Biryani

Ingredients for 6 servings:
1. 1 tablespoon saffron
2. 4 teaspoons milk, warm
3. 2 hot green chili peppers, as serranos — seeded & stemmed
4. 2 large onions, chopped
5. 8 cloves garlic, peeled
6. 1/4 teaspoon clove, ground
7. 8 whole peppercorns
8. 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seed
9. 1 teaspoon coriander seed
10. 1 teaspoon cumin seed
11. 1/4 teaspoon poppy seed
12. 1/4 teaspoon mace, ground
13. 1/2 cup cilantro or 1/2 cup mint leaf
14. 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
15. 2 cups plain yogurt
16. 3 lbs boneless chicken, cut into 1 inch pieces
17. salt
18. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
19. 1 tablespoon ghee
20. 1 onion, finely chopped
21. 8 large tomatoes, chopped
22. 2 cups basmati rice or 2 cups long-grain rice, uncooked
23. 1/3 cup raisins
24. 1/3 cup cashews
25. 1/3 cup almonds
26. 6 eggs, hard-boiled, halved

Directions:
1. Soak saffron in warm milk for 5 minutes and puree in blender.
2. Add chiles, onions, ginger, garlic, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom seeds, cinnamon, coriander and cumin seeds, poppy seeds, nutmeg, mace, cilantro or mint leaves and lemon juice. Blend into smooth paste. Put paste into large bowl, add yogurt and mix well.
3. Marinate chicken in yogurt mixture with salt, covered for at least 2 – 6 hours in refrigerator.
4. In skillet. heat oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Add ghee and 15 seconds later add onion and fry for about8 minutes.
5. Reserve for garnish.
6. In same skillet, cook chicken with its marinade with tomatoes for about 10 minutes over medium heat, uncovered.
7. Remove chicken pieces from the sauce and set aside. Add rice to sauce, bring to boil, and cook, covered over low heat for 15 minutes.
8. Return chicken and add raisins, cashews and almonds; mix well.
9. Simmer, covered for 5 minutes.
10. Place chicken, eggs and rice in large serving dish in such a way that yellow of the eggs, the saffron-colored rice, the nuts and the chicken make a colorful display.
11. Add reserved onion as garnish.

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