Express Chicken biryani made in the Instant Pot, most flavorful and made effortlessly…
By now, everyone knows well about my obsession for Instant Pot. I don’t easily fall for anything unless I get the true value out of it. Before owning an IP, I debated if I already have a pressure cooker, rice cooker and a slow cooker, and what difference would IP make. It could be just another appliance that will take up space on my kitchen countertop. However, after owning and cooking in an IP for the past few months, I can only say that it made all the difference in terms of cooking time, taste, and being efficient.
Hands down, the best kitchen appliance that actually resolves some of the cooking challenges. Hats off and much gratitude to Robert Wang- the man behind the Instant Pot.
Making Chicken biryani in the IP had been on my top to-do list ever since I got the IP. Finally, that happened and let me tell you this is the best testing biryani- much much flavorful and made without much effort.
All we have to do is marinate the chicken, soak the rice and saute the onions till caramelized. The chicken was pressure cooked for 5 minutes and then rice was added to the cooked chicken and pressure cooked for another 5 more minutes. Delicious chicken biryani was ready in no time.
Caramelized onions, basmati rice cooked in the flavorful chicken broth, the aromatic spices, saffron, and herbs greatly enhanced the flavor of this biryani. I swear this is the best-tasting biryani!
Cooking Video
- Chicken legs or bone-in pieces- 10
- Ginger-Garlic paste- 1 tbsp
- Chili powder- 1½ tsp (for less heat add Kashmiri chili powder)
- Coriander powder- 2 tsp
- Garam Masala- 1 tsp
- Lemon juice- 2 tbsp
- Yogurt, beaten- 3 tbsp or ¼ cup
- Mint leaves, roughly chopped- ¼ cup
- Cilantro, roughly chopped- ¼ cup
- Salt- 1 tsp
- Ghee- 3 tbsp
- Dried bay leaves- 2
- Whole green cardamom- 2
- Onion, sliced thin- 3
- Basmati Rice- 2 cups (soaked for 20 minutes)
- Water- 1 cup
- Mint leaves, chopped- ¼ cup (Must add)
- Cilantro, chopped- ¼ cup
- Saffron- 10 strands soaked in 1 tbsp water for 5 mins
- Salt- 1½ tsp
- Fried onions
- Roasted cashew nuts (roast in ghee till cashew nuts turn golden)
- Roasted raisins (roast in ghee till raisins plum up)
- I've taken chicken legs, any bone-in chicken pieces can be used.
- Using a sharp knife, score the chicken pieces or add 2 lines on the flesh.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken along with the above mentioned ingredients 'for marinating chicken'. Combine well, let marinate for 30 minutes.
- For less heat, add kashmiri chili powder; it's mild & imparts a deep red color.
- In a bowl, soak the basmati rice in 2 cups water for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes of soaking, add the rice to a strainer, drain the water & rinse the rice under running water. Keep it aside.
- Turn on the Instant Pot. I'm using Instant Pot Duo model, 6 quarts.
- Select Saute setting, temperature should be medium or normal- let hot sign display on the screen
- To the hot stainless steel pot, add 3 tbsp ghee, dried bay leaves and whole cardamom, saute for a few seconds.
- Add onions, season with ½ tsp salt. Saute for 3 minutes till onions turn translucent.
- Ensure onions are not browned and the bottom of the stainless steel pot hasn't turned brown.
- Add the marinated chicken pieces and combine well.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Cancel saute setting.
- Turn the steam release valve to sealing if using Instant Pot Duo model. Select Manual setting: select high pressure, set time to 5 minutes.. Walk away.
- It will take 5 minutes for the pressure to build and 5 minutes to pressure cook.
- After 5 minutes of pressure cooking, turn the steam release valve to venting and do a quick pressure release. Pressure will be released completely in 2 minutes.
- Open the lid, there will be around 1 cup of chicken broth left in the pot.
- Add 2 cups of rice and add 1 cup additional warm water (for cooking 2 cups basmati rice 2 cups liquid is required).
- Add 1 tsp salt, mint leaves and chopped cilantro. Combine well.
- Add saffron soaked in 1 tbsp water, combine well.
- Close the pot with the lid. Turn the steam release valve to sealing and select Manual setting: select high pressure, set time to 5 minutes.. Walk away.
- After 5 minutes of pressure cooking, do a quick pressure release (QPR).
- Open the lid, fluff the rice using a fork.
- If the rice is crisp, cover the stainless steel pot with the Instant Pot lid & let rest for 10 minutes, the rice will turn soft.
- Garnish the biryani with chopped fresh mint & cilantro.
- You can also top the biryani with fried onions, roasted cashew nuts and raisins.
- Fried onions will greatly enhance the taste of this biryani.
- Serve along with raita, pickle, pappad etc. It's finger licking delish!!!
