Quick & Easy Chicken Pulao

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken, washed and drained completely

2 cups long grained rice, washed and strained

2 onions, finely sliced

2 green chillis, slit

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tomato, finely chopped

1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

10-12 mint leaves

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup thick coconut milk

salt to taste

1 1/2 tbsps ghee + 1 1/2 tbsps oil

Marinade:

1/2 cup thick curd/yogurt

3-4 green chillis, make a small slit in them

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2 tsp red chilli pwd (adjust)

1/4 tsp turmeric pwd

1/2 tbsp coriander leaves

6-7 pudina leaves

1/2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp salt

Garam Masala:

7 cloves

1″ cinnamon stick

3 elaichi/cardamom

1 star anise

1 marathi mogga

pinch of mace

pinch of nutmeg pwd

2 bay leaves

Method

Marinate chicken with the ingredients called for ‘marination’ for 10 mts. While the chicken is marinating, work on the rest of the preparation.

Heat oil+ghee in a vessel, add all the garam masala ingredients – bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, mace, star anise, marathi mogga and nutmeg. Saute for few seconds.

Add sliced onions and green chillis and saute for 6 mts till onions turn transparent. Add ginger garlic paste and saute further for 2-3 mts. Add chopped tomato, mint and coriander leaves and saute for 4 mts.

Add the chicken along with marinade and combine well. Cook on high for 2 mts, reduce flame, place lid and cook for 15-16 mts or till the chicken is three fourth cooked with little gravy left. It should not be completely dry but appear like a gravy dish.

Add water and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Adjust salt, reduce flame and add the strained basmati rice. Add 4-5 mint leaves and 1/2 tbsp coriander leaves and place lid and cook on low flame till the rice and chicken are cooked. This could take approx 15-18 mts. Turn off heat and do not remove lid for 10 mts.

Remove lid, add 1/2 tbsp ghee and combine gently and serve hot with raita and curry of your choice.