Chicken biryani

Now here is something nice and easy (and tasty) for the weekend......

A great one-pot rice dish that can still be served up a few days later, perfect for leftovers.

Ingredients

300g basmati rice

25g butter

1 large onion, finely sliced

1 bay leaf

3 cardamom pods (optional)

small cinnamon stick

1 tsp turmeric

4 skinless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks

4 tbsp curry paste (Patak's balti paste,or a paste of your choice)

85g raisin

850ml chicken stock

chopped coriander and toasted flaked almonds to serve

Method

Soak the rice in warm water, then wash in cold until the water runs clear. Heat butter in a saucepan and cook the onions with the bay leaf and other whole spices for 10 mins. Sprinkle in the turmeric, then add chicken and curry paste and cook until aromatic.

Stir the rice into the pan with the raisins, then pour over the stock. Place a tight-fitting lid on the pan and bring to a hard boil, then lower the heat to a minimum and cook the rice for another 5 mins. Turn off the heat and leave for 10 mins. Stir well, mixing through half the coriander. To serve, scatter over the rest of the coriander and the almonds.