Chicken Biryani

Servings

Serving size

4 ounces chicken with rice and veggies

COOKING TIME

60 minutes (does not include soaking the rice)

This recipe can easily be multiplied and makes great leftovers.

Ingredients

1 cup Brown rice

4 cup Water

2 tsp. Olive oil

1 Tbsp. Ginger root, raw (minced)

2 clove Garlic, raw (minced)

1 large White onions (diced)

16 ounces Boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 tsp. Ground turmeric

1/2 tsp. Chili powder

2 tsp., ground Ground cardamom

1/2 tsp.. Ground cumin

1 tsp. Ground coriander

1/4 tsp. Ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp. Salt

1 tsp.. Honey

1/2 cup Nonfat Greek Yogurt

1/2 Large Red bell peppers (diced)

1/2 cup (not packed) Golden raisins

1/2 cup Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw

Instructions

Place the rice in the water and soak for 4 hours. (Alternatively, you can cook the rice in the water for about 20 to 25 minutes until it is about 3/4 cooked. It should still have some texture when you bite into the rice. Drain and rinse the rice and set aside until the chicken is cooked.)

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Place the olive oil in a large sauce pan or medium sized dutch oven over medium heat.

Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the chicken, turmeric, chili powder, cardamom, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and salt.

Cook for about 5 minutes until the outside of the chicken is browned.

Remove from the heat, add the honey and yogurt, and stir until blended.

Sprinkle the raisins, red pepper, and cilantro over the top of the chicken.

Top with the rice, smoothing it out until it is evenly distributed across the top of the chicken.

Cover the pot with a tight lid and place the pot in the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

Serve garnished with fresh cilantro.

Print Recipe

Would you like to print or download the document?

Add To My Recipe Box

Special Diet Information

Click on the icon for information.

GERD / Acid Reflux

This recipe contains GERD triggers and those with GERD may wish to avoid it.

Lactose

Avoid this recipe if you are lactose intolerant.

Coumadin® (Warfarin)

This recipe is safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.

Gluten Sensitivity

This recipe is safe for those who are sensitive to gluten. Make sure the yogurt is gluten-free.

Sodium

This is NOT a low sodium recipe.

Recipe Notes

This is a great recipe and one that you might not get anywhere but an Indian restaurant. It is actually pretty easy: the tradition is that white rice that has been soaked and softened is cooked the rest of the way by steaming on top of the cooking biryani (pots were sealed with dough to keep the steam from leaking out of the lid). Because the brown rice is so much better for you (and actually tastes better) you either have to soak the rice for longer or cook it first.

"Saddling another person with a book he did not ask for has always seemed to me like a huge psychological imposition, like forcing someone to eat a chicken biryani without so much as inquiring whether they like cilantro."

Joe Queenan