt to taste4 tbsp cooking oil3 cloves1/2 cinnamon stick2-3 bay leaf1 star anise2 green cardamom1 tsp lemon juiceAmbur Chicken Biriyani - South Indian Special Biriyani Recipe

Ambur Chicken Biriyani - South Indian Special Biriyani Recipe

Method :

To Prepare Chicken Masala :Marinate chicken pieces with turmeric powder and keep aside for 10 mins. Heat 4 tbsp oil in a pan or handi. Temper cloves, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaf and cardamom.Add ginger-garlic paste and saute a while. Add 1 tbsp curd and cook for a min on low flame.

Add marinated chicken and little salt. Cook it covered on low flame for 10 mins. Remember to not add water, since chicken will cook in its own water.Add chopped onions and green chilies. Cook for a min. Add chopped tomatoes and mash the pulp.

Add mint leaves and coriander leaves. Saute a while. Add red chili powder, coriander powder and remaining curd.Mix well everything and let it cook for another 5 mins. Remove from the heat and transfer masala to another bowl.To Cook Rice :Soak basmati rice for 20 mins. Boil 9 cup water in a vessel. Once it starts boiling, add washed & drained rice to it.Add salt to taste, 2 tsp and sprinkle lemon juice. Cook it on medium-low flame till it is half cooked (may take around 8-10 mins).

The rice grains will be long & firm but not hard. And the grains will be separate. At this stage, remove from the heat and drain the water completely. Keep it aside.For Dum Process :Take the same pan in which you have cooked chicken masala. Pour a ladle full of masala to the pan and spread it nicely.Now spread another layer of half cooked rice. This way, prepare layers of chicken masala and rice.

Heat a flat frying pan or tava. Keep the pan on tava and cook on low flame for 20-30 mins. Switch it off and remove from tava only at the time of serving. Mix everything well and serve hot.Serving Suggestions : Onion Raita, Boiled Eggs, Non-Veg Gravy, Brinjal Pachadi

Notes :If you want to add edible orange color to biriyani, then mix a pinch of color with 1/4 cup water and dissolve it. Add this to biriyani at the time of preparing layers for dum process.You can prepare the same biriyani in a pressure cooker without waiting for dum. Once chicken masala is ready, measure the amount of liquid and add water accordingly. Add washed & drained rice, salt and lemon juice. Mix well everything and close the lid. Pressure cook for 2 whistles and serve hot.