Ingredients:

800 gm chicken, cut into pieces

2 cup basmati rice

3 cups of water

1 carrot, thinly sliced

10-15 raisins

1 tsp sugar

2 bay leaves

4 cardamoms

4 cloves

small piece cinnamon stick

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1 onion, sliced

1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1 chicken stock cube

salt to taste

1 tsp chilli powder

a pinch of chilli flakes

2 tbsp ghee

2 tbsp oil

Preparation:

1. Wash and soak the basmati rice in water for 15 minutes, drain it and keep it aside
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil and ghee in a thick bottomed pan and add sliced carrot, raisins and 1 tsp sugar and fry / cook till the carrot turns tender and keep it aside.
3. In the same pan, add bay leaves, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, cumin seeds and ginger-garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes.
4. Add sliced onion and saute well until brown.
5. Then add cleaned chicken and saute well for 2 minutes.
6. Add garam masala, pepper powder, coriander powder, chicken stock cube, salt and 1/4 cup of water and mix well.
7. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked well, stirring occasionally.
8. Then remove the cooked chicken pieces and keep it aside.
9. Add 3 cups of water ( hot water can also be used ) into this pan and bring to a boil. Taste check for salt.
10. Add drained rice and mix well. When the water starts to absorb, cover and cook in low flame for 7-10 minutes till rice is cooked.
11. Meanwhile heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and fry the cooked chicken pieces adding 1 tsp chilli powder and a pinch of chilli flakes.
12. Place the fried chicken, carrot and raisins over the cooked rice and keep it covered for 2-3 minutes.
13. Then switch off the flame. Mix gently and serve hot with raita...