Bamboo Biryani, also known as Bamboo Chicken Biryani or Bamboo Biriyani, is a unique and flavorful dish where biryani is cooked inside bamboo stems, imparting it with a distinct earthy flavor. It’s a popular dish in some regions of India, especially in rural areas where bamboo is abundantly available. Here’s how you can make Bamboo Biryani:
Ingredients:
- 500g chicken, cut into pieces
- 2 cups basmati rice, soaked for 30 minutes
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 green chilies, slit
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
- 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
- 1 teaspoon biryani masala
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 4-5 cloves
- 2-3 cardamom pods
- 1-inch cinnamon stick
- Salt to taste
- Oil or ghee
- Bamboo stems (enough to fill the biryani)
Instructions:
- Preparation:
- Wash the bamboo stems thoroughly and cut them into suitable lengths, ensuring they have closed ends. Make sure they are clean inside.
- Soak basmati rice in water for at least 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Marinate the chicken pieces with yogurt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, biryani masala, ginger-garlic paste, and salt. Let it marinate for about 30 minutes.
- Cooking Rice:
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add some salt and the soaked rice.
- Cook the rice until it is about 70-80% done. Drain the water and set aside.
- Preparing Biryani Masala:
- Heat oil or ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds, fennel seeds, cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick.
- Sauté for a minute until fragrant.
- Add sliced onions and green chilies. Cook until the onions turn golden brown.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell disappears.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn mushy.
- Now, add the marinated chicken pieces along with the marinade. Cook until the chicken is partially cooked.
- Assembling Bamboo Biryani:
- Take a bamboo stem and stuff it with a layer of partially cooked chicken masala followed by a layer of partially cooked rice.
- Continue alternating layers of chicken masala and rice until the bamboo stem is filled to the top.
- Seal the top of the bamboo stem with a banana leaf or aluminum foil to prevent the steam from escaping.
- Cooking Bamboo Biryani:
- Place the filled bamboo stems on a grill or tawa over medium heat.
- Cook for about 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the rice is tender. You can also place the bamboo stems directly over hot charcoal for cooking.
- Once done, remove the bamboo stems from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Carefully open the bamboo stems and serve the Bamboo Biryani hot.
Enjoy the unique and aromatic Bamboo Biryani with raita or salan!
