Kerala Chicken Biriyani

Marinate chicken with the items listed under ' for marination' and keep it aside for 15 mins.

At the same time soak rice in water for 15 mins.

Meanwhile boil water to cook rice by adding 1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 2 cloves,2 cardamon and 1 tbsp ghee.

Add rice when water starts boiling. Cook rice till its cooked 3/4 th. Do not overcook the rice.

Drain water and keep aside for cooling.

Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the chicken pieces and keep aside.

Heat ghee in Biriyani pot or vessel.

Add cumin seeds, fennel seeds,cinnamon stick, cloves,star anise and poppy seeds. Toss for a minute.

Add onions with little salt and saute till it becomes soft.

Add ginger garlic green chilli pastr and saute for 3 to 4 mins till onions turn golden brown.

Add tomatoes and saute till they turn mushy.

Add all the dry sice powders mentioned under for ' Biriyani' .

Add 2 to 3 cups of water and cook for 2 mins.

Now add the fried chicken pieces to this and cook till the gravy thickens.

Once cooked, switch off the flame and remove the chicken gravy into another vessel leaving behind just a small layer of gravy with few chicken pieces.

Layer rice on top of this.

Repeat the process by adding chicken gravy and rice layer on top.

The topmost layer would be of rice.

For garnishing,fry onions with little salt on high flame till it becomes brown and crisp.

To the same pan add cashews and raisins and toss till it browns.

Spread this on top of rice and sprinkle it with coriander and mint leaves and 1 tbsp of ghee.

Cover the lid and cook on low flame for 5 to 7 mins.

Switch off the flame and keep it for 5 mins before serving .