Ambur Chicken Biriyani

This is an authentic traditional style biriyani from Ambur (Tamil Nadu) and cooked using a different variety of rice called Seeraga samba Rice.

Marination: 15 min
Prep & Cooking: 1 hr
Serves 5 - 6 persons

Ingredients
3  Cups Seeraga samba Rice
5  Cups Water/coconut milk
6  Cloves
1Tbsp  Shahi Jeera
3  Cardamoms
1″ Cinnamon stick
3   Bay leaves
1   Star Anise
5   Pepper Corns

2 lb Chicken with bone
2   large onions, finely sliced
3 Green Chilies
2 Tbsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 Cup Curry Leaves
2  Large Tomatoes
1/2 Cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup mint leaves
1/4 Cup thick curd/yogurt

1 Tbsp Garam Masala
1 Tbsp Biriyani Masala
1 Tbsp Coriander Powder
2 Tbsp red chilli pwd
3 Tbsp Ghee
salt to taste

For marination
1 tbsp red chilli pwd
1/4 tsp turmeric pwd
1 Tbsp ginger garlic paste
lemon juice
1 tsp salt

• Marinate the chicken pieces with the above listed ingredients for 15 - 20 min.      
• Soak the rice for 30 min.

Cooking

• Take a pressure cooker or a wide nonstick dish and add ghee.

• Now add all the dry spices, onions, curry leaves, green chillies, salt & ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes away.

• Once the onions are fried add cilantro, mint, tomatoes , red chili powder & Garam masala and fry till the tomatoes become soft.

• I love to add some biriyani masala powder as well as it enhances the flavor. You can choose any brand you like ( I used Shan).

• Now add yogurt and fry for another minute. 

• Time to add the marinated chicken and fry it with the masala on medium flame.

• To this chicken masala add the rice (3 cups) and water/coconut milk(5 cups). Make sure you add the right amount of salt now and cook it for another 20 min.

• Sprinkle some ghee over it and serve hot.

                                              Enjoy it with a glass of Coke and Chips !!!                                          

Honey Chilli Cake

Serves 4- 5 People
Preparation Time : 20 Min
Cooking Time : 40 Min

INGREDIENTS
2 Cup           All Purpose Flour

3                      Eggs
2 Tsp             Baking Powder
1 Tsp             Baking Soda
1 Cup            Sugar
1 Tsp             Vanilla Essence
1.5 Cup         Unsalted Butter
4 Tbsp           Milk

Honey Syrup

1 Cup            Water
1.5 Cup         Honey
4 Tbsp          Sugar

Jam Topping
3 Tbsp           Jam
3 Tbsp           Desiccated Coconut
2 Tsp             Chilli Powder

PROCEDURE

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.Butter the cake pans then line bottom with parchment paper and lightly dust the pan with flour.

• Take a Bowl and beat the butter & sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes,scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

• Now beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the vanilla essence.

• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour, baking soda & baking powder and beat for another 3 to 4 minutes.

• Now grease the baking pan, pour the batter and bake it for 40 - 50 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

• Remove it from the oven and cool it for 20 min.

• Now prepare the syrup by boiling water, sugar and honey till you get the syrup consistency.

• Melt the Jam over low flame adding 1 tsp sugar and 2 tsp chilli powder.

FINAL PREP

• Now poke some holes all over the cake and pour the syrup while its still warm and let it soak for a couple of minutes.

• Time to apply the Jam all over the cake and then sprinkle the desiccated powder all over.