I had a dream I was vacuuming last night. Vacuuming! And I was doing a really good job too, like spring cleaning level vacuuming. Why can’t dreams always be something pleasant, like relaxing on a beach somewhere, or petting kittens? I fell asleep on purpose, so that I didn’t have to do anything, let alone chores. Come on now brain. Throw me a bone here. Also, I was vacuuming my childhood bedroom. Go ahead and analyze that one for me. In other news, I got my hair cut. Why do women get so excited about haircuts?? I’m no exception. It’s nice to have something new going on. I cut off about 7 inches. Hard to believe my hair was so long! (No one noticed, and I can’t blame them, because I have been rocking the mom-bun pretty much all summer. To Eric’s credit, he actually did notice. Better than my dad, who still to this day after 44 years of marriage can’t tell when my mom gets her hair done until he hugs her and smells the perm chemicals.) I am delivering on my promise of more easy weeknight recipes! If you’ve signed up for my emails, then you will have seen the question I ask on my first email, what’s your greatest challenge in the kitchen? And SO many of you respond telling me how there is just NO TIME. You’ve just gotten home from work, the kids have turned into ravenous animals, and you need dinner stat. So here’s an Indian-inspired dish, which should only take about 30 minutes to throw together. Barring any arguments between kids, or homework meltdowns, or phone calls that need to be taken. Let’s be real here. The funny thing is that as I was in the kitchen putting this recipe together, I kept having thoughts like, ooh, carrots would be good in this. Or, ooh, how about some cilantro and cashews at the end? And when I was finished I realized I had almost the exact same dish as this Sheet Pan Curry Chicken with Basmati Rice. Down to the garnishes. And I didn’t even realize it until I was done. I guess I just know what I like??
You will love this Biryani Chicken
The nice thing about today’s chicken biryani recipe is that it really is super quick, and it’s all done on the stovetop. Perfect for hot days when you don’t want to turn on the oven. (Are you guys still having hot days? California hasn’t gotten the memo about fall yet.)
What is Chicken Biryani?
Biryani is a traditional Indian dish of rice cooked with meat and veggies. As with most Indian dishes, there are supposed to be about 100 spices in it, but I wanted to keep this recipe very simple, so we are just using curry powder, which does a nice job of pulling together the flavors we’re going for. You could also try adding garam masala, if you have some. That would add even more layers of flavor.
Indian Chicken Biryani ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of everything you’ll need to make chicken biryani. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for a complete list!
Chicken Biryani Recipe variations
I love this chicken biryani just the way it is, but here are a few ideas to make it your own! Slice the chicken into strips, pat it dry, and dredge it in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and yellow curry powder. Pan-searing the chicken over medium heat. I love how electric yellow it is. Curry has turmeric in is, which is just so bright! Remove to a plate, and set aside. Cook the onions in the same pan. Then microwave some carrots while the onions cook. Yup, I said microwave. I really love being the food CHARLATAN sometimes, because that means I get to pull crap like throwing my veggies in the microwave instead of doing everything authentically the way I’m sure Indian grandmothers do it. Carrots take a long time to soften on the stovetop, and I don’t have time for that. So into the microwave they go, and then finish them in the saute pan. By the time the rice is done they are perfectly tender. Add the garlic, curry powder, and ginger, cooking for just a couple minutes. Stir in the rice, water, and salt, then add the chicken back into the pan. I used traditional basmati rice in this recipe, and I love the aroma and flavor so much, but you can use whatever kind of white rice you have on hand. My second choice would be jasmine rice, so go with that if you have it. But regular ol’ white rice will work great too! Brown rice is a whole different animal and needs to be cooked way longer, so you will have to do some experimenting with that one (hint: you won’t need to microwave your carrots). Cover tightly with a lid and turn the heat up to high. When it starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and cook until the rice and carrots are tender and the chicken is cooked through. Add butter, chopped cilantro, and chopped cashews. Serve with plain yogurt and cucumbers.
Add golden raisins for little pops of sweetness Sprinkle a little lemon juice on the finished dish for freshness Substitute another protein of your choice for the chicken, like pork or tofu Play with other spices, like bay leaves, a cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, coriander, cumin seeds, star anise, or even saffron. Whole spices have so much flavor! Make the sheet pan version instead! Omit the cilantro if you’re not a fan (I love it but I get it, not everyone does) Add other veggies with the onions! Peas would be great, so would bell peppers. Clean out your fridge and put in whatever suits you.
Tips for this Indian Chicken Biryani Recipe
Here are my best tips for making this Indian rice dish.
Saute your chicken in batches. I know it’s tempting to just put it all in there at once, but if you want nicely seared chicken, don’t do it. It will steam, and the chicken will be pale and have a lot less flavor. Steam your carrots before adding them to the rice. No one wants hard, crunchy carrots in their biryani! Steaming them first ensures they’re tender. Toast the spices. It’s insane how big a difference this makes! Toasting the spices brings out their flavor and makes this biryani totally irresistible.
What to serve with Indian Chicken and Rice
Chicken Biryani is so good all by itself, but if you are looking for a side dish to jazz it up, make this Roti (Buttery Indian Flatbread). It is so soft and flavorful. You could also try making Homemade Naan, which is never a bad choice. Use lots of butter! You could also make Raita, which is quick Indian side dish made from cucumbers and yogurt and a few spices. It’s really delicious, but if you’re feeling lazy you could also just throw some sliced cucumbers and plain yogurt on the table for people to garnish however they want.
How to store leftover Chicken Biryani
Leftover chicken biryani can be stored in the fridge for up to five days. It also freezes well, so don’t be afraid to toss it in a ziplock or a tupperware and bring it out later for a quick dinner. Remember to label it!
More international dishes you are going to love!
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