Biryani with Yogurt Marinated Chicken

This is, as called by my mom, my signature biryani recipe. It's healthy and has half of the calories of a normal take-away so that's a bonus!

• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 507 Calories

Ingredients

• salt to taste
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 6 cloves garlic, crushed
• 3 tomatoes, sliced
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• ¼ cup olive oil, divided
• 1 pinch saffron
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 ½ teaspoons garam masala
• 5 cardamom pods
• 1 (8 ounce) container whole milk yogurt
• 2 teaspoons finely grated ginger root
• 6 cups basmati rice
• 7 ¾ cups water, divided
• 3 onions, sliced, separated into rings
• 2 tablespoons prepared masala curry sauce

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, and salt together in a bowl. Add chicken breast; toss to coat evenly. Cover bowl and marinate chicken in the refrigerator, at least 1 hour.

Step 2

Place rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover; set aside to soften. Place saffron threads in a small bowl with 1/4 cup water; set aside to bloom.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Coat a baking dish with 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Step 4

Arrange onions in the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Top onions with marinated chicken breast, reserving marinade. Add 1/2 cup water to the reserved marinade; pour marinade mixture over chicken. Top with tomato slices.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 6

Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large pot with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and cumin. Drain rice and add to the pot. Bring to a boil and cook until softened but still firm, about 8 minutes.

Step 7

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add masala curry sauce; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add parboiled rice and stir to combine, about 1 minute more. Stir in saffron-infused water and 3/4 cup water. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until liquid is absorbed, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until rice is fluffy, 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 8

Spoon rice onto serving platter; top with chicken breasts, onion, and tomatoes.