Kolkata chicken Biriyani

After I left my home town I missed Biryani like any other Bengali. Whenever I went to visit  my hometown kolkata and definitely try kolkata famous biryani from Siraj ,arsalan and aminia.. I am lucky that these three famous biryani outlet just few minutes distance from my kolkata home..My hubby is a die-heart fan of kolkata biryani but we live in Pune ,here we didn't get kolkata style biryani..so I have no option to other than learnt kolkata style biryani and make it at home..almost once in a month I have to make biryani and my biryani loving family enjoy it .
 There is a large variety of biryani in India and I found each one has different taste and flavour. As a bengali I love kolkata biryani most..

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Cook Time- 1 hr 
Serve - 5
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Ingredients:--

Rice - 500gms
Chicken- 700 gsm
Potatoes - 2 , cut into two pieces 
Onion - 3 large
Ginger paste - 1 tbsp 
Garlic paste- 1 tbsp
Curd - 1/2 cup
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp 
Chili powder- 1/2 tsp 
Coriander powder- 1tsp 
Cumin powder- 1tsp 
Biryani masla - 1-2 tbsp
Salt to taste 
Bay leaves- 2
Cinnamon- 1/2 inch stick 
Green cardamom- 2
Cloves- 3-4
Rose Water- 3-4 tsp 
Kewra water- 2 tsp
Milk - 1 cup
Saffron - 1 tsp

Biryani masala:-
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Coriander seeds - 2tsp
Cumin seeds- 1tsp 
Cinnamon- 1/2 inch stick 
Cloves - 5-6
Green cardamom- 4-5
Black cardamom- 1
Caraway seeds / shahjeera - 1/2 tsp
Jaifol or nutmeg- 1/2 tsp 
Jaitri or mace - 1/2 tsp 
Black pepper- 1/2 tsp 
Bay leaves- 2
Kabab chini - 2/4 tsp 
Star anise- 1/4 tsp
 Dry roast everything till gets nice aroma .then grind to a fine powder. 

Method:--
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Soak rice for 30-40 mins
Heat a handi with enough water for cook rice. Add one bay leaf , 1/2 stick cinnamon,2 green cardamom,2 tbsp Salt and 1tbsp oil.
  Once the water starts boiling add soaked rice...cook till 80% done..then drain water properly..then spread rice on a broad plate or on a paper...let it cool

Marinate chicken with curd ,salt to taste  ,1tsp  black pepper 1/2tsp turmeric   1/2 tsp Chili powder,1/2 sugar for 1 hr or so..

Now soak saffron in a warm milk...keep aside..
If you don't have saffron then heat a pan with 1 cup milk ,add 1/2tsp turmeric  1tsp rose  1/2kewra water and 2 green cardamom. Boil for 2-3 mins.turn off Gas. Keep aside for future use.

Now boil potatoes in pressure cooker with turmeric and salt till cooked well. Then fry potatoes. Keep it aside.

Now heat a kadai .add 2 tbsp oil .add sliced onion .fry till well brown..then take out from kadai .place it on a paper towel..

 Then add ginger garlic paste and marinated chicken..stir it for 3-4 mins or till oil leaves the side of the pan.then add 1tbsp biryani masala and brown onion..stir well to coat the chicken with masala and onion  then add 1/2 cup water .give nice stir ..then turn down flame .simmer it for 20 -25 mins or the chicken cooked well.
When chicken become tender and gravy reduced. Add 1 tsp rose water and 1/2 kewra water.stir nicely...check seasoning..turn off Gas.

Now heat a heavy bottom pan. Add 1tbsp  ghee .now add 1/3 of chicken with gravy.then layering with rice .sprnkle 1tsp biryani masala  ,boiled potatoes. Spread 1tsp  rose water and 1/2 tsp  kewra water..Then layer with rice again. Sprnkle biryani masala ,1 tsp ghee.spread half of the saffron milk or flavour milk..then spread 2/3 of the chicken. Then final layer of rice .spread ghee .rest of the saffron or flavour milk

Now cover pan with lid and seal it with flour daugh..heat a tawa then place the biryani pan over it..slow down flame for 25-30 mins..