FRIED ONIONS

• ¾ lb onions yellow, finely sliced
• 1½ cups peanut oil

CHICKEN MARINATION

• 1½ lb chicken with bone, cut and clean
• ⅔ cup plain yogurt. Avoid Greek yogurt.
• 1½ tbsp ginger garlic paste or grated ginger and garlic
• 1 tsp salt, adjust per taste
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp turmeric, ground
• 1 green chili pepper, chopped

SPICES

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 black cardamom
• 5 green cardamom
• 5 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp shahjeera (black cumin or black caraway seeds)
• ½ tsp ground black pepper

BIRYANI RICE

• 2 cups basmati rice, long grain
• 1 tsp salt, adjust per taste
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil leftover from fried onions
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup cilantro, fresh and chopped
• 2 tbsp mint fresh and chopped
• 1 tsp saffron, ground and dissolved in 2 tbsp hot water
• 2 tbsp ghee, optional

WHOLE SPICES FOR RICE

• 1 black cardamom
• 3 green cardamom
• 4 cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ cinnamon stick