Chicken Mughlai Biryani

INGREDIENTS
 
1 1/2 kg chicken cut into small pieces
2 medium onions sliced
6 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp ginger, ground
1/2 cup yoghurt
1/4 kg tomatoes
10 green whole cardamom
4 black whole cardamom
2 tbsp black cumin seeds
10 cloves
2 tbsp black pepper
2-4 bay leaves
2 cinnamon stick
2 tsp coriander powder
3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground mace
2 green chilies chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup oil
1 tbsp of saffron, dissolved in a cup of hot milk
5 cups rice


COOKING DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a pan and add onions. Cook on medium-low heat until golden brown
Remove onions and add chicken to the pan, stirring until brown. Meanwhile, in a blender, add yoghurt and half of the cooked onion and garlic/ginger. Blend and add to chicken
Also add tomatoes, cloves, black pepper, black cumin, bay leaf, cardamoms and a stick of cinnamon
Add coriander powder, salt and white pepper
Cook for half an hour on medium heat
Stir frequently
When the water has dried up and the chicken is done, add nutmeg and mace
 
Boil rice in eight cups of water with salt and the remaining spices
Cook approximately for 10 minutes
Drain the water leaving the whole spices with the rice
In a pan, make alternate layers of rice and chicken
Add half of the lemon juice, remaining onions and the chilies 
Pour 1/4-cup oil on the top along with the saffron/milk mixture
Place in pre-heated oven (350 degrees) for one hour