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Free for a limited timeHealthy Chicken Biryani With Brown Rice
Biryani is one of the most-ordered dishes in Saudi Arabia, but the usual version is heavy on ghee. Here we use brown rice, skinless chicken and just two spoons of oil, relying on spices and oven-crisped onions for flavour.
What we changed
- Brown basmati instead of white
- Skinless chicken
- Oven-crisped onions instead of fried
Healthy Chicken Biryani
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown basmati rice, soaked
- 1 kg skinless chicken
- 1 cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp biryani spice mix
- 3 onions, sliced
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tomatoes
- Mint and coriander
- A pinch of saffron in warm milk
Method
- Marinate the chicken in yogurt and biryani spice for 30 minutes.
- Crisp the sliced onions in the oven with a spoon of oil for 20 minutes.
- Cook the chicken with tomatoes and half the onions for 15 minutes.
- Par-boil the rice, layer it over the chicken with mint, saffron and the rest of the onions; cover and steam 25 minutes on low.
Tip
Don't stir once the rice is layered — let it steam so the layers stay distinct.
Biryani vs kabsa
Biryani is cooked in layers — yogurt-marinated chicken below, par-boiled rice on top — and finished in steam. In kabsa the rice cooks in the broth with the meat. That's why biryani has multicoloured rice and a stronger spice aroma.
Frequently asked questions
Is biryani okay for weight loss?
This version is lighter — keep it to about a cup of rice with a big salad.
Can I use white rice?
Yes, just cut the boiling and steaming time by about 10 minutes.
Where do I find biryani spice?
In any supermarket spice aisle, or mix cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, coriander and pepper.
⚠️ For general education only. If you have a health condition or allergy, consult your doctor.