Table of Contents
Biryani! Whenever its name comes to our mind, water starts flowing in the mouth. And if we are talking about Chicken Dum Biryani, then understand that the taste is something heavenly. This is a dish that is not only famous for its taste, but its preparation, its history, and its method of preparation also tell a complete story. Let’s talk about Chicken Dum Biryani, starting from its origin to its method of preparation.
History of Biryani
The origin of Biryani is believed to be Persia, where it was known as “pilaf” or “pilav”. This dish spread from Persia to the Middle East and then to India, and from there it started taking its own regional variations. Wherever this dish reached, people there created a different style in their own way by adding their regional spices, like Hyderabadi Biryani, Lucknowi Biryani, Kolkata’s Biryani and Moradabadi Biryani.
The concept of Dum Biryani became more popular in India, where it is made with mutton or chicken. “Dum” means cooking something on slow fire. That is, the ingredients are cooked in such a way that their original taste is completely preserved. In this process, spices, meat and rice are put layer-by-layer in a pot, sealed completely and then slow-cooking is done.
Chicken Dum Biryani: A Perfect Combination of Chicken and Rice
Now let’s talk about Chicken Dum Biryani. The most interesting part of Chicken Dum Biryani is that it has a balance of spices neither too heavy nor too bland. Each bite has a perfect blend of spices, tender chicken, and fragrant rice. Its special feature is that the chicken is put in a long marination and then kept on the dum, due to which it absorbs its flavours completely.
Chicken Dum Biryani Ingredients:
- Chicken –Fresh chicken should be used. You can use boneless or bone-in chicken, but in traditional Dum Biryani, bone-in chicken is more commonly used as the bones have a flavour which mixes well with the rice.
- Basmati Rice – The long and thin grains of Basmati rice are best for biryani. It makes the rice fragrant and separate.
- Curd – Curd is an essential ingredient while marinating the chicken. It makes the chicken juicy and tender and locks the flavour inside it.
- Onion – Onion should be fried quite well until it gets brown and a bit crunchy. It’s a special topping of Chicken Dum Biryani.
- Whole Spices –All the whole spices add their own unique flavour to the biryani such as Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and bay leaves.
- Ginger-Garlic Paste –This paste adds hot and spicy flavor to the Chicken Dum biryani.
- Mint Leaves – The touch of mint in Chicken Dum biryani makes its taste fresh and aromatic.
- Coriander Leaves –The flavour of fresh coriander brings a fresh aroma to the rice and chicken.
- Saffron (Optional) – Give a royal touch to the Chicken Dum biryani by adding saffron milk.
10- Ghee – Ghee adds richness to the Chicken Dum biryani. It gives a rich, buttery taste to the rice.
Measurement of Ingredients for Chicken Dum Biryani
- · Chicken – 500g (1 lb) bone-in chicken (or boneless, as per your preference)
- · Basmati Rice – 1 ½ cups (about 300g)
- · Curd (Yogurt) – ¾ cup (about 180g)
- · Onion – 2 large onions (for frying, plus a portion for layering)
- · Whole Spices:
- Cinnamon Stick – 1-inch piece
- Green Cardamom Pods – 3-4
- Cloves – 4-5
- Black Peppercorns – 5-6
- Bay Leaves – 2
- · Ginger-Garlic Paste – 1 tablespoon
- · Mint Leaves – 1 cup (packed)
- · Coriander Leaves (Cilantro) – 1 cup (packed)
- · Saffron (Optional) – a pinch (soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk)
- · Ghee (Clarified Butter) – 2-3 tablespoons
How to Make Chicken Dum Biryani:
Step 1: Chicken Marination
First of all, wash the chicken well, marinate it by adding curd, ginger-garlic paste, biryani masala (cumin, coriander powder, garam masala, red chili powder, turmeric), and salt and mix it well. Let this mixture to marinate for at least 1 hour (4-5 hours or overnight if it is better). Also, add mint and coriander leaves during marination.
Step 2: Rice Preparation
Rice must be half-cooked in Chicken Dum Biryani. Now, add all the whole spices such as bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in the water and cook the rice till 70-80%. After that, strain the rice and keep it aside.
Step 3: Cooking the Chicken
Take a heavy-bottomed pan or handi and add ghee or oil to it. Fry sliced onions in it till they turn golden brown. Take out the fried onions and keep them aside. Add the marinated chicken in the same ghee and cook on medium flame for 15-20 minutes.
Step 4: Dum Process
Now take a heavy-bottomed pot, first add a layer of half-cooked rice, then sprinkle some fried onions, mint and coriander leaves on top of rice. Then place the cooked chicken on top of it. Add more rice on top, and then garnish with ghee, saffron milk (optional), and fried onions. After that, close the lid of the pot tightly. Then keep it on low flame, i.e. cook for 25-30 minutes.
Step 5: Serve
When the Chicken Dum Biryani is ready, mix it carefully. You will find a perfect blend of rice and chicken, which will not only be rich in pleasant aroma but also have a divine texture.
What to serve with Chicken Dum Biryani?
You can serve Chicken Dum Biryani in the traditional way with raita, salan (curry), and salad. If you like more spicy, then have the Chicken Dum Biryani with chilli salan or curd raita.
Conclusion
Chicken Dum Biryani is not just a dish, but an emotion. Each ingredient you make has a story behind it, and when you have it, you get a taste that remains in your heart forever. I have shared the recipe of Chicken Dum Biryani with you. You can add mutton in this dish apart from chicken. If you are fond of eggs then you can also add eggs and give it a new version. So in case you are vegetarian you can try this recipe with vegetables.
Do try this flavorful and aromatic Chicken Dum Biryani and enjoy its rich flavours!
Important Tips:
- Put the washed chicken in water that is mixed with little salt and a spoon of vinegar for 10 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and oil to the rice in the step of preparation of rice so that the rice won’t be sticky.
Happy Cooking!!
Nutritional Chart for Chicken Dum Biryani (per serving – 1 cup/200g)
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Calories | 300-350 Kcal | 15-18% |
| Total fat | 15-18 g | 23-28% |
| Saturated fat | 4-6g | 20-30% |
| Trans fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 60-70mg | 20-23% |
| Sodium | 500-600mg | 22-26% |
| Total carbohydrates | 35-40g | 12-15% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1-3g | 4-12% |
| Sugars | 2-3g | 2-6% |
| Protein | 20-25g | 40-50% |
| Vitamins & Minerals | ||
| Vitamin A | 100-150 IU | 2-3% |
| Vitamin C | 1-3mg | 1-5% |
| Calcium | 25-35mg | 3-5% |
| Iron | 1.5-2mg | 8-12% |
| Potassium | 250-300mg | 7-9% |
Hi there