How to make Murgh Pulao or Chicken Pulao without fuss?
This Chicken Pulao recipe is again a one-pot recipe that requires minimum hassle for a delicious meal. The only key point to this recipe is the way of frying the sliced onions so that it gets the golden-brown shade, as we call it birista or beresta. Which in turn gives the pulao its dark caramelised brown colour!
Here, I have explained perhaps the easiest Chicken Pulao recipe made in two separate ways, in an Instant Pot or a Nutricook Smart Pot Eko and a Stove Top method. And you can bring about so many variations to it. You can add veggies to it, or add dried fruits & nuts to take it up a notch. In any case, this is going to give a delicious one-pot meal with all the goodies packed in.
Most often, a good rice-based dish comes so handy. It is like one wholesome meal which ticks all the important dietary components in one go. It provides you with carbohydrates, throw in some veggies and you cover your daily quota of vitamins & minerals and with an addition of chicken, meat, egg, seafood or paneer, you get your protein kick as well.
Difference between Chicken Pulao & Biryani
Essentially the basic difference between a Chicken Biryani and a Chicken Pulao is the way of cooking them both. In a Chicken Pulao, the rice and the chicken are cooked together in the same pot till they are cooked perfectly. In a Chicken Biryani, the rice and the chicken are partially cooked separately and then brought together in another pot in layers and then cooked in layers.
Rest it is all in the details. You can add fried nuts to both dishes. For extra flavouring, you can go for a splash of Rose Extract and Kewra Extract in both dishes. In the end, it is going to be delicious.
Man-friday of one-pot meals, Chicken Pilaf
The best thing about this pulao recipe is that it is absolutely versatile. Add or minus the ingredients as you like. Like whatever form of protein you have in your pantry, just go with that. Use your choice of spices and make it as rich as you like or just keep it simple.
This is one of those chicken rice recipes which makes you relax about cooking. I say, everyone should have one of those recipes which can help them sort those busy weeknight dinners when you are in no mood to break a sweat in the kitchen but don’t want to order in as well. And with this Instant Pot Chicken Pulao recipe, you can literally put your mealtime cooking on an auto-pilot.
How to make Chicken Pulao in an Instant Pot – Ingredients list
- Basmati Rice
- Chicken pieces
- Mustard Oil
- Ghee
- Bay Leaf
- Whole Spices like Black Cardamom, Green Cardamom, Cinnamon, Star Anise & Cloves
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Salt & Pepper
- Biryani Masala or Garam Masala Powder
Step-by-step instructions on how to make this Chicken Pulao using an Instant Pot
- Plugin the Instant Pot or Nutricook Smart Pot and switch it on. Select the SAUTE MODE and you will see the timer showing 30 mins on the screen. Select the START button. The stainless steel pot inside will slowly heat up and get ready for cooking
- Pour some Mustard Oil and add some Ghee to it. Let it warm up nicely before adding the Bay Leaf and Whole Spices. Pound the spices and half crush them before you add them to the oil. This would release the flavors optimally
- As they sizzle, add the chopped Garlic and sliced Onions. Let it saute till they turn golden
- They add the grated Ginger, Salt and some freshly crushed Peppercorns. Give it a mix
- Now add the washed and drained rice and pieces of Chicken. Give it a mix.
- Add Water according to the Rice. For every cup of Rice, add 2 cups of Water
- Add some Biryani Masala powder or Garam Masala powder, chopped Mint leaves with some Ghee in the end
- Place the Instant Pot lid on and switch the pressure release valve to SEALING Mode
- Now, press CANCEL and then click Biryani mode. Set the timer at 10 mins and press START
- Once the cooking is done, the pot will ring a tune. Using a handle of the ladle, switch the Valve to VENTING Mode and release the steam. Be very careful as it will be hot and cause burns
- Use a Fork to fluff the rice and release the trapped steam in the rice. This would help up loosen the rice in the Pulao
- Serve hot with some Yoghurt Raita
How I make some deliciously rich Chicken Pulao on Stovetop for special ocassions
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice Washed and kept aside to strain
- 2 cups + 2tbsp Lukewarm Water
- 1/4 cup Cashew
- 1/4 cup Raisins
- 3 tbsp Ghee or Clarified Butter
- 2 Onions Large, Finally Sliced
- 4-5 Chicken Leg Pieces
- Salt to Taste
- 1½ tsp Biryani Masala Powder
- ½ tsp Kewra Extract
- ½ tsp Carraway Seeds
- 1 Dried Bay Leaf
Instructions
- Heat the ghee and fry the cashew nuts and raisins till golden. Take them out and keep them aside.
- Now, add the Bay Leaf, Carraway Seeds and sliced Onions. Fry them in medium-low heat till they turn golden.
- Now, add the rice and fry this for a couple of minutes more.
- Add the Chicken pieces, Biryani Masala, Water, Salt and Kewra Extract. Give everything a good mix. Cover the pan and allow this to simmer till the water if halfway absorbed.
- While there is still some liquid left, add the fried cashew & raisins and give a gentle mix. Cover the pan and let it continue cooking.
- Once the liquid is gone, turn off the heat and fluff the rice using a fork or chopstick.
- Serve hot with Raita and Salad
In case you are looking for, here are few more rice recipes from my blog.
- Tomato Rice Recipe
- Broccoli Fried Rice Recipe
- Orange Rice Recipe
- Bhuni Khichuri│Bengali Spicy Mung Bean Pilaf Recipe
- Katla Macher Tel diye Bhat Chorchori Recipe
- Macher Matha diye Pulao | Bengali Fish Head Pulao
- Doodh Chicken Biryani Recipe
- Mishti Pulao | Bengali Sweet Pulao Recipe
- Basanti Pulao | Bengali Sweet Pulao Recipe
Looking for more such Instant Pot Recipes? Here’s few from my Blog
- Instant Pot Rajma Recipe
- Instant Pot Bengali Mutton Curry Recipe
- Instant Pot Delhi-style Matar Kulcha Recipe
- Instant Pot Niramish Echorer Dalna | Jackfruit Curry Recipe
Have you tried this recipe? I would love to hear about it.
Tag me on Instagram @priyankabhattacharya.sa or Facebook @hashdiaries and I will share it further.
This Chicken Pulao recipe is again an one-pot recipe which requires minimum hassle for a delicious meal. The only key point to this recipe is the way of frying the sliced onions so that it gets the golden-brown shade, as we call it birista or beresta. Which in turn gives the pulao its dark caramelised brown colour!
- 1 cup Basmati Rice
- 6-8 Chicken pieces
- 2 tbsp Mustard Oil
- 1 tbsp Ghee
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Black Cardamom
- 3 Green Cardamom
- ½ inch Cinnamon
- 1 Star Anise
- 4 Cloves
- 1 Onion Large, Sliced
- 6-7 Cloves of Garlic Chopped
- 1 inch Ginger Grated
- Salt to Taste
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 1 tsp Biryani Masala or Garam Masala Powder
-
Plugin the Instant Pot or Nutricook Smart Pot and switch it on. Select the SAUTE MODE and you will see the timer showing 30 mins on the screen. Select the START button. The stainless steel pot inside will slowly heat up and get ready for cooking
-
Pour some Mustard Oil and add some Ghee to it. Let it warm up nicely before adding the Bay Leaf and Whole Spices. Pound the spices and half crush them before you add them to the oil. This would release the flavors optimally
-
As they sizzle, add the chopped Garlic and sliced Onions. Let it saute till they turn golden
-
They add the grated Ginger, Salt and some freshly crushed Peppercorns. Give it a mix
-
Now add the washed and drained rice and pieces of Chicken. Give it a mix.
-
Add Water according to the Rice. For every cup of Rice, add 2 cups of Water
-
Add some Biryani Masala powder or Garam Masala powder, chopped Mint leaves with some Ghee in the end
-
Place the Instant Pot lid on and switch the pressure release valve to SEALING Mode
-
Now, press CANCEL and then click Biryani mode. Set the timer at 10 mins and press START
-
Once the cooking is done, the pot will ring a tune. Using a handle of the ladle, switch the Valve to VENTING Mode and release the steam. Be very careful as it will be hot and cause burns
-
Use a Fork to fluff the rice and release the trapped steam in the rice. This would help up loosen the rice in the Pulao
-
Serve hot with some Yoghurt Raita
Recipe Video
This Post was initially published on September 6, 2019. Later updated with Instant Pot Chicken Pulao recipe.
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