Chicken Dum Biryani

How to make Chicken Dum Biryani

1. Combine the chicken with chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin seeds, salt, ginger garlic paste, cinnamon stick, cardamom, lemon juice and yoghurt. Once mixed, place in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour.

2. Add oil to a pan on medium to high heat and fry onions until golden brown.

3. Add the blended tomatoes and marinated chicken. Cook for 5-10 mins until liquid has slightly reduced.

4. Stir in the chillies, coriander and fried onions. Once everything has mixed, remove the chicken from the heat.

5. While the chicken is cooking, parboil the rice and potatoes.

6. Now it’s time to layer the biryani. Cover the base of a pot with a thin layer of parboiled rice. Then top with all the cooked chicken, parboiled potatoes, remaining rice and saffron water.

7. Add a few tsps of ghee over the rice and using the back of a wooden spoon, make a few holes in the rice to allow it to steam while in the oven.

8. Next, cover the top of the pot with pastry dough. Gently press the edges to seal the pot.

9. Top with egg wash and black seeds (optional).

10. Place in the oven at 180 °C for 1 hour (tip – after around 25 mins the pastry should be golden brown – cover it with a sheet of foil to prevent it from burning).

11. Remove from oven, cut open pastry lid and enjoy.