Chicken Shahi Pulao

Shahi Pulao is a very mildly spiced, creamy yet very tasty pulao. Basically this is a veg pulao. I chickenised it to find contentment for my meat loving family. Chicken Shahi Pulao can be had as such or with muttom kurma or any curry of your choice.

ingredients to prepare the rice

Rice – 500 gms (approximately 1 ¾ cup)
Cardamom – 3
Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
Cloves – 3
Bay leaf – 1
Ghee – 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Shahi jeera – ¼ tsp
Beans – ¼ cup
Carrot – ¼ cup
Potato – ¼ cup

ingredients to boil the chicken

Chicken (boneless) - 500 gms (chopped to bite size pieces)
Ginger – 1 tsp
Garlic – 1 tsp
Garam Masala – ¼ tsp
Oil – 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
ingredients for the green chutney

Coriander leaves – ½ cup
Mint leaves – ½ cup
Ginger – 1 ½ inch piece
Garlic – 5
Green chilly – 1
Onion – 1 small

ingredients for the Shahi paste
Cashew nuts – 2 tbsp
White Sesame seeds – 2 ½ tbsp
Poppy seeds – 1 tbsp
Coconut – 4 tbsp

other ingredients
Ghee – 1 + 1 tbsp
Pepper powder
Salt to taste
Paneer
the method

rice preparation

In a heavy bottom pan or pressure cooker add 2 tbsp ghee and add the whole spices except shahi jeera. Add the vegetables and sauté for a minute. Add shahi jeera, salt and rice and stir for about five minutes. Add double the quantity of water (for 11/2 C rice add 3 cup water) and cook till rice is done.

To boil the chicken, heat a pan and add oil. Place the ginger and garlic and stir in the chicken. Saute in medium heat. Add salt and let the chicken cook in its own juices. Add 1/8 cup water if need be. When chicken is done add the garam masala and turn off heat.

To prepare green chutney, grind all the ingredients.

Soak the ingredients for shahi paste for about one hour. Grind it to a smooth paste.

assembling

Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan and heat the green chutney in low flame. Add half of the cooked chicken. When the chutney starts to boil, turn off heat.

In another pan heat 1 tbsp ghee in low flame and add the shahi paste. Add the remaining half of the chicken and pepper powder. Heat it for about 2 minutes and turn off heat.

Shahi pulao can be served as individual servings or layered in a bowl and served from it.

In a bowl place a layer of rice, followed by a layer of green chutney with chicken. Then place another layer of rice, followed by a layer of shahi paste with chicken. Finish it with a layer of rice. Sprinkle grated paneer or roasted sesame.