Kolkata chicken biryani recipe is the indulgence of delectability which is the amalgamation of authentic Bengali delicacy which tends to East India’s connection with the Gulf nations.
Aromatic long grain basmati rice, luscious and juicy chicken pieces, boiled eggs, tender potato chunks, ghee, mawa, saffron milk, spices, meetha attar and fragrant water make this dish so mouth watery.
A perfect kolkata chicken biryani recipe can be accompanied on its own without any companion like raita or gravy like salan. It is mostly relished as lunch or dinner.
Kolkata biryani aka Bengali biryani first originated in the royal kitchen of Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, the last king of Lucknow. After losing his kingdom to the British, he was forced to leave Awadh and he came to Metiabruz in Kolkata with his employees and chefs. Soon Metiabruz developed to chota Lucknow.\
Ingredients:
Chicken Marinade
2 kg chicken, 2 tbsp mustard oil, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp ginger paste, 1 tbsp garlic paste, 4 tbsp plain yoghurt, 1 tsp biryani masala, ½ tsp red chilli
Potatoes
4 tbsp cooking oil, 1 cup onion, 7 potatoes, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp turmeric, ¾ tsp red chili powder
Biryani Base
8 cloves, 6 cardamoms, 2 cinnamon sticks, ¼ cup onion, 1 cup water, 1 tsp kewra water, 1 ½ tbsp biryani masala, ½ cup fried onions, 5 green chillies, 4 tbsp powdered milk, 1 ½ tsp kewra water, 1 tsp rose water, 2 tbsp ghee, 2 tbsp saffron water, 2 tbsp fried onions
Rice
2 cinnamon sticks, 10 cloves, 4 cardamoms, 2 bay leaves, ½ tsp shah jeera, ½ tsp ginger, 6 cups basmati rice
Instructions:
1. Coat chicken leg and thigh pieces with mustard oil, salt, ginger paste, garlic paste, plain yoghurt, biryani masala, and red chili
2. Mix well and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes
3. Drizzle cooking oil in a large pot and add thinly sliced onion
4. Fry the onions until golden brown then remove from heat
5. Cut potatoes in half and add to the pot along with salt, turmeric, and red chili powder
6. Fry the potatoes for 2 minutes and remove them from heat
7. Stir in cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon sticks, sliced onions, and marinated chicken pieces
8. Fry for 3 minutes
9. Pour hot water over and toss the potatoes back in the pot
10. Add kewra water, and mix in biryani masala
11. Cover with lid and cook for 20 minutes on low heat
12. In a separate pot, add cinnamon sticks in salted water along with cardamoms, bay leaves, shah jeera, and ginger
13. Let the spices steep for about 3 minutes then strain out of the water
14. Add basmati rice that has been soaked for 30 minutes
15. Cover with lid and cook for 5 minutes on high heat
16. Remove the lid and transfer the rice out and set aside
17. Add a hand full of fried onions to the chicken pot along with powdered milk and green chilies
18. Add the cooked rice on top of the chicken
19. Pour kewra water, rose water, and saffron water over the rice
20. Add ghee and fried onions
21. Seal the pot with foil paper then cover with a lid
22. Cook for 35 minutes on low heat
23. Remove from heat and gently mix before serving
24. Ready to enjoy!