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Chicken Pulao
Serves 4
60 mins
450 Kcal
One of the most popular dishes in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, pulao is no less than a culinary delight in most forms, as the aromatic spices and tender chicken will captivate your senses. The delicious one-pot meal of succulent pieces of chicken with fragrant basmati rice does not fail to hook you with the perfect harmony of flavours and textures - a great treat among families and guests alike. Chicken pieces are marinated in yoghurt and spices, which typically include cumin, coriander, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. This Chicken pulao recipe is truly flavourful. The preparation not only makes the meat tender but also infuses it with deep, rich flavours. Meanwhile, basmati rice is rinsed and soaked perfectly to make it fluffy while cooking. Onions are saut ed till they turn golden brown, and all of their sweetness comes out because their flavour enhances the dish. The chicken that had marinated for hours is then added; the colour of the chicken is browned and mixed with fresh ingredients like ginger, garlic, and green chillies added at the end for an extra kick; then the rice is soaked and layered above the chicken, and water or broth. It all gets cooked. It turns out very sweetly scented and coloured as the rice grains soak the juices along with aromatic spices from the chicken. It looks better garnished with fresh herbs such as cilantro, mint, or fried onions sometimes. Sides that go with this rice preparation are often a raita-yoghurt-based salad or just a plain cucumber salad, which balances out the richness of the pulao. The recipe of chicken pulao is delicious. Whether it is served at a family gathering or on a festive occasion, chicken pulao is always a comfort and filling dish that brings warmth and glee to the table. Its tasty flavours and heavenly aroma put the dish on top in many households over time as a classic favourite.
Ingredients required for Chicken Pulao
- 500 gms chicken
- 250 gms basmati rice
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 black cardamom
- Ginger garlic paste
- 2-3 green cardamom
- Red chilli powder
- Coriander
- Cooking oil
- 1 onion
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- Salt
- 1 tomato
- Bay leaf
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 2-3 clove
Cooking steps for Chicken Pulao
- 1Begin by washing and soaking 250 gms of basmati rice in water for 30 minutes. Soaking the rice is significant since it allows the grains to absorb the water adequately in its cooking process, thus evenly and fluffily cooking.
- 2After 30 minutes, drain the water and leave it to one side. Now, the grains will stiffen a bit, making it possible to handle further.
- 3In a deep pan or heavy-bottomed pot, add two tablespoons of oil or ghee over medium heat. You can use ghee for a stronger flavour, but you can also use oil if you want a lighter flavour. Heat the oil and ghee enough, but not too much that makes them smoke.
- 4Once it's hot, you need to add the whole spices, which will infuse the oil with their aromatic flavours.
- 5Fry the spices for at least a minute. As they are frying, they will start to emit their fragrance, which is an indication that they are ready for the next step. Stir them gently so that they fry evenly and do not get burnt.
- 6Add one chopped onion finely to the pan. Saute the onions, stirring frequently, until they turn golden brown. This will take up about 5-7 minutes. Caramelised onions bring a natural sweetness to a dish, which is really important in balancing flavours, so it should not be skipped.
- 7Once the onions turn perfectly golden in colour, add 500 gms of cleaned and washed chicken pieces to the pan. Increase the heat to medium and cook the chicken for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. This helps it turn opaque and a little brown on the edges. This process also seals the juices inside for tenderness and flavour in the chicken.
- 8Add one teaspoon of ginger-garlic paste to the pan next. Saute for another additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Ginger and garlic are some fantastic ingredients as they carry an intense flavour that, mixed, strengthens the overall taste of the biryani, making the dish aromatic with its base flavour.
- 9Add one chopped tomato to the base.
- 10Add this mixture to a pan and cook, stirring for about 5 minutes so tomatoes soften, break down, and combine well with spices and chicken. This step is important in achieving flavours and the masala that covers the chicken for each juicy bite.
- 11Put your soaked and drained rice into the cooked tomatoes; do that gently so that you will not break your rice grains.
- 12Toss the rice together with the chicken and spices using a spatula while making sure the grains of rice are well coated with the flavours.
- 13Take 500 ml of water in the pan. Start boiling at a high heat.
- 14After boiling the water, turn the heat to low and cover it well with a lid for simmering. Low-heat cooking takes about 15 to 20 minutes so that the rice absorbs all the water and steam goes perfectly to get fluffy and tender grains.
- 15After 15-20 minutes, check for rice doneness. It has to be soft, and all the water must be consumed. If it so needs, add a little splash of water and cook for a few more minutes. Once cooked, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit covered for an additional 5 minutes. The resting period makes the flavours merge, and the rice would have set.