Chicken Biryani

Biryani is a rice based recipe which is popular not only in India but in various other countries.It is made of rice(specially basmati),spices and meat(chicken,mutton,prawns)/veggies.But every country/region has its own way to cook it.Here is my recipe which is not complicated at all but tastes great.

Ingredients

Chicken pieces(with bones) 1 pound

Yogurt(plain) 3/4 cup

Mint Leaves 1/2 cup

Coriander Leaves 1/2 cup

Bay Leaves 2

Cloves 4-5

Cardamom Green 3-4

Cardamom Black 2

Black Peppercorn 8-10

Cinnamon Stick 1 inch

Mace/Javitri 1-2

Cumin Seeds 1 1/2 tsp

Onions 2

Ginger-Garlic Paste 2 tsp

Red Chili pw 1 tsp

Green chili 1-2

Cumin pw 1 tsp

Coriander pw 1 tsp

Turmeric pw 1/2 tsp

Basmati rice 2 cups

Salt

Clarified Butter(ghee) 3 tbsp

Method

1. First of all to marinate take the chicken pieces in a bowl and add ginger-garlic paste,chopped mint leaves,coriander leaves,yogurt,cumin powder,coriander powder,red chili powder,turmeric powder,salt.Mix all the ingredients together and let it marinate for 20 minutes.

2. Wash and soak basmati rice in water for 30 minutes.

3. Heat oil in a thick bottom vessel and add all the whole spices(bay leaves,green and black cardamoms,cumin seeds,cloves,peppercorns,cinnamon stick,mace).Now add sliced onions,chopped green chillies and fry till golden brown in colour.Mix the marinated chicken and cook on medium flame till its half cooked.

4. Now add the rice ,salt,water to this chicken and cook till its done.

5. Garnish it with fried onions,chopped coriander leaves.Serve hot with lemon wedges,raita and pickle.

Note: You can use dried mint if you don't have fresh one.Dried mint is available in Indian grocery stores.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Wow, its been a year when I started my blog.Thanks to all my readers, followers and friends for their constant support and wishes to make this happen.I started this blog with vanilla sponge cake recipe(which I made on my DS's birthday) and completing 1 year with another cake(pineapple upside down).Hope you all enjoy the recipe as we enjoyed it.

Ingredients

For Cake

All Purpose Flour/Maida 1 1/2 cup + little extra for dusting the pan

Brown Sugar 3/4 cup

Sugar 1 1/4 cup

Eggs(large) 3

Milk 3/4 cup

Unsalted Butter(softened) 1/2 cup

Unsalted Butter(melted) 1/4 cup+ little extra for the pan

Salt 1 pinch

Vanilla Essence 1 tsp

Baking Powder 1 1/2 tsp

Pineapple Slices 1 can

Cherries 1 jar

For Pineapple butter-cream Frosting

Unsalted Butter(softened) 1/4 cup

Pineapple Juice 1 tbsp

Confectioner Sugar 1 1/2 cup

Method

1. Sift together all purpose flour,salt,baking powder so that there are no lumps.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare the baking pan by applying little butter to grease the surface and then lightly dust it with flour.

3. Beat butter with sugar in a big bowl till it becomes fluffy and smooth.Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat well after addition of each egg.Stir in vanilla essence.

4. Now add the flour mixture and milk to this one by one starting and ending with flour.

5. Arrange the brown sugar evenly on the bottom of the pan and pour the melted butter over it.Now arrange the pineapples slices and cherries on it.

6. Next pour the batter over it and bake it in the oven for about 40-45 minutes.Check for the completion with a wooden pick( if the pick comes out clean at the center means it is done).Take it out and let it cool down.

7. Take the cake in a plate with pineapple-cherries side up.

8. To make the frosting beat together all frosting ingredients.Apply it over and all sides of the cake.

Note: You can also use fruits(pineapple,cherries) or chopped pecans for decoration.

Sending this as my entry to the event "Bread Mania" by Aathidhyam.