Slow Cooker Chicken Biryani

Step 1

After cleaning rice soak it in a pot with 2 cups of hot boiling water. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Step 2

In the meantime, cut onion in half. Chop one half of the onion in finely chopped pieces while other half in medium thickness slices.

Step 3

After 15 minutes of resting, turn on the heat and cook the rice for 3-5 minutes just until rice is just cooked or al dente but not fully cooked as we will cook it in slow cooker. once its just enough cooked, strain and rinse it under cold running water and keep aside.

Step 4

In a small bowl take milk and heat for 30 seconds in microwave. To it add saffron and crush using back of spoon and let it sit.

Step 5

Heat a skillet and add 1 tsp oil and to it add finely chopped onion pieces and cook until softened.

Step 6

Transfer the cooked onion pieces into a blender. Add one chopped tomato, green chili paste, salt, turmeric powder, garlic paste, ginger paste, garam masala, yogurt, ground coriander, red chili powder and black pepper powder and blend until you get a smooth paste.

Step 7

In a bowl add cleaned chicken drumsticks and this paste you just made. Make sure to make some cuts in chicken so marinade seeps into the chicken. Cover and let chicken marinate for 15 minutes.

Step 8

Now in the same pan where you cooked onion pieces, add another tsp of oil and add sliced onions and cook on slow to get them browned but not burnt.

Step 9

Get your slow cooker ready by heating it up for 15 minutes. Turn of the switch and in the hot slow cooker, rub some oil on the base and sides of the bowl where we will be cooking. Lay marinated chicken pieces first, cover with half of the sliced browned onions, half of saffron milk. Cover with all of the barely cooked rice and add the remaining browned sliced onions and saffron milk on top.

Step 10

I personally don't like cashews or raisins in my food but if you want to have the true authentic taste, then go ahead and add some cashew and raisins on top as well. Using an aluminium foil cover the top tightly and then cover this with the lid that came with slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 hours.

Step 11

Remove the aluminium foil and let it sit for 15-20 mins.

Step 12

Serve with cucumber yogurt.