Years back when I was in my first semester of MBA, my best friend called and requested me to teach her Chicken Dum Biryani recipe. She was leaving to USA to do her ‘Masters. She said, at least I can make something good whenever I crave for your biryani. Biryani is something which I learnt to make when I first started to learn cooking. You may wonder, but my fondness for biryani made me learn the recipe and I use to cook biryani very often like every alternate weekends.
Whenever my dad use to get chicken on Sunday, I use to insist my mom that I will make biryani…as biryani is one pot meal. Sometimes mom use to say ‘Yes’….but sometimes she use to tell me to learn other things too. The only thing I learnt to make on big scale was ‘biryani’. I mastered it over the years and whenever we had party at home…..Biryani is ‘The Must’ in the menu.
My friends were crazy for my ‘biryani’ and no one of them had dared to learn this complicated recipe. So when I got call from dear friend U, I told her to come down on any weekend to learn the recipe…but she got busy with so many things in the end that she could not make it to come to my place. So, one fine day she called me and asked me to come to her place as she is pretty busy with packing and other things and she is leaving to Chennai and from there to USA by night flight and all she want is to learn is biryani before that…..she even took permission from my mom….
My Biryani Adventure
This was for the first time, that I was going to cook out of my house. I was little nervous in the beginning but by the time I reached the place I was little comfortable. There were all bags, clothes, books, pickle jars, gifts, etc….spread all over living room….my friend U was finding hard to pack and pack the things. By seeing me she jumped from the sofa…hugged me and said thank u…thank u…thank u….
U’s mom told me…that she never tried making biryani at home…and they always have outside or get parcel from hotel….Aunty also told me…your friend is crazy for your ‘biryani’….teach her…so that she doesn’t have to run back to India from for your biryani…with a smile on my face I said…will try my best aunty….
Then entering kitchen…I gained my confidence and started making biryani. Aunty had bought all the ingredients necessary in making biryani and she even told me to check before starting so that she can get it if something is missing. I had a glance and said everything is there aunty. Then she said now kitchen is all yours and she left to do the packing.
My dear friend U was standing laying her back to wall and scribbling my activity in the kitchen. When you see someone making the recipe then you can learn very quickly…..that’s how I learnt to make biryani too….when I left the biryani on ‘DUM’ (scroll down to read about ‘DUM’)…and came out of the kitchen….the aroma has spread all over the house and everyone started asking me when will they get it served….
Biryani Saga
After 45 minutes when I started serving them, my GOD…my friend U had hugged me and even planted a kiss on my cheek, aunty praised and blessed me. My friend sis who was doing medicine at that time, said ‘this is one of the tastiest biryani she ever had’….with all the compliments, praises and love…My friend while having biryani, said…wish I could lock this heavenly aroma in bottle and take along with me, so that I can inhale whenever I crave for this splendid biryani….
I started back to my house…..wishing my friend ‘best luck for her studies’. My friend ‘U’ is silent reader of my blog and her sister follows my updates on facebook and whatsapp. My dear friend U tells me how much she misses my me and my biryani and how she still have that paper where she had scribbled the recipe and she follows it even today. Miss our days girls…..our BAU gang…..
Chicken Dum Biryani Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
FOR MARINATION:
- ½ kg. Chicken, cleaned, washed and drained
- 2 tbsp. Red chili powder
- ½ tbsp. Turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp. Garam Masala
- 2 tbsp. Ginger-Garlic paste
- 2 Green chilies cut length-wise
- ½ cup Curd, beaten
- Salt
FOR RICE:
- ¾ kg. Basmati Rice, wash and soak for ½ hr
- 1½ tbsp. Ginger-Garlic paste
- 5 Cardamom, 5 Cloves and 2 1” inch pieces of Cinnamon
- 1 Badi Elaichi/Black Cardamom, 1 Star Anise and 1 Bay leaf
- 1 tbsp. Shah Jeera/Caraway seeds
- Salt
TO SOAK:
- ½ tbsp. Saffron
- 3 tbsp. lukewarm Milk
FOR GARNISH:
- 3 tbsp. minced Coriander leaves
- 2 tbsp. minced Mint leaves
OTHER INGREDIENTS:
- ¾ cup Ghee
- 2 Onions, sliced
- 1 Cardamom, 1 Clove and 1 1’inch piece of Cinnamon
- 4 tbsp. fresh Lemon juice/3 tbsp.Vinegar
- 1 tbsp. Garam Masala
How to make Hyderabad Style Chicken Dum Biryani
PREPARATION:
Marinating Chicken
- Marinate the chicken pieces with the ingredients listed under ‘For Marination’ and leave it in fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight by covering with a plastic foil.
Frying Onions | Birista
- In a heavy bottom cooking vessel, add ghee along with cardamom, clove and cinnamon. When the spices start to leave aroma, add in finely sliced onions.
- Fry till crisp and nice brown. (Be careful, fry on low flame, stirring frequently). Now carefully using a slotted spatula separate fried onion slices from ghee. Collect ghee in a cup and set aside.
Cooking Chicken for Biryani
- Now in the same vessel, add marinated chicken pieces and fry till chicken starts to loose its juices. Add 1 cup of water and cook covered on low flame till chicken turns soft. Set aside.
Cooking Rice for Biryani
- While the chicken is cooking, start cooking the rice. In a heavy bottom cooking vessel (used for cooking rice) add 10-12 cups of water (if more also no problem, as we will drain off the water), salt, ginger-garlic paste, 3 cardamom’s, 3 cloves, 2 sticks of cinnamon, black cardamom, star anise and bay leaf. Bring water to boil. When the water starts to boil add soaked basmati rice and cook till rice is just done.
- Drain and collect the water using a sieve in a cooking vessel. Drain well and set aside.
How to Layer Chicken Biryani
- Now in a heavy bottom cooking vessel add little ghee (the one which we fried onions) and on this add half of cooked basmati rice. On this add cooked chicken, ghee, garam masala, kesar (soaked in lukewarm milk), deep fried onions, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, fresh coriander and mint leaves.
- Cover it up with another layer of basmati rice. If you have more cooked chicken then layer them on rice and so on.
- Now add remaining ghee, kesar, fried onions, garam masala, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, fresh coriander and mint leaves. Cook on a low flame by covering with a lid. Keep the strained water on top of the lid or seal with foil.
Cooking on Dum
- Cook for nearly 20-25 minutes on low flame. Turn off the flame and leave the vessel on the stove for another half an hour.
Serving Chicken Dum Biryani
- When you are ready to serve, mix in the biryani slowly and gently. Serve hot garnishing with fresh coriander and mint leaves. If you want you can add fried cashews or half sliced boiled eggs before serving.
Tips to make Perfect Chicken Biryani
- Add ½ tbsp. of sugar while frying onions. This gives nice color and caramelisation to the onions.
- Always remember to fry onions on low flame. Avoid burning onion slices as it will impart bitter taste to the biryani.
- Keeping strained water vessel on top of the lid provides weight and helps in locking the aroma.
- In traditional way, biryani pot is sealed with whole wheat flour dough, which is made mixing 2 cups of whole wheat flour, 1 tbsp. salt, 2 tbsp. of ghee and enough water to make firm dough. Seal the cooking vessel and lid with the dough thoroughly. This process helps in retaining the steam and aroma of the recipe.
- As we are using salt in marinating chicken and cooking rice, so adjust accordingly.
WHAT IS ‘DUM’?
Dum literally means ‘breath’. This process involves maturing of prepared dish after the completion of the cooking process. The vessel is sealed as tightly as possible either by foil, or cloth or tight dough (made with wheat flour, salt and water) or with a heavy stone or weight. After doing so the vessel is placed on the very slow fire. In weddings or functions, if cooking for a large number of people, few coals are also placed on the lid so that the recipe cooks uniformly. This process allows the individual flavour of the dish to blend to give there own unique flavour. The vessel should be opened only before serving.
Linking this Chicken Dum Biryani to Priya’s Valentine’s Day Recipe Contest at her blog Priya’s Versatile Recipes.
Akila says
Wow what a flavorful dum Biryani …. Simple awesome
Prathima Rao says
Nice & flavorful biryani..Nicely presented..Prathima RaoPrats Corner
prathibha Garre says
I knew your love for biriyani..:)congrats for the winners
Beena.stephy says
Super delicious biryani
Archana Kumar says
That biryani looks amazing, will attempt it this weekend..havent had too much luck with dum biryani, but will follow your recipe and hope it turns out well for me too…mouth watering pics !
Valarmathi Sanjeev says
Ahhh wowwwwwww happyyyyyyyyyyyy,can't wait to see my surprise..Lovely biryani,remembering the days, all enjoying biryani together. Love this onepot meal, looks absolutely delicious. Congrats to Sharmi Komal.
Nandita SS says
Awesome post Lubna!! Loved the pictures and the write up 🙂
Vimitha Anand says
I could finish that whole bowl. looks sooo tempting dear
Swasthi Blank says
This recipe is truly a keeper Lubna, thanks for sharing. looks Awesome
Lail Hossain says
Delicious shot and I am sure the biryani tasted just as good.
Rafeeda A. Raheem says
amazing biriyani… yummm… congrats to the winners!!! 🙂
Shruti Dhingra Wahi says
Want to have this full plate of biryani !!!!Great work Lubna ..Drooling here !!shrutirasoiToday's Recipe Tomato Rasam
Hamaree Rasoi says
I was confused between icing cupcakes and biryani..Actually i thought you already had biryani recipe in your space so skipped that option :-)I have tasted this once right ? Wonderful, aromatic and tasty biryani.Congrats Sharmi and Valar
Helen Prabha says
Wow…Briyani looks yummy…:-)
Ruxana Gafoor says
wow delicious dum biriyani..
notyet100 says
Umm will try ur way sometime,ebiryani looks delicious,
Sharmi says
Thanks a lot Lubna and all you lovely people for the lovely wishes. couldn't ask for more:)The biryani looks awesome. Actually I wanted to Say chicken but since being a veggie I just said biryani "never typed the word Chicken till now:)Thanks again!!
Priti S says
Looks really yum …nice pictures …congrats to the winners
runnergirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com says
Its impossible to not drool over this pic. Looks so lovely I want to reach for the bowl!
Suja Manoj says
Nice flavorful biryani,looks so yum
Sayantani says
Love this biriyani recipe Lubna and beautiful clicks. congarts to the winner
divya says
Are you on a killing spree dear? You're killing me now…with that plate of lovely chicken briyani!!! Hahahaha ;)Can I join you dear?;)
Shama Nagarajan says
wow..yummy and inviting..congrats sharmi
Angie's Recipes says
What a beautiful and flavoursome rice recipe! Gorgeous clicks too.
Priya says
Wat a detailed and flavourful briyani, loved the beautiful story too,Stunning and breath taking clicks, fantastic food.Congrats to the winners.
lifescoops says
Very yummy looking biryani and nice recipe dear
Jehanne says
Wow, wow, Lubna such gorgeous plate of biryani, yum! I esp like the layering photo. Biryani is our house fav too, I must try the hydreabadi style as it is so famous, thank u for the little tips!
kausers kitchen says
Delicious biryani, yum yum.
Sunita Patmanathan says
looks superb!
Nazneen Hamilton says
assalam alaikum Lubna, thank you for commenting on my site and allowing me ti find yours. You have a great site with lovely recipes. No need to explain how good Hyderabadi biryani is to me…my family is from Hyderabad. It's my most favourite food…ever 🙂 Yours looks brilliant and can imagine it tastes pretty fantastic too.I always make the kacchi version because I am lazy and want to omit as many steps as I can :)I look forward to seeing you around.Nazneen @coffeeandcrumpets.com
A telfon frypan says
hai Lubna. thanks for passing by my blog…and biriyani!!! its a weakness, is it not. love love your clicks, and the posts on food photography as well. very happily following your blog. keep connected.
Shobha says
Delicious biriyani ..
Sebeena Loyd says
this look heavenly and pics wow
CHITRA says
wow, tats an yummy dish. congrats to sharmi & valar 🙂