
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (15 mL)
• 10 grams garlic, grated
• 10 grams ginger, grated
• 1 serrano chili pepper, minced (to taste)
• 5 grams mint, finely chopped
• 10 grams cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 900 grams chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) or drumsticks
• 6 cups water (1.4 L)
• 2½ teaspoons salt
• 5 pods green cardamom, smashed
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• 360 grams basmati rice (2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons ghee (30 mL)
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup reserved rice liquid (240 mL)
• ½ teaspoon saffron threads

01
Prepare Chicken
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Mix vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, chili, mint, cilantro, garam masala, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
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Add chicken; toss to coat.
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Marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
02
Prepare Rice
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Heat ghee in a pot; sauté onions until caramelized (15–20 minutes). Set onions aside.
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Rinse rice under cold water until clear.
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In another pot, boil water with salt, cardamom, cumin, and bay leaf.
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Add rice and boil for 7 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of liquid.


03
Cook Chicken
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Remove chicken from marinade.
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In the onion pot, fry chicken skin-side down until golden (≈5 minutes).
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Flip and fry until golden. Remove chicken.
04
Serve
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Toss saffron into the drained rice.
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In the chicken pot, layer half the rice, then chicken, then caramelized onions, then remaining rice.
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Pour in reserved rice liquid.
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Cover and cook on medium heat for 20 minutes; when steam escapes, lower heat and cook until done.
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Without opening the lid, steam for 10 more minutes.
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Gently mix, garnish with extra cilantro, and serve.
