Chicken Biryani

Ingredients:

1 lb Chicken (cut into med pieces)
2 cups Basmati rice
1 onion thinly sliced
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 cup yogurt
1tsp red chili pwd                                                            
1 tsp dhania pwd
3-4 green chillies (sliced)
1/2 tsp geera pwd.
1/2 tsp haldi pwd
1 bunch cilantro/coriander leaves (finely chopped)
1 bunch mint leaves (finely chopped)
3-4 tsp oil/ghee

Whole Garam Masala:

1 to 2 inch cinnamon
1 tsp cloves, cinnamon and elaichi
1 tsp kalajeera or shahjeera
4 to 5 bay leaves

Biryani Pwd Ingredients:

1 tsp kalajeera
1 tsp elaichi
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
Grind the above to a nice powder. DO NOT add water.

Method:

Soak rice for at least 30mins.
Marinate chicken with all the above powders, mint, cilantro,green chillies
ginger garlic paste and yogurt. Keep it in fridge for 45 mins to an hour.
You can use 3 tsp of biryani powder for marination.

In a pot boil 5 cups of water.
Add a little oil and salt.
Once the water is boiling, add rice.
Cook for 5 to 6 mins.
The rice should be half or little more than half done.
Never cook the rice fully it gets mushy.
Drain the water and spread it on a plate.

Heat oil, add whole garam masalas then add onions and fry till golden brown.
Add the marinated chicken.
Cook the chicken totally covering the lid.
You get a nice thick gravy.
Now add the rice and close the lid.
Do not mix them.Allow it to cook in sim (very sim) for 30mins.
If you feel the gravy is very thick, add just 1/2 cup water.
Close the lid tightly and close the hole of the lid with inserting paper.
Once totally done, you mix them very gently.