Thalassery Chicken Dum Biriyani

Thalassery, a small commercial town in the North Kerala district of Kannur, is famous for its Cuisine especially non vegetarian delicacies. Their world famous Thalassery Chicken Dum Biriyani is a culinary treat, very popularly served for festive and special occasions. This is a special biryani recipe. You will find cooked spicy chicken masala with layered rice, fried onions and whole pot is placed on dum. In traditional “Dum” cooking, the lid is secured to the pan with a dough so that no steam can escape. Hot coal is placed on the lid, and slow cooked with a low flame from below the pan. The soul of Thalassery biriyani lies in the masala. Onions are slow cooked with green chillies, ginger, and garlic. Tomatoes are added to the mix and cooked till they disappear into the mix. Fresh garam masala, turmeric powder and curd is added to it and chicken is slow cooked until soft and juicy. Now we move on to the rice. The dish is traditionally cooked with jeerakashala rice.

For preparing Thalassery Chicken Dum Biriyani, if you can’t source basmati rice, then jeerakashala rice or   khaima rice is a decent alternative. I have made so many versions of biriyani over the past few years and this one is the best. So let’s go through the detailed recipe of Thalassery Chicken Dum Biriyani. Though the steps seem long and lengthy, do not get discouraged. You will be rewarded in the end. I prepare this biriyani when I have guests at home and when I am urged to entertain them with something very special. Yes, Thalassery Chicken Dum Biriyani is one of those awesome biriyanis that leave a lasting impression on all those who taste the dish. I was searching for the recipe since a long time, thanks to my dear friend who handed me the traditional recipe from her mother residing in Thalassery region.

Thalassery Chicken Dum Biriyani

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Kerala

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For Chicken masala &For rice

• 1 Kg Chicken
• 3 Tbsp Ghee
• 2 Nos. Onion Large
• 3 Tbsp Ginger garlic green chilli paste
• 2 Nos. Tomatoes
• Salt As required
• Coriander leaves One hand ful
• 2 Tbsp Mint leaves
• 2 Tbsp Curd
• 1 Tbsp Lime water
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 1/2 Tsp Garam masala
• 4 Cup Jeerakashala rice
• 4 Clove
• 2 Cinnamon
• 4 Cardamom
• 3 Tbsp Ghee
• 5 Tbsp Oil
• Salt As required
• 6 Cup Water

For Dum

• Fried onion
• 4 Tbsp Fried cashew and raisins
• 3-4 Tbsp Ghee
• 1 Tsp Garam masala
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• Coriander leaves
• Mint leaves
• 1 Carrot Thinly sliced

Instructions

 

• Now heat oil and ghee in a biryani pot. Add 3 sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Remove it to a bowl.
  
• In the same oil, add whole spices and let them sizzle. Then add washed and drained rice into it. Put the flame high and roast the rice continuously for 3-4 minutes.
  
• Add boiled hot water, salt and carrot. Cook for 8 to 10 mins till rice is done in low flame.
  
• Now the rice is ready.
  
• Now start making the masala. Heat oil in a pan and add ginger garlic green chilly paste and onion. Saute till it becomes soft.
  
• Add turmeric powder, garam masala, salt and mix well.
  
• Then add tomatoes, chicken and curd. Combine well. Now cover and cook till chicken is done.
  
• Take the half portion of fried onion and crush it. Add it along with some chopped coriander leaves and mint leaves. Remove it from the flame.
  
• Mix the remaining fried onion with fried cashew nuts and raisins. Add one handful chopped coriander leaves and mint leaves along with some garam masala. Mix it well.
  
• Now move on to the dum process. Layer half of the rice and masala.
  
• Mix the milk with turmeric powder. Sprinkle it on top of the rice.
  
• Sprinkle half of the fried onion mix.
  
• Sprinkle some ghee. Again layer the remaining rice, fried onions, ghee and turmeric milk.
  
• Cover the pot and cook on very low heat for 30 mins. Now leave aside for 15 mins.
  
• Remove the rice from the vessel and serve the biriyani.
  
• Chicken dum biriyani is ready. Serve it along with dates pickle and coconut chmmanthi.
  

Notes

You can visit this link Crispy Chicken Cutlet. You can also visit this link Kerala Spicy Pepper Chicken.

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