Ajantha Chicken Pulao
- 50 min
- medium
- Serves 5
Ajantha chicken pulao: a turmeric basmati pulao with chicken in a thick gravy, crisped in ghee with cashews. Medium-spicy Andhra dish for 4, 50 min, video.
Good for: Ramzan, Party
Ingredients
- Ghee1½ tbsp
- Star Anise1
- Green Cardamom7
- Cloves7
- Mace1
- Nutmeg¼ inch
- Cinnamon1 inch
- Fennel Seeds1 tbsp
- Onion, Slices2
- Salt1 tbsp
- Green Chilli, Slit5
- Ginger Garlic Paste2½ tbsp
- Turmeric Powder1 tsp
- Coriander Leaves, Finely Chopped¼ cup
- Mint Leaves, Finely Chopped¼ cup
- Salt2 tsp
- Water3½ cup
- Basmati Rice, Soaked2 cup
- Oil1 tbsp
- Onion3
- Green Chilli3
- Cashew (half)14
- Tomato2
- Red Chilli Powder1½ tbsp
- Coriander Powder1 tsp
- Chicken400 grams
- Curry leaves2 sprigs
- Fried Onion2 tbsp
Contains: milk, cashew or other tree nuts.
Nutrition
Per 1 person, and for all 5 people. Worked out from the ingredients, so treat it as a close guide.
| Nutrient | Per 1 person | All 5 people |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 568kcal | 2840kcal |
| Protein | 26g | 132g |
| Carbohydrate | 84g | 419g |
| Fat | 16g | 78g |
| Fibre | 7.1g | 36g |
| Sugar | 6.3g | 32g |
Cookd masalas for chicken
Method
For the rice, add some oil and ghee to a pot. Once hot, add the whole spices and cook for 1 - 2 minutes on a medium heat or until fragrant. Add the onions, salt and the green chillis. Cook for 7 - 8 minutes, or until the onions start to turn golden brown.
Add the curry leaves, and ginger garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the turmeric powder followed by the coriander leaves and mint leaves. Cook for 30 seconds, or until they start to will. Add water and bring to a boil. Add the rice and stir gently. Cover tightly and cook on a low heat for 12 minutes.
To make the chicken, add oil to a kadai. Once hot, add the whole spices and cook for 1 - 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add the onions, salt, curry leaves and green chillis and saute for 6 - 8 minutes on a medium heat, or until softened and starting to turn golden. Add the ginger garlic paste, followed by the tomatoes and mix to combine well. Cook for an additional 4 - 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened and have become like a paste.
Add the spice powders and mix to combine well. Add the chicken followed by water and bring to a boil. Let the chicken simmer for 15 minutes and then reduce until a thick gravy is achieved.
To assemble, add some ghee to a frying pan. Add cashews and fry until lightly golden. Add curry leaves, some of the gravy and a chicken piece to the pan and saute it.
Once done, let the rice rest for 15 minutes before uncovering. Fluff the rice. Once the chicken starts to get crispy remove it from the pan and plate along with the rice.
Before you start
- How long does Ajantha Chicken Pulao take?
- 50 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 40 minutes of cooking.
- How many people does Ajantha Chicken Pulao serve?
- 5. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
- Is Ajantha Chicken Pulao vegetarian?
- No, it contains meat or fish.
- Is Ajantha Chicken Pulao spicy?
- It is medium: 2 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.
- What do I need to make Ajantha Chicken Pulao?
- 400 grams Chicken, 2 cup Basmati Rice, ¼ cup Coriander Leaves, ¼ cup Mint Leaves, 1 Star Anise, 4 Green Cardamom, and a few more listed on this page.
- Do I need a pressure cooker for Ajantha Chicken Pulao?
- No, it is cooked in an open pot.
- How many calories are in Ajantha Chicken Pulao?
- About 568 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.
Tips from other cooks
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