Chicken Mandi Recipe

basmati rice

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: long-grain rice

Quinoa is a healthier grain option, while long-grain rice is often more affordable.

whole chicken

🥗Healthier: skinless chicken breast

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Skinless chicken breast reduces fat, while thighs are typically less expensive.

saffron

🥗Healthier: turmeric

💰Cheaper: yellow food coloring

Turmeric provides color and health benefits at a lower cost.

smoked paprika

🥗Healthier: regular paprika

💰Cheaper: sweet paprika

Regular paprika offers flavor without the smoke, while sweet paprika is often cheaper.

Heat 4 cups of oil in a pan.

Add 2 chopped onions and a whole bulb of chopped garlic; let them sizzle and soften for about 5 minutes.

Introduce spices: 1 teaspoon each of whole cloves, whole cumin, ground black pepper, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon green cardamom, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon salt; allow to infuse for 3 minutes.

Add a whole chicken cut into halves and pour in 5 cups of water; bring to a boil.

Add a dry lemon and skim off any foam that appears; cover and let simmer for 30 minutes over medium heat.

Blend a handful of cherry tomatoes (or 1 large tomato), 1 chopped onion, 4 garlic cloves, 4 green chilies, 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and a small bunch of fresh coriander leaves until smooth; finish with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and allow it to cool.

Combine 1 cup of water with chicken broth and stir in 2 cups of washed long grain rice that has been soaking for an hour; bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Mix 1 teaspoon saffron, salt, pepper, a hint of orange color, 1 tablespoon oil, and 2 tablespoons chicken broth; brush this mixture over the cooled chicken and bake at 200°C for 15 minutes.

Once the rice is cooked, brush some saffron mixture over it.

Place the cooked chicken on top of the rice; use a small metal bowl with hot coal and a touch of oil to infuse a smoky flavor; cover for 5 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: