Ingredients:
- 2 cups SureRice Premium Basmati Rice
- 500g chicken, lamb, or vegetables (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch ginger, grated
- 2 green chilies, slit lengthwise
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup cooking oil or ghee
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cloves
- 4 green cardamom pods
- 2-inch cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon biryani masala powder
- Salt to taste
- Saffron strands soaked in warm milk (optional)
- Fried onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Wash and soak the SureRice Premium Basmati Rice in water for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a large pan or pressure cooker, heat the cooking oil or ghee over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until golden brown. Remove half of the fried onions and set aside for garnish.
To the remaining onions in the pan, add the minced garlic, grated ginger, and slit green chilies. Sauté for a few minutes until fragrant.
Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy.
Add the chicken, lamb, or vegetables to the pan and cook until they are partially cooked.
In a bowl, whisk the yogurt with turmeric powder, red chili powder, and biryani masala powder. Add this mixture to the pan and stir well to combine.
Add the soaked and drained SureRice Premium Basmati Rice to the pan and mix gently with the chicken or vegetable mixture.
Add enough water to the pan, ensuring that the water level is about 1 inch above the rice and chicken/vegetables. Season with salt according to taste.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and the liquid is absorbed.
Once the rice is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit, covered, for another 10 minutes.
Fluff the cooked biryani gently with a fork. If using saffron strands, drizzle them over the biryani and garnish with the reserved fried onions, fresh coriander leaves, and mint leaves.
Serve the fragrant basmati biryani hot with raita, salad, or your favorite accompaniments. Enjoy your homemade biryani!
Note:
You can adjust the spice levels according to your preference. Additionally, you can also add fried nuts and raisins as a garnish for added flavor and texture.
