Chicken biryani and cucumber laban.

21:43


This golden mix of rice and meat is one of my favourite Middle-Eastern main courses. It's a dish often associated with Indian kitchen, but apparently it originated in Persia. It is hugely popular everywhere around the Gulf and is a staple in the UAE. That's where I got the taste for it.


The first time I had it was in my brother-in-law's house in Sharjah where a huge banquet of food was laid out on a table cloth on the floor, everyone sat in a circle around the huge tray of biryani and lots of little bowls of side dishes and piles of soft flatbread. I loved dining on the floor even though our western stiff hips made getting back up a slow and painful business. And slightly embarrassing as all around us the elderly relatives were bouncing back up like rubber balls. Regardless of the leg discomfort I was so excited about this cozy and sociable sitting on the softly carpeted floors that coming home I was considering getting rid of my furniture. How much easier and more fun would life be with just soft rugs on floors and some colourful cushions. 

Unfortunately the development has gone completely the other way and furniture has made its way into UAE households. Since our first visit sofas and dining tables have appeared everywhere and some of the magic has been lost.

Another memorable meeting with biryani was in a little restaurant boat in the Sharjah corniche. We had been walking around the Sharjah Blue Souk. I love the little shops with sparkly cushion covers, table cloths and pashminas in all imaginable colours. I remember once one of husband's local friends was with us and started haggling so aggressively that the shopkeeper threw us out empty handed. I nearly burst into tears for not getting the gorgeous deep red cushion covers I so wanted. I did get some in an other shop after we got rid of the crazy haggler.

Onboard the restaurant boat we started with a fresh salad. I loved that they brought a big bowl of fresh vegetables to the table and we then took slices of what we liked with a squeeze of lemon on top. The biryanis came in those pretty beaten copper pots and were huge. One would have been enough to share. I think husband had lamb, I definitely had chicken and it was just scrumptious. 
Dhow restaurant in Sharjah
There are many ways to do a biryani and the Emirati way might be different from how it's prepared in some other countries. Some recipes seem to add the rice to the chicken sauce, but the way I think Emiratis prepare it is to cook the rice separately and then layer with the chicken mixture.

I always like to serve it with a yogurt and cucumber sauce, flatbread and a tabbouleh or shirazi salad. This time I made the flatbread myself, but it turned out weirdly crispy, so I'm not going to share that recipe. If anyone is specifically after a somewhat bland, but simultaneously chewy and crispy (quite an achievement) flatbread, get in touch, I'm happy to share some expert advice.

Chicken mixture

Layered biriani ready for oven
Chicken biryani (serves 4+)

600g boneless chicken thigh and/or breast (You can use chicken on the bone as well, it will be delicious, for instance a whole chicken cut to pieces.)
Salt
Pepper
Juice of a lemon
Oil

Oil
1 large yellow onion
1 large thumb sized piece of fresh ginger
4 garlic gloves
1 1/2 tsp cumin
2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cardamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 cinnamon stick (or 1 tsp of ground cinnamon)
2 tbsp tomato paste
Salt
Blackpepper
2 large tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/2-3/4 cups natural yoghurt
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and/or mint

2 cups of basmati rice
Water
Salt
Saffron
Rosewater (optional)

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and squeeze over the juice of a lemon. Leave to marinade for a few hours in the fridge if possible.

Wash rice and soak mimum 30 minutes. Cook until done but not mushy. Rinse under cold water and drain.

Soak a generous pinch of saffron in boiling water. I don't know if this is sacrilege, I feel somewhere in the Punjab or Manipur hair is torn and ears are covered, but I always crush saffron in mortar before pouring hot water over it - I find it dissolves much better.

Peel and cut the onion into thin strips. Peel and grate ginger. Mince garlic. Chop tomatoes. Heat oil in a pan, fry onions until they start to brown slightly. Add garlic, ginger, chicken and all the spices, salt and pepper, continue to fry until chicken is browned. Add tomato paste and yoghurt.

Cook sauce on low heat covered for 30 minutes. Check the seasoning and add spices or salt if necessary. The sauce should be very tasty as the rice that is layered around it is not. If sauce looks too watery let it cook uncovered for a few minutes. It should be quite saucy as the rice will absorb it.







When the chicken is cooked add in the fresh herbs. In the bottom of a oven casserole dish or biryani pot spoon a thick layer of rice - I usually put 2/3 of the rice in the bottom, pour 1/2 of the Saffron water on top of the rice and sprinkle some rosewater, then spoon all the chicken sauce on top and cover with the rest of the rice and pour the rest of the Saffron water on top along with a final sprinkling of rosewater.

Cover with parchment paper and foil and bake in 170C over for about 40 minutes.




Cucumber laban recipe



1 cup of natural yoghurt
1/2 - 3/4 cucumber
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp dried mint
1 tbsp of fresh mint (use dried or fresh or both)
1 tbsp fresh thyme (optional)
1 small garlic clove
salt
pepper

Chop the cucumber finely - I sometimes drain excess water out by leaving it stand with a sprinkling of salt for a while and then press dry in kitchen towel, but that's optional.

Mix yoghurt, cucumber, lemon, herbs and grate in a small glove of garlic. You don't want garlic to overpower. Season with salt and pepper. Refridgerate for a few hours for best taste, but it can be served immediately. Garnish with fresh mint.










You Might Also Like

9 comments

  1. Thanks for chicken tips...
    We offer bespoke curtains and drapes in Dubai. We have a Large range of UK fabric brands with full poles and accessories. All Custom made.

    Company Name: Furniture Factory in Dubai

    Location: Abu Dubai

    Curtains in dubai

    Tel: +971 4 338 6255

    Fax: +971 4 339 0094

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oasis Direct provides you the fresh and health Laban up in UAE

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sets can start with two or three pieces, or can have as many as five, seven, or eight. Mauviel copper cookware offers a 5 piece set that is lined with stainless steel, (easy cleanup), has cast iron handles, is oven safe, and includes a 2 quart saucepan, a 3 1/2 quart saute pan, both with lids, and a 10" fry pan. copper pots and pans set

    ReplyDelete
  4. Are you wondering where to order the best ((Wholesale Supplier of Frozen Chickens)) ? Gaia Alimentos S/A supplies you with the best quality ((Wholesale Supplier of Frozen Chickens)).As an exporter of frozen chicken paws, frozen chicken feet, whole frozen chicken etc, Gaia Alimentos S/A takes care of the exportation and importation all over the world in the major production units

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chickens also do things like eat their own eggs, or even cannibalize. distributor ayam karkas jakarta

    ReplyDelete
  6. so i basically want to talk about water purifies since we are discussing water and energy conservation. Are all purifiers actually same? Do they really work is their any difference bw technology? The thing about all water purifiers is that they are based on same technology but if we talk about something different I would suggest “Eureka Forbes UAE” in terms of their water purifiers which use RO and UV water purifying technology they are really great in terms of energy saving and taste, along with this they also offer other unique water solutions and products from domestic to industrial level, but I personally recommend Eureka Forbes Dubai for their customer service which is really fast, responsive. If you are here looking for a best water purifier or water processing technologies i.e. UV Sterilizers, Water Softeners, Fine Sediment, Water Filter etc they are using MURAL CRM for customer management and service scheduling, https://eurekaforbes.ae
    #waterfilter #waterfilters #aquaguard #eurekaforbes #bestwaterpurifiersindubai #DubaiWaterFilters #EurekaForbesDubai #DubaiROFilters #AquaGuardRObrainstroming

    ReplyDelete
  7. This recipe is incredible! I am a fan of making fine meals at home and I would replace the oil with olive oil in this recipe. I always buy online through this page:

    link text

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks to share this post.frozen chicken feet suppliers is a very good product.

    ReplyDelete

Translate