Chicken Biryani

Ingredients :

Chicken legs with bones-4 lbs.
Basmati Rice -4 cups.
Cardamom-4
Cloves-4
Cinnamon Stick-two 1 inch sticks
Aniseed-1
Green Chillies slit vertically-4
Ginger Garlic Paste-Freshly ground-2 Tbs
Mint-one standard bunch.
Corriander-One standard bunch
Onion-4 medium sized ones
Tomato-2-3 medium ones(puree)
Lemons-4
Curd or yogurt-2 cups.
food colour-2 pinches.
Corn Oil-2 cups.
salt to taste
Turmeric pwd-1/4 tsp.
Chilli powder-3 tsp(vary according to taste)
Garam Masala-1 tsp

Preparation :

Marinate Chicken overnight. Mix yoghurt, chilli powder, salt, turmeric powder, all in moderation and leave it in fridge overnight.
Half cook Basmati rice and keep it aside.

Gravy :

Heat Oil in a big saucepan.
Once hot,Add cardamom,cloves,cinnamon,aniseed.
after a minute or two, add Ginger Garlic Paste
Fry it for a minute and then add Green chillies.
When the green skin starts to decolour add Onions.
Fry it well. Close the lid and allow it to become translucent.
Add Marinated Chicken.
Mix them well.
Then add tomato puree.
Allow them to cook for a couple of minutes with lid closed.
Add salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder, garam masala powder.
Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add Yogurt, Mint, Corriander.
Mix them well and close the lid and let it cook for a good 15 minutes.
mix food color with juice from lemons and add them. cook again for 10 minutes until the oil starts separating out. Check to see if the chicken is cooked well.

Final prep before serving :

You can separate the oil and pour it out in a bowl and keep it aside.
Take a Aluminum tray greased with ghee and spread some half cooked rice on it. then spread the gravy that was prepared and continue doing alternate layers of rice and gravy until all are finished. make sure the rice layer is at the top again. you can add little bit of oil that you have separated out over the top.
cover them tight with aluminum foil and place on the upper rack of preheated oven.
set the oven for 415 degree Fahrenheit for a cooking time of 15 minutes.
Take them out when you are ready to serve and mix them just before serving.
you can serve it with Raita.