Chicken Biryani Recipe

Ingredients

• SPICE BLEND:
• 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
• 3 green cardamom pods
• 2 black cardamom pods
• 5 whole cloves
• 5 blades mace
• 1-1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• CHICKEN AND MARINADE:
• 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt
• 2-in. piece fresh gingerroot
• 10 garlic cloves
• 20 unsalted cashews, soaked in water
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs and legs, skin removed
• 2 bay leaves
• BIRYANI:
• 5 tablespoons ghee, divided
• 1 large russet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced, divided
• 1 pinch ground turmeric
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 pinch saffron thread
• 1/2 cup raisins, prunes, golden sour prunes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon kewra water, optional
• RICE:
• 2 cups uncooked basmati rice
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon ghee
• 1 cardamom pod, optional
• 1 bay leaf, optional
• 3 whole cloves, optional