Name: Simple Chicken Biryani Recipe
Prep time: 5 h
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Indian,
Ingredients: 10 Cardamom Pods; 3 Bay Leaves; 2 tsp Sea Salt; 1 tsp Ginger Ground; 125 g natural yoghurt; 1 tsp Turmeric; 1 tsp chilli powder mild; 1 Lemon, juiced; 100 g (4 oz) butter; For the chicken & marinade:; 2 tbsp Cumin Ground; 2 tbsp Coriander Ground; 1 tbsp Garlic; 2.5 cm (1 inch) piece of root ginger, peeled and grated; 8 chicken drumsticks or thighs, skin removed and scored; For the rice:; 450 g (1 lb) basmati rice, soaked in water for a couple of hrs, then rinsed; 1 pinch Saffron; 150 ml (¼ pint) water; 150 ml (¼ pint) milk; For the onions:; 2 onions, sliced; 1 tsp Cumin Seed; 8 Cloves Whole; 2 Cinnamon Sticks , broken in half; 2 Star Anise Whole; 100 g (4 oz) frozen peas; 1 tsp Garlic

Simple Chicken Biryani Recipe

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Check out our super simple & delicious chicken biryani recipe which will be loved by kids and adults. Learn how to cook chicken biryani with Schwartz.

By: Schwartz (via Schwartz)

Original Publish: Oct 22, 2020

Last Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Prep: 5 hrs

Cook: 1 hrs 30 mins

Yields: 4

Instructions

For the chicken, pour the yoghurt into a shallow dish. Add all the spices, root ginger, lemon juice and Salt and stir well. Add the chicken, cover and leave to marinade for a minimum of 4-5 hours in the refrigerator, or for best results overnight.
Something else to do in advance is to soak your rice. Place the rice in a bowl of cold water and leave to soak for a few hours. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove all traces of starch and then set aside.
When you are ready to cook your biryani, pre-heat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the onions, Cumin Seeds, Cloves, Cinnamon, Star Anise and Cardamom Pods over a medium-heat for 10-12 minutes, until softened and turning golden brown. Season well, then stir in the peas, Garlic, Chilli and Turmeric and fry for a further 2 minutes.