chole biryani recipe, how to make chole biryani

ingredients (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml)

for the chole gravy:

• 2 to 3 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp shah jeera/caraway seeds
• 2 to 3 green cardamoms/chotti elaichi
• 1 black cardamom/badi elaichi
• 1.5 inch cinnamon/dalchini
• 1 tej patta/indian bay leaf
• 2 to 3 cloves/lavang
• 2 large onions, 160 grams or 1 cup tightly packed thinly sliced onions
• 1 large tomato, 100 grams or ½ cup chopped tomatoes
• 5 grams ginger/adrak, or 1 inch ginger or ½ tbsp finely chopped ginger
• 5 gram garlic, 8-10 medium sized garlic cloves, or ½ tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 2-3 green chilies slit or sliced diagonally
• ¾ to 1 cup coconut milk or 200 to 250 ml coconut milk,
• ½ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
• ½ tsp red chilli powder/lal mirch powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder/dhania powder
• 1 cup dried chana/chole, 200 grams, soaked overnight in enough water
• 2.25 cup water for pressure cooking chana gravy
• salt as required

for rice:

• 200 grams or 1 cup heaped basmati rice
• 3 cups water for cooking rice
• 2 to 3 green cardamoms/chotti elaichi
• 1 black cardamom/badi elaichi
• 1 to 1.5 inch cinnamon/dalchini
• 2 to 3 single strands of mace/javitri
• 1 tej patta/indian bay leaf
• 3 cloves/lavang
• ½ tsp salt or add as required

layering:

• 10 grams mint leaves/pudina patta, or ½ cup chopped mint leaves
• 10 grams coriander leaves/dhania patta, or ½ cup chopped coriander leaves
• 2 tsp ginger julienne
• 1 tbsp warm water + a pinch of saffron strands/kesar
• 1 to 2 tsp kewra water or rose water

how to make the recipe:

prepping for chana biryani:

1. rinse and then soak 1 cup safed chane or dry white chickpeas (200 grams) in enough water overnight or for 8 to 9 hours. later strain, rinse the chickpeas and keep aside.
2. soak 1 cup heaped basmati rice in enough water for 30 minutes. later strain the rice and keep aside.
3. heat 3 cups water in a pan or pot. when the water become hot, add the following spices - 2 to 3 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom, 1 to 1.5 inch cinnamon, 2 to 3 single strands of mace, 1 tej patta and 3 cloves.
4. add ½ tsp salt or as required.
5. bring the water to a rolling boil on a high flame.
6. then add the strained rice.
7. cook the rice grains on the high flame.
8. when the rice grains are 75% cooked or there is a slight bite in them, then switch off the flame.
9. immediately strain the cooked rice. keep aside.

preparing chana gravy for biryani:

1. so when the rice grains are getting soaked and cooking, you can prepare the chana gravy.
2. heat 2 tbsp oil and add these spices - 1 tsp shah jeera, 2 to 3 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom, 1.5 inch cinnamon/dalchini, 1 tej patta and 2 to 3 cloves/lavang.
3. saute the spices for a few seconds till they splutter.
4. then add the 1 cup tightly packed thinly sliced onions. stir very well.
5. saute the onions on a low to medium flame.
6. for a quick cooking of the onions, add a pinch of salt.
7. saute till the onions become golden.
8. switch off the flame and take half of the fried onions in a plate.
9. add ½ tbsp finely chopped ginger, ½ tbsp finely chopped garlic and 2 to 3 green chilies (sliced).
10. switch on the burner and saute for some seconds till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
11. then add ½ cup chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute.
12. next add ½ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chilli powder and 1 tsp coriander powder.
13. mix the spice powders very well with the rest of the ingredients.
14. add the soaked and drained chana.
15. mix the chana very well with the rest of the masala.
16. add 2.25 cups water.
17. season with salt.
18. pressure cook the chickpeas on a medium to high flame for 18 to 20 minutes.
19. when the pressure falls down on its own, remove the lid and check the chickpeas. they should be cooked well and softened. do note that the chickpeas should not have a bite to them. if not cooked well, then pressure cook for a few more whistles. the time taken to cook chickpeas, depends on their quality, so cook accordingly.
20. then add ¾ to 1 cup thick coconut milk (200 to 250 ml). stir and mix very well. check the salt in the chana gravy and if required add more.
21. when the chickpeas are cooking, warm 1 tbsp water and add a pinch of saffron strands. stir and keep aside. you can also use milk instead of water.

assembling and layering chana biryani:

1. add ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves, ¼ cup chopped mint leaves and 1 tsp ginger julienne to the chana gravy.
2. layer with all of the rice.
3. next top with the fried onions.
4. then layer with ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves, ¼ cup chopped mint leaves and 1 tsp ginger julienne.
5. sprinkle the saffron dissolved water evenly.
6. now place a moist kitchen towel on the pressure cooker.
7. place a tight lid. keep the cooker on a heated tawa/griddle.
8. dum cook chana biryani for 25 to 30 minutes on a low flame. give a resting time of 5 to 7 minutes.
9. later serve chole biryani with a raita, salad or biryani shorba.

notes

coconut milk can be substituted with 1 cup fresh curd. 
substitute caraway seeds with cumin seeds. 
dry fruits like cashews, almonds and raisins can also be added.
ghee can be used instead of oil.