Guntur Gongura Biryani: A recipe from Andhra Pradesh

Guntur Gongura Biryani: A recipe from Andhra Pradesh

This recipe uses, gongura paste, tart tasting edible Kenaf leaf popular in Andhra cuisine

Last updated:
Cuisine:Indian
Cook time:45m
Prep time:12h
Servings:4

Ingredients

300 gms onions, chopped or 1 ¼ cup

300 gms, tomatoes, chopped or 1 ¼ cup

50 gms ginger garlic paste or 4 tbsp, equal portions

6 gms coriander powder or 1 ½ tsp

10 gms red chili powder or 2 tsp

3 gms turmeric powder or ¼ tsp

40 gms gongura paste or 3 tbsp

100 gms yoghurt or around ½ cup

10 gms salt or 2 tsp (as per taste)

1 gm bay leaves

40 ml corn oil or 1 ½ tbsp

60 ml ghee or clarified butter, 4 tbsp

15 gms coriander stem, chopped

For Chicken Marinade

2 kg chicken, whole 

50 gms ginger and garlic paste, equal portions or 4 tbsp

4 gms red chilli powder or 1 tsp

3 gms turmeric powder or ¼ tsp

3 gms amchur powder or dry mango powder

10 gms salt or 2 tsp (as per taste)

20 ml lemon juice or 4 tsp

25 grams gram flour or 2 tbsp

For Butter Rice

800 gms basmati rice or 4 cups

3 gms green cardamom or ¼ tsp 

1 gm cloves or ½ tsp

1 gms bay leaves

25 gms caramelised onions or 2 tbsp

10 gms mint leaves or 2 tsp

80 gms butter or 1/3 cup  

100 ml cooking cream or a half cup

15 gms salt or 2 ½ tsp (as per taste)

Garnish

5 gms caramelised onions or 1 tbsp [Recipe in method]

3 gms mint leaves or ½ tbsp.

3 gms ginger, julienne or ½ tbsp

Method

Cut whole chicken into 8 pieces and marinate the chicken with ginger and garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, amchur or dry mango powder, gram flour, salt and lemon juice. Keep this overnight in refrigerator.

Heat oil and ghee or clarified butter in a pot or a handi. In it, add bay leaves followed by onions and sauté until translucent. Then, add ginger and garlic paste and sauté for a while. To this add the chopped tomatoes.

Next, add coriander powder, red chilli powder and turmeric powder, followed by gongura paste and chopped coriander stem. Mix well until cooked, and keep aside.

Deep fry the marinated chicken and to this add the gravy and cook for another 10 minutes on low heat and keep aside.

Butter Rice

Wash and soak the rice for 1 hour.

Boil water in a pot along with green cardamom, bay leaves and cloves. Then, add the soaked rice and cook for 5 to 7 minutes and strain.

Melt butter in another pot with cream and 100 ml water, and boil on low heat for 5 minutes to make a mix.

In a pot add half of the rice, butter cream mix, mint leaves and caramelised onions and continue the same process for a second layer.

Cover tightly with a silver foil and cook on low heat for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Final Steps

In a pot, add a layer of butter rice, topped with chicken masala and do the same process 2 more times. Layer it with 30 grams of ghee or clarified butter and steam cook or dum for 3 to 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and mix gently. Garnish with mint leaves, caramelised onions and ginger julienne.

Serve with raita or yoghurt mix and pickle of your choice.

Sabu Panicker
Sabu Panicker
Sabu Panicker
Chef at Zafran Indian Bistro, Dubai. He is known for his inventiveness and energy in the kitchen.

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