Chicken tikka biryani is one of the most well-known Indian food across the world. Biryani is a savoury Basmati rice dish packed with the flavour of whole spices and juicy pieces of chicken. To note that, chicken tikka biryani can be made in many ways. However, today I am going to show you how to make the most authentic biryani. Biryani derives its origins from a city in India known as Hyderabad. Hyderabad is a very popular place in India.To note, It is known for its biryani and chai.
Chicken tikka biryani in Hyderabad is usually served with Mirchi ka salan and raita to accompany it. I will show you how to make the most authentic biryani using the “dum”. To note that, dum is a cooking technique to make biryani. Basically, It helps trap all the fragrance and flavour of the basmati rice and the whole spices in the pot. This helps the biryani to come out more flavourful and cooked just right. personally, chicken tikka biryani is one of my all-time favourite dishes. I was surrounded by biryani places and the mouth-watering aroma of it cooking when I was growing up in Hyderabad.

FAQ’s about chicken tikka biryani
Is it necessary to have a biryani pot to make biryani?
No, You do not necessarily need to have a biryani pot. Any roomy dish would suffice. However, having a biryani pot can help you save a lot of time.
Can we make chicken tikka biryani in a single pot?
Although authentic Hyderabad chicken biryani is made in 2 pots. However, you can make biryani in a single pot.
Do I have to marinate the chicken over-night?
I advise you to let the chicken marinate overnight. However, if you are in a hurry, you can let the chicken marinate for at least an hour.
Can we use normal rice to make authentic chicken tikka biryani or just basmati rice?
You can use normal rice for biryani as well. To note, basmati rice has a certain flavour and texture that elevates the taste of the biryani. However, personally I like to use basmati rice to make biryani
Do we need a tandoor to make chicken tikka?
No, today I will be showing you how to make chicken tikka using a tawa.
Without any further ado, let us dive into the recipe.
Chicken tikka biryani
Ingredients
- 500 grams Boneless chicken
- 1 cup Curd
- 1 tbsp Ginger garlic paste
- 2 tbsp Chilli powder
- 1 tbsp Turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp Tandoori masala
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- Oil
- Salt to taste
- 1 Onion (Thinly sliced)
- 1 Onion (Finely chopped)
- 1 Tomato (Finely chopped)
- 1¼ cup Curd
- 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste
- 2 Green chilli (Finely chopped )
- 1 tbsp Red chilli powder
- 2 Cardamom
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 3 Blcak peppercorns
- 2 Cloves
- ½ tsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Garam masala
- Saffron
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- ½ tsp Cumin seeds
- 1 Bay leaf
- 4 cups Water
Instructions
- First, let us start by making chicken tikka. For that, rinse the chicken pieces very well in running water and keep aside.
- Now, in a bowl mix 1 cup curd, 1 tablespoon ginger paste, 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 2 tablespoon tandoori masala, 2 teaspoon red chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon oil, and salt to taste. Mix all the ingredients very well.
- Next, Marinade the chicken pieces with the mixture and let it refrigerate overnight.
- Later, apply some oil on the tawa. Prep the chicken and load them onto the skewers.
- After the tawa is heated, place the skewers on the tawa and cook until the chicken is tender and juicy.
- Now, as the chicken is cooking, take a frying pan, add some oil. After the oil is heated, add the thinly sliced onions and fry them until they are golden brown.
- Keep the onions aside.
- Next, rinse 2 cups basmati rice in running water and soak them for about 20 minutes. Bring 4 cups of water on few boils, add soaked rice, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 bay leaf and some salt. Cook till the rice are about 3/4 done and strain all the water.
- Now take an air tight not stick pot, and add 2 tablespoon of oil and add whole spices, 2 cardamom pods, 1 inch cinnamon, 2-3 black peppercorns and 2 cloves. Next add some cumin seeds and ginger garlic paste.
- Stir for 2 minutes and then add 2 chillis and onions. Mix it until the onions are brown and cooked. Next, add the tomatoes and let them cook properly until they are mushy and add salt and chilli powder to taste.
- Next, add the cooked chicken tikka and mix it well. Next, add layer of rice and top it with a few of the onions we fried earlier. Then, layer some more chicken and rice and add saffron soaked in the milk or water.
- Close the lid tightly and let it cook for around 15 minutes.
- Enjoy mouth watering chicken tikka biryani
Chicken tikka biryani recipe
Ingredients
- 500 grams Boneless chicken
- 1 cup Curd
- 1 tbsp Ginger garlic paste
- 2 tbsp Chilli powder
- 1 tbsp Turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp Tandoori masala
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- Oil
- Salt to taste
- 1 Onion (Thinly sliced)
- 1 Onion (Finely chopped)
- 1 Tomato (Finely chopped)
- 1¼ cup Curd
- 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste
- 2 Green chilli (Finely chopped )
- 1 tbsp Red chilli powder
- 2 Cardamom
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 3 Blcak peppercorns
- 2 Cloves
- ½ tsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Garam masala
- Saffron
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- ½ tsp Cumin seeds
- 1 Bay leaf
- 4 cups Water
Instructions to make authentic chicken tikka biryani
- Firstly, let us start by making chicken tikka. For that, rinse the chicken pieces very well in running water and keep aside.
- Now, in a bowl mix 1 cup curd, 1 tablespoon ginger paste, 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 2 tablespoon tandoori masala, 2 teaspoon red chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon oil, and also salt to taste. Mix all the ingredients very well.
- Next, marinade the chicken pieces with the mixture and let it refrigerate overnight.
- Later, apply some oil on the tawa. After the oil is heated, prep the chicken and load them onto the skewers.
- After the tawa is heated, place the skewers on the tawa and cook until the chicken is tender and juicy.
- Now, as the chicken is cooking, take a frying pan, add some oil. After the oil is heated, add the thinly sliced onions and fry them until they are golden brown.
- Keep the onions aside.
- Later, for making the rice for the chicken tikka biryani, rinse 2 cups basmati rice in running water and soak them for about 20 minutes. Add 4 cups of water, and after it boils, add soaked rice, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 bay leaf and also some salt. Cook till the rice are about 3/4 done and strain all the water.
- Now take an air tight not stick pot, and add 2 tablespoon of oil and add whole spices, 2 cardamom pods, 1 inch cinnamon, 2-3 black peppercorns and also 2 cloves. Later add some cumin seeds and ginger garlic paste.
- Later, Stir for 2 minutes and then add 2 chillis and onions. Mix it until the onions are brown and cooked. Next, add the tomatoes and let them cook properly until they are mushy and add salt and chilli powder to taste.
- Later, add the cooked chicken tikka and mix it well. Next, add layer of rice and top it with a few of the onions we fried earlier. Then, layer some more chicken and rice and add saffron soaked in the milk or water.
- Close the lid tightly and let it cook for around 15 minutes.
- Enjoy mouth watering chicken tikka biryani.
Conclusion and tips
Authentic Hyderabad biryani is an easy savoury dish to make. I would suggest you to use an air sealed pot for making a chicken tikka biryani. however, If you do not have such a pot, take dough – roti dough, and sal the lid and the pot shut. Basically, this is a great hack you can use if you do not have a biryani pot. In the recipe, I asked to soak the safer in milk. However, You can soak the saffron in water as well. This will not tamper with the flavour of saffron. I suggest you to grill the chicken tikka if you have access to a grill. You can even air fry the chicken tikka or even pop it in a microwave oven. To note that, this would not change the flavour of the chicken tikka.
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