Shahjahani Biryani by Zarnak Sidhwa

Ingredients:

• Chicken or Mutton 750 gm
• Rice 2 cups
• Ghee or Oil 1/2 cup
• Yogurt 1 cup
• Saffron few strands
  
• Melon seeds (chaar maghaz) 2 tbsp
• Cashew nuts 6-7
• Coconut 2 tbsp
  
• Sesame seeds 2 tsp
• Cumin powder 1 tsp
• Sliced onion 1 cup
• Bay leaves 2-3
• Cinnamon sticks 1-2
• Green cardamoms 3-4
• Cloves 4-5
• Black pepper 4-5
• Salt as required
• Red chili powder 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
• Ginger garlic paste 3 tsp
• Green chilies 1-2

Method:

1. Roast cashew nuts, melon seeds, sesame seeds, add coconut, make fine paste and keep aside.
2. Heat ghee or oil, add sliced onion, saute until brown in color and keep aside
3. In same, oil add ginger garlic paste and chicken or mutton and fry for 3-4 minutes.
4. Now add turmeric powder, chili powder, some salt, sprinkle some water and for 4-5 minutes
5. Add half fried onion, cumin powder, coconut powder and whisked yogurt and cook until chicken is cooked.
6. Now add green chilies and turn off heat.
7. Boil rice with salt, bay leaves, cinnamon, green cardamoms, cumin powder, black pepper and cloves and boil until 3/4 done.
8. Then make layer of rice in pot and another layer of cooked chicken.
9. Then put remaining fried onion and make layer of rice again.
10. Add dissolved saffron in milk and food color and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until rice is cooked.
11. Then remove from stove and serve with raita.