1

To begin making the Lucknowi Murgh Biryani recipe, thoroughly wash and soak the rice.

For the Chicken

1

To make the marinade for the chicken, in a mixing bowl, combine chicken, curd, lemon juice, red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder and some salt. Massage the chicken well and keep the chicken for marination for about 45 minutes before cooking.

2

Heat oil in a big wok or a handi on medium flame, and add bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, cardamom, black cardamom, star anise, nutmeg, mace, shahi jeera and once they begin to sizzle, add the chopped onions and fry them till soft, this will take about 2 minutes. 

3

At this stage, add the ginger garlic paste and fry the mix till it the raw smell goes away. To the handi add the green chilies and and some coriander and mint leaves and saute for a couple of minutes. 

4

Once the oil starts separating, add the marinated chicken to the handi along with the marinade mix and stir well. 

5

Increase the flame to high and continue to cook by stirring continuously.

6

In a mixer-jar, combine the fresh coconut, khuskhus and milk and grind to a fine paste. 

7

When the chicken masala begins to thicken, add the coconut and khuskhus paste and fresh cream into it. Mix properly till everything combines well.

8

Adjust salt and spices to suit your taste. 

9

Give it a good stir and close the lid. Reduce the flame and let the chicken cook for about 5-7 minutes. 

For the rice

1

Let us proceed to cook the rice.

2

In a large vessel heat water double the quantity of rice. Add few drops of lemon juice in it along with some oil.

3

As soon as the water is hot, add the soaked and drained rice and allow it to cook in high flame. Add salt to the rice and let it cook till it is 80% cooked.

4

Drain the water and pass the rice through a colander. Spread it on a tray to separate the grains. 

5

The next step is to assemble the Lucknowi Murgh Biryani  to cook it on dum. Heat a broad base flat iron tawa on gas and place a large handi on it.

6

Add some curd in the base of the handi to prevent the chicken from sticking

7

Evenly spread the chicken mix on the base and add a spoonful of ghee over it. 

8

Now evenly spread a layer of the rice on top and garnish it with ghee, saffron soaked in milk, mint leaves, coriander leaves, lemon juice, and kewra water .

9

Seal the handi with aluminium foil and cover it with the lid .

10

in a saucepan, boil water and turn off the flame and place this hot pan on the lid of the handi. This process is done in order to seal the vessel in which the biryani is cooking. The heat from the hot water in the saucepan provides heat from the top, while there is heat from the bottom as well creating the effect of "Dum". 

11

Allow the Lucknowi Murgh Biryani to be on dum for around 20 minutes.

12

Remove the foil from one side and mix the  Lucknowi Murgh Biryani  well (do this carefully as the rice may break here).

13

Serve Lucknowi Murgh Biryani with Burani Raita and Pickled onions  to enjoy this lip smacking dish. 

The contest is in association with Preethi Kitchen Appliances.

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