HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE IN RICE COOKER

HOW TO MAKE HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE IN RICE COOKER

INGREDIENTS :

METHOD :

• Clean, Wash and pat dry the Chicken Pieces, Sprinkle some salt and pepper over it and leave it aside. 
• Rinse and wash the Rice until water runs clear.
• Drain the Rice and keep it aside.
• Heat a pan, add the Chicken Fat/Oil and allow it to melt.
• Saute finely minced Garlic & Ginger in a low flame for few minutes.(It shouldn't burn)
• Add the Rice and fry this for about two minutes on a low flame.
• Turn off the heat and scoop the rice into the rice cooker.
• Place the marinated Chicken Pieces into the rice cooker.
• Boil the Chicken Stock along with Salt and pour it into the rice.
• Tie the Screw pine Leaves into a knot and drop it into the rice cooker
• Close the lid and press START.
• Allow it to cook until the switch falls to WARM UP mode.
• Fluff it up with a fork, and close the lid.
• Let it sit in warm-mode for another 15-20 minutes.
• Switch off, fluff the rice with a fork. 
• Serve individual portions with Rice, sliced Chicken Pieces, Dipping Sauces and Soup.

NOTES:

• Rice Water Ratio for cooking in Rice Cooker is usually 1:11/2 Cups, but use only half the amount of water, as the chicken pieces tend to ooze out water while cooking. I have used only 11/2 Cups of Chicken Stock for 2 Cups of Rice.
• I have used Jasmine Rice in this recipe, which is fragrant and gives a nice aroma to the dish.
• Adjust the amount of water, if you feel the rice is too dry.
• Alternatively, it can be cooked in a sauce pan too.  
• If Cooking in a Pressure Cooker, follow the above instructions as for the rice cooker with an extra 1/2 Cup of Chicken Stock and cook for a whistle on a high flame.  Leave it aside until the pressure releases, fluff the rice.  Rice & Chicken Pieces tends to become softer when cooked in Pressure Cooker.

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

INGREDIENTS:

For Ginger Garlic Sauce:

METHOD :

• Pound Ginger & Garlic with a mortar & a pestle into a fine paste.
• Alternatively can finely chop the ingredients.
• Add Chicken Stock, Sweet Chilli Sauce and Sriracha Sauce to the above.
• Add Salt, Sugar and Lemon Juice and Mix well.
• This dipping Sauce is a bit spicy version, as I have used Sriracha sauce.

SOUP FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

SOUP FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

INGREDIENTS :

For the Soup:

For Garnishing:

METHOD :

• Heat Oil in a pan and saute minced Garlic until aromatic.
• Pour in the Chicken Stock, Light Soy Sauce, Salt and Sugar.
• Allow it to boil for few minutes.
• Garnish with Spring Onions and serve it along with Hainanese Chicken Rice.

HOW TO SERVE HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

SERVING SUGGESTION :

HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

HOW TO COOK AUTHENTIC HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE 

FOR CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS :

METHOD :

NOTES :

• Usually, this recipe is cooked with a whole Chicken.
• For convenience, I have used Chicken Pieces.
• Rubbing the chicken with the salt will give the chicken a pretty sheen. 
• Plunging the chicken pieces in an ice bath stops the cooking process and also tightens the skin, making it springy and firm.
• Also, it makes the chicken juicy and succulent.
• The Chicken stock can be used to cook the rice and for the soup.

FOR RICE:

INGREDIENTS :

METHOD:

• Heat a pan, add the chicken fat and allow it to melt.
• Saute finely minced garlic on a low flame for few minutes.(It shouldn't burn)
• Add the rice and fry this for about two minutes in a low flame.
• Turn off the heat and scoop the rice into the rice cooker.
• Boil the Chicken Stock along with salt and pour it into the rice.
• Tie the Screw pine Leaves into a knot and drop it into the rice cooker
• Close the lid and press START.
• Allow it to cook until the switch falls to WARM UP mode.
• Fluff it up with a fork, and close the lid.
• Let it sit in warm-mode for another 15-20 minutes.
• Switch off, fluff the rice with a fork.
• Serve Hainanese Chicken Rice hot or cold with Chicken Slices, Soup and Sauces.

NOTES:

• Rice Water Ratio for cooking in Rice Cooker is 1:11/2 Cups.
• Wash the rice until the water runs clear and allow it to soak for about 15-20 minutes 
• Drain the water from the rice, before cooking. 
• Alternatively, the rice can be cooked in a sauce pan.  
• Follow the above steps, and instead of scooping it into the rice cooker, scoop it into a Sauce pan.
• Pour the Chicken Stock into it.
• Rice Water Ratio for cooking in a Sauce Pan is 1:21/2 Cups. 
• Cover the lid and bring it to boil.
• Once the stock has boiled, reduce the flame.
• Let the rice cook on low flame for 10-15 Minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is well cooked.
• Care should be taken not to burn the garlic and rice while frying.
• The best results, I prefer cooking the rice in Rice cooker.

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

INGREDIENTS :

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE:

METHOD :

• Pound Ginger & Garlic with a mortar & a pestle into a fine paste.
• Add Chicken Stock, Sweet Chilli Sauce and Sriracha Sauce to the above.
• Add Salt, Sugar and Lemon Juice and Mix well.
• This dipping Sauce is a bit spicy version, as I have used Sriracha sauce.

SOUP FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

SOUP FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

INGREDIENTS :

For the Soup:

For Garnishing:

METHOD :

• Heat Oil in a pan and saute minced Garlic until aromatic.
• Pour in the Chicken Stock, Light Soy Sauce, Salt and Sugar.
• Allow it to boil for few minutes.
• Garnish with Spring Onions and serve it along with Hainanese Chicken Rice.

SERVING SUGGESTION:

• Coarsely grind the red chillies, bird's eye chillies, ginger, and garlic cloves. Avoid adding water while grinding to maintain the sauce's consistency.

MADRAS MUSLIM STYLE MUTTON BIRIYANI

• 100th Post being Hainanese Chicken Rice, a wonderful recipe which I perfected for my family, 
  
• 200th Post being Mutton Cutlet/Lamb Croquettes, a default starter frequented during festivities, functions, get-togethers etc., at home.  
• 300th Post being Kerala Kallu Shappu Style Beef Roast, a wonderful Kerala Classic which I frequent at home  & 
• 400th Post is a recipe from our family(Syrian Christian household) traditional recipe prepared on Maundy Thursday - Pesaha Appam & Paal.  

HOW TO COOK MADRAS MUSLIM STYLE MUTTON BIRIYANI

MADRAS MUSLIM STYLE MUTTON BIRIYANI

INGREDIENTS:

For Mutton/Lamb Masala:

Spices:

To Cook Basmati Rice:

METHOD : 

 For cooking the Mutton/Lamb Masala :

• Heat Oil in a pan/pressure cooker, add all the ingredients mentioned under 'Spices' and fry them on a medium flame until aromatic.
• Sauté Onions(cut into thin long slices) along with Green Chillies slit into two.
• Cover and Sauté on a medium flame for a minute stirring occasionally.
• Sauté the Onions until it turns into light brown in colour.
• Add in the Garlic Paste and sauté it for about 3-4 minutes until fragrant on a medium flame.
• Then add the Ginger paste and sauté it for about 3-4 minutes until the raw flavour goes.
• Cover and Sauté it on a very low flame for few minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Care should be taken, that it doesn't burn or stick to the vessel.  This can spoil the taste of the Biriyani.
• Sprinkle water, if necessary at this stage.
• Sauté until oil separates from the mix.
• Now add Mutton/Lamb Pieces along with a dash of salt and mix well (add few pieces of papaya at this stage, if using).
• Add finely sliced Tomatoes.
• Sprinkle a handful of Mint and Coriander Leaves.
• Cook this on a medium flame until Tomatoes turn soft & cooked.
• Now add Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder along with Curd and mix well.
• Cook this on a low flame until the raw flavour goes and oil separates from the mix.
• Cook the Mutton Pieces until soft and tender.
• If cooking the Lamb/Mutton pieces in a pressure cooker, cook for about 5 whistles on a high flame and another 5-6 whistle on a low flame. 
• Adjust the cooking time to suit the tenderness of the meat.
• Wait until the pressure is totally released.

For cooking the Rice:

• Rinse the Basmati Rice once or twice, moving your fingers through the rice, wash it until the water runs clear.
• Soak the washed rice for about 20 - 30 minutes.
• Boil enough Water in a Vessel/Saucepan.
• Let the Vessel be big enough to hold both Rice & water.
• Drain the soaked Rice.
• Carefully add Soaked Rice along with a dash of Salt,& Spices into the boiling Water.
• Cook until the Rice is half done. Just a boil is more than enough.
• Drain the excess water from the cooked rice pouring it out into a colander.

For Madras Muslim Style Mutton Biriyani:

Over a Griddle(For a Dhum Effect):

• Keep a preheated Chapati griddle below the Biriyani Vessel to give a dhum effect.
• Meanwhile, heat a Chapati griddle on a high flame for a few minutes or until the griddle is very hot.
• Keep this preheated Chapati griddle below the Biriyani Vessel.
• Pour the cooked Mutton/Lamb along with the Masala.
• Add the 1/2 cooked Rice over it.
• Pour in the Lemon Juice and drizzle 2 Tbpsns of Ghee.
• Cover the Vessel with a lid and keep a heavy object on top of it.
• Cook this on a medium-low flame for just 5 Minutes.
• Carefully open the lid and gently stir the ingredients once.
• Again cover the Vessel with the lid and keep the heavy object on top of it.
• Cook this for about 10-12 minutes, then switch off the flame and leave the Biriyani Vessel on the stove top untouched for few minutes.
• Remove the lid and drizzle the remaining 2 Tbspns of Ghee & gently mix the cooked Madras Muslim Style Mutton Biriyani with a long ladle.
• Gently fluff up the Mutton Biriyani so that the ingredients are well combined. 
• Care should be taken not to break the rice strands.
• Serve Madras Muslim Style Mutton Biriyani along with Curd-Onion Raitha, Brinjal Curry or any preferred vegetarian or non-vegetarian side dishes.

Baking in an Oven(for Dhum Effect) : 

• Preheat the oven to 450° F/230°C.
• Pour the cooked Mutton/Lamb along with the Masala into a big bake-proof bowl.
• Add the 1/2 cooked Rice over it.
• Pour in the Lemon Juice and drizzle 2 Tbpsns of Ghee.
• Cover the Biriyani Bowl with an Aluminium foil and keep it in the middle rack of the oven.
• Bake the Madras Muslim Style Mutton Biriyani for about 30 minutes.
• Leave it aside untouched for a few minutes.
• Drizzle the remaining 2 Tbspns of Ghee & Gently fluff up the Mutton Biriyani, so that the ingredients are well combined. 
• Care should be taken not to break the rice strands.
• Serve Madras Muslim Style Mutton Biriyani along with Curd-Onion Raitha, Brinjal Curry or any preferred vegetarian or non-vegetarian side dishes.

NOTES :

• Measure & use the ingredients mentioned for the Recipe.
• Well-seasoned Basmati /Jeerakasamba Rice plays a vital role in the texture of a Biriyani. 
• This recipe calls for Basmati Rice can also prepare it with Jeerakasamba Rice.
• Soaking the rice helps in getting perfectly cooked rice.
• Cook the rice with enough water until 1/2 done. Just a boil is more than enough.
• Adjust the amount of Red Chilli Powder and Green Chillies to suit your spice level. 
• Adjust the Spices to suit your preference
• Grind Garlic & Ginger separately and sauté Garlic first and then follow it with Ginger.
• Garlic paste needs to be sauteed a little longer than Ginger paste.
• Adding lemon juice is to avoid rice from getting sticky.
• Mix both Rice and Lamb together and cook in a dhum style for perfectly cooked Biriyani. 
• Cooking in Dhum helps the Mutton Biriyani not to get burnt at the bottom of the vessel and also yields a wonderful texture.
• While fluffing up the rice mix it gently.
• Can also cook the same recipe with Beef/Chicken.  Adjust the cooking time accordingly.

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A QUICK TIP :

• Use Raw Papaya to tenderize the meat.  It acts as a natural 'MEAT TENDERIZER'.
• Raw papaya contains an enzyme called Papain.  The connective tissue in the meat breaks down when it comes in contact with Papain.
• Papaya is one of the preferred tenderizers for red meats (Lamb, Mutton & Beef).
• Use a few pieces of raw papaya while cooking red meats.  This will tenderize the meat, making it more soft and succulent, without changing its taste and flavour.
• Yogurt/Curd, Lime Juice, Vinegar, Soda-bi-carbonate, all have softening and tenderizing effects on Red meat.