How to make Chicken Biryani

There are so many wonderful foods in India.

I was fortunate to be able to watch Sister Kumar prepare the meal for us on Saturday night.

I watched, took notes and pictures of the preparation.  

Here are the things that I learned.

 First the predetermined amount of rice (about 3 cups), rinsed, is put to soak with plenty of water.  The cilantro (leaves) are ready, washed.

 Usha chops about 3 medium red onions into large pieces, not too small.

 The kitchen is very clean, well organized and neat with lots of well designed shelves.

 Here are the chopped onions, (4 or more) tomatoes and garlic & ginger paste ready for beginning.

 The onions are fried in a little oil with ghee (clarified butter).  It smells so good.  Some hot chilli peppers are added, halved.

 Next go in the spices: bay leaves, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and 1 spice that Usha didn't know in English.  I will have to research that one.

 Next goes in the ginger & garlic paste.  That's pretty spicy but absolutely wonderful.

 Tomatoes are added next.

 Usha and her mom are cooking together in the kitchen.

 Next the chilli powder and cilantro are added.  Mmm, now it's really smelling amazing!

 That cooks up a little bit.

 The cut-up chicken breasts are added with a little bit of water and it simmers for a few minutes.

 Lastly, you add the soaked and drained rice with the correct amount of water (about 4 cups) and continue to cook.

 Grandma & Milsha

 Everything is in, and it's boiling at a hard boil.

 This is some chicken curry (gravy) that was made earlier, also for the meal.

 Usha likes to pressure cook for 1 blow of the compressed air.  Then the heat is turned off and it sits for a while, then it's done. You can just simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally if you'd prefer.  There is some cilantro saved to add after cooking.  

It tastes so good!  

For dessert we had gulab jamun and noodle pudding.  It was good, too.

I will need to practice as they are coming for dinner on the 11th and I am making Indian food for them.

 A friend came over with a laptop to try to view the photos from the temple trip to Hong Kong, but the disk wouldn't work on his computer.  It worked at the photo studio where they had some prints made.

 Elder & Sister Wigg, so full after a great dinner!

Usha's Mother, Milsha, Kumar, Usha and Rexzina - The Kumar Family

Thanks for the great dinner and instructions!  I love to learn and cooking is one of my favorite things to do here in India!