Chicken Mandi

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1
   Clean and cut the chicken; marinate briefly with salt, turmeric and a little oil.
2. 2
   Rinse and soak basmati rice 20–30 minutes.
3. 3
   In a large pot, heat ghee/oil. Fry chopped onion until golden. Add minced garlic and green chillies and fry 1–2 min.
4. 4
   Add whole spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves) and ground spices (coriander, cumin). Stir until fragrant.
5. 5
   Add chicken pieces, brown lightly and add enough water/chicken stock to cover. Simmer until chicken is nearly cooked.
6. 6
   Remove chicken; measure remaining liquid and add soaked rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and cook rice until almost done.
7. 7
   Return the chicken to the rice pot on top, cover tightly and steam on low for 10–15 min so flavors meld.
8. 8
   (Optional) For authentic smoky aroma: heat a small charcoal until red hot, place it on a small foil cup in the centre of the pot, add a tsp of butter/oil on the coal then cover immediately to trap smoke for 5–10 minutes. Remove coal.
9. 9
   Garnish with fried onions, chopped coriander and serve with chutney or raita.