Chicken Mandi
Dive into the delicious world of Chicken Mandi, a fragrant fusion of tender chicken and aromatic basmati rice! Infused with a delightful blend of spices like saffron and cardamom, this dish not only tantalizes your taste buds but also fills your kitchen with irresistible aromas. Perfect for any occasion, this one-pot wonder is sure to impress your family and friends!
Prep
15
min
Cook
65
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(4)
- 4 nos garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp garlic paste (15 ml)
- 2 nos medium onion
- 3 cups water (normal temp) (720 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 5 thighs
- 2 nos chicken maggie cube
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (60 ml)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil/sunflower oil (30 ml)
- 2 cups Sella basmati rice (480 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(9)
- 2 nos black cardamom
- 2 nos cardamom
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds (15 ml)
- 1 tsp coriander seeds (5 ml)
- 1 nos cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp cumin (15 ml)
- 0.25 tsp cumin (1.25 ml)
- 2 tsp salt (10 ml)
- 0.5 tsp turmeric (2.5 ml)
📦Other(7)
- 2 nos bayleaf
- 2 nos capsicum
- 4 nos green chilli
- 0.5 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder (7.5 ml)
- 1 tbsp peppercorn (15 ml)
- 1 tsp peppercorn (5 ml)
- 0.25 tsp red colour (Optional) (1.25 ml)optional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rest the chicken in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- 2
Cook for 20 minutes on medium flame.
- 3
Rest for 45 minutes or more, then open the foil.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Marinate your chicken with yogurt and spices for 4-24 hours because yogurt's lactic acid breaks down proteins at pH 4.5, creating tender meat that absorbs flavors 3x deeper than surface seasoning.timing4-24 hours
- ✓Steam your basmati rice at exactly 212°F using the absorption method with 1.5:1 water ratio, then finish with saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk to activate its oil-soluble compounds.technique212°F, 1.5:1 ratio
- ✓Create the traditional smoky flavor by placing a piece of burning charcoal in a small bowl with 1 teaspoon ghee inside your sealed pot for 2-3 minutes - this generates aromatic aldehydes that penetrate the food.technique2-3 minutes
- ✓Cook your chicken at 325°F in foil to maintain 85% moisture retention while allowing collagen to convert to gelatin at this optimal low temperature over 45+ minutes.timing325°F, 45+ minutes
- ✓Toast whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves in a dry pan for 30-45 seconds until fragrant to release volatile oils that are 5x more potent than ground spices stored for months.ingredient30-45 seconds
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
65
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Chicken Mandi
Dive into the delicious world of Chicken Mandi, a fragrant fusion of tender chicken and aromatic basmati rice! Infused with a delightful blend of spices like saffron and cardamom, this dish not only tantalizes your taste buds but also fills your kitchen with irresistible aromas. Perfect for any occasion, this one-pot wonder is sure to impress your family and friends!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(4)
- 4 nos garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp garlic paste (15 ml)
- 2 nos medium onion
- 3 cups water (normal temp) (720 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 5 thighs
- 2 nos chicken maggie cube
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (60 ml)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil/sunflower oil (30 ml)
- 2 cups Sella basmati rice (480 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(9)
- 2 nos black cardamom
- 2 nos cardamom
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds (15 ml)
- 1 tsp coriander seeds (5 ml)
- 1 nos cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp cumin (15 ml)
- 0.25 tsp cumin (1.25 ml)
- 2 tsp salt (10 ml)
- 0.5 tsp turmeric (2.5 ml)
📦Other(7)
- 2 nos bayleaf
- 2 nos capsicum
- 4 nos green chilli
- 0.5 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder (7.5 ml)
- 1 tbsp peppercorn (15 ml)
- 1 tsp peppercorn (5 ml)
- 0.25 tsp red colour (Optional) (1.25 ml)optional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rest the chicken in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- 2
Cook for 20 minutes on medium flame.
- 3
Rest for 45 minutes or more, then open the foil.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Marinate your chicken with yogurt and spices for 4-24 hours because yogurt's lactic acid breaks down proteins at pH 4.5, creating tender meat that absorbs flavors 3x deeper than surface seasoning.timing4-24 hours
- ✓Steam your basmati rice at exactly 212°F using the absorption method with 1.5:1 water ratio, then finish with saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk to activate its oil-soluble compounds.technique212°F, 1.5:1 ratio
- ✓Create the traditional smoky flavor by placing a piece of burning charcoal in a small bowl with 1 teaspoon ghee inside your sealed pot for 2-3 minutes - this generates aromatic aldehydes that penetrate the food.technique2-3 minutes
- ✓Cook your chicken at 325°F in foil to maintain 85% moisture retention while allowing collagen to convert to gelatin at this optimal low temperature over 45+ minutes.timing325°F, 45+ minutes
- ✓Toast whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves in a dry pan for 30-45 seconds until fragrant to release volatile oils that are 5x more potent than ground spices stored for months.ingredient30-45 seconds