Chicken Biryani at Home

The man didn't have to do a long-haul work trip, and I was really glad about that. I'm secretly grateful to his colleague who went on this trip instead, and took one for the team, so to speak. It's not as if I don't want the man to travel. I'm cool with it. But I quake if he has to be away for a month. Because of the dog, and my lack of a driving license. GrabPet and cabs have been rather disappointing.

With the close of the quarter for work accounts, the crazy peak has dipped and the man could breathe easier. It’s telling when he’s forced to skip two or three gym classes a week for three consecutive months to clear paperwork, and also skipped out on many dinners and could only go for drinks and quick burgers. His early morning and midnight calls, and the flood of urgent-due-yesterday emails decreased in intensity.

He found time to make an easy pot of non-chilli-spicy chicken biryani for dinner. Other than a sprinkle of chilli powder, he didn't even bother to use any actual chillies in there. It really wan't necessary. Biryani doesn't need to be chilli-spicy. He used skinless chicken thighs for the higher fat content and bones. Onions were sliced up for raita. Now, you could add green chillies or chilli padi to the raita. Very good. This dish can be replicated for friends who don't take chilli, but don't mind spices (not fiery-hot type), chicken and onions.

I'm not keen on the chicken, but I always go for the rice. And this version of biryani held cashews, raisins and pistachio nuts. He also seared potatoes in ghee. Mmm. A gorgeous combination. While I didn't mind the chicken within and how its marinade lent flavors to the rice, I didn't need to eat the meat per se. Just having the rice alone was absolutely satisfying. A perfect one-dish meal.