By Kolkata Style Chicken Dum Biryani is light and fragrant with aromatic biryani masala. Succulent chicken pieces with sweet-scented long grain basmati rice is a combination to die for. Unlike other biryani this Mughlai influenced Kolkata chicken biryani is loaded with potatoes and eggs making it even more irresistible. Learn how to make authentic Kolkata Chicken biryani by following this step by step recipe.
Any biryani lovers out there??
Haha.. I know it’s a stupid question. Is there anyone who doesn’t like love biryani??
Be it Hyderabadi biryani or Awadhi biryani or Kolkata style Biryani, it makes me weak in the knees. Such an indulging and comforting meal it is. Seriously I have no self control when it comes to Biryani.
But that doesn’t mean I have Chicken biryani on regular basis, it is such a rich dish and the preparation is quite elaborate and time-consuming. But whenever I make BIRYANI I love to indulge myself.
Here is the Kolkata style Mutton biryani that I had few months back. And now made this uber delicious authentic Kolkata style Chicken biryani. Long and fragrant basmati rice laden with soft and succulent chicken, sinful ghee and large chunks of potatoes and eggs all wrapped in an aromatic biryani masala spice blend.
Ingredients for Chicken Dum Biryani
The ingredients needed to make Chicken Biryani may seem endless, but trust me it is super easy to make.
Basmati rice: It is very important to use the best quality fragrant basmati rice for biryani.
Chicken: I used whole chicken legs for making the biryani . You can use any cuts of chicken.
Potatoes: It is another crucial ingredient when making Kolkata style biryani. Unlike restaurants, I like to cook the potatoes along with my chicken as it lend more flavour to the potatoes. But if you wish you can boil and lightly fry the potatoes and add it to the biryani in the end while assembling.
Eggs: I used large free range eggs. Added the hard boiled eggs in the end while assembling.
Biryani masala: Dry roast spices like cinnamon, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, Aniseeds (fennel seeds), mace, nutmeg, black peppercorns and shahi jeera a ground them into a fine powder. Biryani masala is ready.
Birista (Crispy fried onions): This is totally optional, but I love to add it to my biryani.
Ghee: Of course no biryani is complete without a good dose of GHEE. I used my homemade ghee in this biryani.
Other ingredients that are also essential for the Kolkata Chicken biryani are kewra and saffron that is soaked in warm milk. I have added so pistachios (optional) for some added crunch.
Here are few recipes that you can try.
Kolkata Style Chicken Dum Biryani
Chicken Dum Biryani Kolkata style | How to make Chicken Biryani at home
Equipment
- large thick bottomed pan
- Deep pan for preparing the Chicken
- mixer grinder
- Muslin cloth/cheese cloth
Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken
- 3 large Onions thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Yogurt
- 1 1/2 tbsp Ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 2-3 Potatoes washed, peeled
- 1 cup Milk (warm)
- 2-3 Bay leaves
- 1-2 tsp Sugar/sweetener
- Salt as per taste
- 3-4 tbsp Oil/Ghee
- 1 tsp Kewra water
For the Rice
- 500 gms Good quality Basmati Rice Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes
- 1 tsp Ghee
- 2 Bay leaves
- 5-6 Black peppercorn
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 2-3 Green cardamom
- 3-4 Cloves
- 1 tsp Shahi jeera
- 1 tsp Salt
- Water to boil the rice
Biryani Masala
- 2 tsp Shahi jeera (caraway seeds)
- 1 tsp Aniseeds (fennel seeds/saunf)
- 1 Black Cardamom
- 6-7 Green cardamom
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 7-8 Cloves
- 1/2 floret mace
- 1/2 Nutmeg
- 8-10 Black Pepper
Other Ingredients
- 2-3 tsp Kewra water (4-5 drops of Kewra essence)
- 15-20 strands Saffron
- 2-3 tbsp Warm milk
- 4-5 tbsp Melted Ghee
- 1/4 cup Pistachios optional
- 4 Free range eggs boiled
- 2 Onions thinly slices (optional)
- Oil for frying the onions
Instructions
Make the Biryani Masala
- Heat a skillet and dry roast all the ingredients under biryani masala on low heat for 3-4 minutes.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool.
- Add it to a mixer grinder and ground it into a fine powder. Biryani masala is ready. Store it in an airtight container.
Making the Chicken
- In a large bowl add the chicken, yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt and marinate for at least 1 hour or over night is better.
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil/ghee in a large thick bottomed on medium heat and fry the potatoes until golden brown. Drain and remove from the oil and keep it aside.
- In the same pan add another 2-3 tbsp of oil or ghee. Add the bay leaves and sliced onions and fry until soft and light brown in colour.
- Now slowly add the chicken along with the marinade and fry the chicken along with the onions on medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes.
- Now add the potatoes, 2 tbsp of biryani masala along with 1 cup of warm milk and 1/2 cup of water and mix everything well. Cover and cook the chicken and potatoes on medium -low heat stirring frequently for 20-30 minutes.
- Cook the chicken and potatoes until it's almost done. And you see the oil floating on top. The chicken curry is supposed to be on the drier side, so if its too watery you can simply rank up the heat and cook until you get the desired consistency.
- Finally add kewra water and mix well. Take it off the heat, cover and keep it aside for layering.
Making Birista (crispy fried Onions)
- Heat oil in deep frying pan to medium heat to deep fry the thinly sliced onions. Add the onions and fry them on a steady heat stirring occasionally.
- Once the onions starts turning golden stir frequently or else it will burn from the bottom. When the onions turn golden brown drain and place it on a kitchen towel. Keep it aside and let it rest for some time.
Prepare the Biryani Rice
- Let's start by making the masala potli (spice bag). In a muslin cloth add bay leaves, cinnamon, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, shahi jeera (caraway seeds), black pepper. Tie a tight knot into a potli.
- Heat a large pot of water along with the spice bag, salt and ghee. bring it to a boil.
- Now slowly add the rice to the boiling water and cook until its 70 percent cooked.
- Remove the spice bag and drain the water. Spread it on a large plate and keep it aside as we start with the assembly.
Assembling the CHICKEN BIRYANI (2 ways Oven version and Stove version)
- First start by soaking the saffron in warm milk and keep it aside.
- For the Oven version: Preheat the oven to 175° C. Grease 1 tbsp of ghee in a large ovenproof casserole. Now add a layer of rice at the bottom. Then top it up with few pieces of chicken and potatoes. Then sprinkle with some birista (crispy fried onions), some saffron milk, biryani masala and melted ghee and pistachios.
- Now continue with the same process of layering until you are done with the chicken and the rice. Finally, place the boiled eggs sprinkle with the rest of the saffron milk, birista, kewra water and the rest of the melted ghee. Then cover with aluminium foil and tightly close the lid and cook it in the oven for 40 minutes.
- For the gas version: follow the same procedure only in a large metal pot with lid. Finally seal the lid with dough. Place the large metal pot on a wide pan and cook it on the lowest heat for 30-40 minutes. Switch off the flame and keep it rested for 10 to 15 minutes.
I hope you enjoy this delicious Kolkata CHICKEN BIRYANI as much as we do!
You know what guys I would love to see your creations. If you have tried this recipe, just click a pic and tag me @gastronomicbong or #gastronomicbong on Instagram or on Facebook.
Bon Appetit!!!
angiesrecipes
November 7, 2019You make everyday food like it’s served in the 5 star restaurants! This looks droolworthy and so moreish.
Arpita@Gastronomic Bong
December 1, 2019Awww.. you are too sweet to say that ❤️
Suja Manoj
November 9, 2019Biryani looks so yummy, visual treat,beautiful clicks!
Arpita@Gastronomic Bong
November 10, 2019Thank you for stopping by Suja.. ❤️