In a large bowl, mix together chicken pieces, yogurt, ginger and garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, and salt. Ensure that the chicken is well coated with the marinade.
Chicken, Yogurt, salt, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, garlic paste, ginger, Spices
Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to infuse.
In a deep pan, heat oil or ghee over medium heat.
ghee
Add whole spices like bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cardamom pods. Sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.
Aromatic Herbs, bay leaves
Next, add sliced onions and cook until they turn golden brown.
onions
Add tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy.
tomatoes
Add the marinated chicken and cook for a few minutes until it is partially cooked.
Now, add water and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove the pan from heat and set it aside.
In a separate pan, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Add rice, salt, and lemon juice to the boiling water and cook until the rice is 70% cooked. Drain the rice and set it aside.
Rice, lemon juice, salt
Grease a large oven-safe dish with ghee.
ghee
Start layering the dish by first adding a layer of partially cooked rice at the bottom.
Rice
Next, add a layer of the cooked chicken and its masala.
masala, Chicken
Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of rice on top.
Rice
Cover the dish with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil.
Place the dish in a preheated oven at 180°C and bake for about 30-35 minutes.
During the last 5 minutes of baking, remove the lid or foil to allow the biryani to develop a golden crust on top.
Once the biryani is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.