Welcome To Swahili Food
A quick search for biriyani on google and you’re bound to end up with a gazillion recipes to choose from hailing from India or Pakistan. Now I’m not here to start a food war but have you tried Swahili biriyani? From the East African Coast? No? Boy oh boy are you missing out on this flavour-packed easy main course!
Let me see how to best describe this. Chicken. Caramelised onions. Rich sauce. Rice. Those would be the 4 words I would use to put what Swahili chicken biriyani is into perspective.
I know that a lot of people in the West have never tried this before but please, please for the love of sweet taste buds, please try this at least once? It’s not that difficult at all, and you can brag about making something all the way from Kenya
When my sisters or friends come to visit they have a ‘food’ to-do list for me and Swahili biriyani is almost always at the top of the list!
I have two different recipes for this meal, this is the easier version and a great starting point for a beginner.
A quick tip: Onions can be deep-fried and frozen once cooled, to be used whenever your heart desires. Perfect for lazy cooks and/or tired mums…(raises hand)
Here’s the handy printable recipe and below that the video tutorial on how to make it. Happy cooking!
Swahili biriyani definitely deserves a place in the culinary hall of fame. Here is the easy version
In a thick bottomed pan, add 1 tbsp ghee followed by the tomato paste and fry it for 1 min on medium heat.
Add 1 tbsp cumin, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground cardamom, 1/2 tsp black pepper and a few cloves (4-5).
Cook the spices for 2 min then add the chopped tomatoes and cover the pan.
After 13 min, add the chicken, garlic, ginger, fresh chilly and, salt.
Cover and cook until chicken soften (about 15min)
Add 1/2 cup of mala or natural yoghurt cover and reduce the heat.
Deep fry your sliced onions if you haven’t and also fry the potatoes until a skin forms.
Add the deep friend and onions and potatoes to the biriyani. Cook until the potatoes are soft.
Serve with rice
You can use coconut cream as a replacement for the yoghurt
Hi Vanessa, thank you for posting these easy Swahili recipes…
Quick question…. how did you marinate the chicken? on your video you stated it would be posted in the description but I can’t find it. Would you please help?
thank you.
Ruthie
★★★★★
Hi Ruthie, thanks for stopping by ❤️
I included the ingredients for the marinade in the recipe card. They are above the ingredients for the gravy. Just mix all the marinade ingredients and add the chicken pieces. Marinate over night or for 3 hrs if you can. Hugs
Oh my goodness Banessa! This looks ridiculously easy. I’ll try this soon. How come my name automatically appeared as Aunty Nyanya on the Name slot?
★★★★★
hahaha i have no idea but how appropriate!
Hi Vanessa, thank you for this tutorial. Will definitely try it soon.
Please, I would love to see a tutorial for the rice that you served with the chicken. And also, please do another video for Pilau ya Kuku or Mbuzi.
Thanks 🙂🙂
Its delicious and also, freezes well! I survive on freezer meals some times….but meals i make so that way i know whats in them.
Heres a link to the rice https://swahilifood.com//index.php/2017/04/15/cook-rice-get-right/
Best Biryani ever
★★★★★
H
There recipe for the rice doesn’t come up. Could you please repost?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36E_xLURb0 heres a video i made for cooking rice (one of my first videos hehe)
Hi Vanessa
I’m not sure why but I cant see the actual method of the Swahili Chicken Briyani recipe?? I can see the list of ingredients but not the prep instructions.
Are you able to email the recipe to me? PLEASE with a capital P!
My email address is wendyt@workforce.co.za
Hi Wendy, i’ve updated it to include the instructions
I can’t find the method and prep instructions for the recipe. Please help
Hi Wendy,
The prep video is found at the bottom of the page. Do you prefer written instructions?
Simply awesome you are
Your too kind 🙂
You remind me my mama…. Thanks
awww I’m touched 🙂
East African food are tamu… Thanks Vanessa
Tamu kabisa 🙂
How long did you fry the potatoes?
Until they get slightly soft. Test with a toothpick
Dear Vanessa,
This page does not show the recipe for the Chicken Biryani (it did before).
Can you please check why its not displaying?
Thanks,
Rakesh
Hi there, did you want the longer version of the biriyani? This is the updated easier one
Hi Vanessa, sorry but for some reason I don’t see how to marinate the chicken. Could you please post the link? Can’t find it on Instagram either
Hi Carol, Check the updated instructions. In the express biriyani, I don’t marinate the chicken.
Thank you Vani!! Making this tonight :*
★★★★★
Let me know how it goes, hugs
Hi, in the written recipe there is no mention of marinating, when to use the water and which ingredients are for marinating. I have just seen this after reading comments, but it still turned out yummy. Thank you.
★★★★
It is tendеr, moist, and completely flaky.
★★★★★
Hello Vanessa, is it optional to include the sugar? Don’t see it in the method. And when do you add the water, after the chicken has cooked, before the yogurt? Thanks
Hi Farzana, yes the sugar is optional. I say it depends on the tomatoes used, some can be really tart and the sugar helps balance that. For most though the caramelized onions are sweet enough to balance it all out. You can add the water before or after the yoghurt, I find it doesnt make a difference.
Hi Vanessa thanks for this. I can’t find the longer Version of the biryani. Im especially interested in the marinade. Thanks in advance for your help! Best, Juliet
First time making biryani! Was always so scared of cooking it! Turned out amazing! Super easy! Definitely saving this recipe xx