Chicken Biriyani for Ramadan

Chicken Biryani is a classic South Asian rice dish made with basmati rice, tender chicken and tons of spices. My homemade Chicken Biryani recipe is perfect for Ramadan, layered with golden fried potatoes, fresh herbs, crispy onions and slow-cooked on dum!

Ingredients for Chicken Biriyani

For the Rice

• 5 cups basmati rice (washed and soaked 30 minutes)
• Water (for boiling)
• 1½ tbsp salt

For Frying

• 4 medium potatoes (quartered)
• Oil (for frying potatoes)
• 1 large red onion (thinly sliced, for crispy garnish)
• 2–3 tbsp ghee (for frying onions)

Whole Aromatics

• 8–10 green cardamom pods
• 2 black cardamom pods
• 6–8 cloves
• 1 tbsp black peppercorns
• 1 large piece cinnamon bark
• 2 bay leaves

Biryani Masala Base

• 7 tbsp oil
• 2 large red onions (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 2 dried plums (aloo bukhara)
• 3 tbsp biryani masala
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 cup plain yoghurt
• 1 whole baby chicken (cut into pieces)
• 2 chicken breasts (cut into chunks)
• Large handful fresh coriander (chopped)
• Large handful fresh mint (chopped)
• 4 long dark green chillies
• 3–4 green bullet chillies (halved for layering)

For Layering

• Fried quartered potatoes
• Cooked chicken masala
• Parboiled rice
• 1 tsp red food colouring
• 1 tsp kewra water
• Crispy fried onions
• Extra coriander
• Extra green bullet chillies

Chicken Biriyani for Ramadan

Method for Chicken Biriyani

Cook the rice

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add soaked basmati rice.
3. Boil for 6–7 minutes (rice should be about 70% cooked).
4. Drain immediately in a large colander. Set aside.

Fry the potatoes

1. Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat.
2. Add the quartered potatoes.
3. Fry until golden brown and cooked through.
4. Remove and set aside on kitchen paper.

Make the crispy onions

1. In a separate pan, heat ghee.
2. Fry thinly sliced red onion until deep golden and crispy.
3. Remove and set aside for layering.

Prepare the Biriyani Masala

1. Heat oil in a large heavy-bottom pot.
2. Add whole aromatics (cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, bay leaves).
3. Add chopped red onions and cook until soft and golden.
4. Stir in cumin seeds.
5. Add ginger paste and garlic paste. Cook until fragrant.
6. Add chopped tomatoes and cook down until thick.
7. Stir in yoghurt and all dry spices. Cook until glossy and oil begins to separate.
8. Add chicken pieces and cook until sealed and coated well in the masala.
9. Cover and cook until chicken is almost fully cooked.
10. Stir in chopped coriander, mint and long green chillies.

Layer the Chicken Biriyani in following order:

• Rice
• Chicken masala
• Fried quartered potatoes
• Sliced green bullet chillies
• Repeat layers, finishing with rice on top.
• Drizzle over: red food colour powder & kewra water

Top with:

• Crispy fried onions
• Fresh coriander
• Extra green chillies

Dum cook

1. Place parchment paper over the pot.
2. Cover tightly with a lid.
3. Gas hob: Cook on the lowest heat for 35–45 minutes.
4. Induction hob: Switch to the lowest setting and then turn off heat (using retained heat) for the final 20 minutes.

Can I make Chicken Biryani ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the masala and fry the potatoes in advance, I sometimes make it a day in advance! Assemble and dum cook just before serving for the best flavour and texture.

What rice is best for biryani?

Basmati rice is best. It gives long, separate grains and doesn’t become sticky during dum cooking.

Why is my biryani rice mushy?

The rice was likely overcooked during boiling. It should only be 70% cooked before layering so it finishes cooking on dum. This takes about 7 minutes on a medium heat.

How can I make this vegetarian?

Simply replace the chciken wiht those mixed vegetable freezer bags for the best vegetable biriyani!

What is dum cooking?

Dum cooking is a slow steam method where the biryani is sealed and cooked on low heat, allowing all the flavours to infuse together.

If you like the look of my Chicken Biriyani recipe then you should definitely check out the ones below for some more just like it that are perfect for Ramadan!

• Easy Homemade Tandoori Chicken Recipe
• Butter Chicken
• Crispy chicken spring rolls

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