Kerala Style Chicken Dum Biriyani

For rice:
Basmati rice-2 cups
Bay leaf-1
Cardamom pods-4
Cinnamon sticks-3
Cloves-4
Ghee-2 tsp
Lemon juice-1/2 lemon
salt-as required
Hot water-4 cups

For chicken:
Chicken-3/4 kg
Big Onion-3
Gingergarlic paste-2 tsp
Greenchilly-2
Tomato-2 medium
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Chilly powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1.5 tsp
Pepper powder-1/2 tsp
Garam masala-1 tsp
Curd-1 tbsp
Lemon juice-1/2 tsp
salt-as required

For layering:
Ghee-1 tsp
Fried cashew nut,raisins-as required
Fried onion-as required
Coriander leaves-a handful
Mint leaves-a handful
Rose water-3-4 drops

You can find video recipe with english subtitles here:

Method:
Step 1:Cooking the rice
Wash and soak basmati rice in water for 30 minutes.Drain the excess water.Heat 2 tsp ghee in a pan ,add the cloves,cardamom,cinnamon and bay leaf and fry for a minute.Add the rice to it and fry for 2-3 minutes.Pour 4 cups of hot water to it .Add enough salt and lemon juice.Cook on high flame until the rice is 75% cooked and all the water is absorbed.Switch off the heat and spread the cooked rice to two wide plates.

Step 2:Marination and frying
Marinate chicken pieces with 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste,1/4 tsp turmeric powder,1/4 tsp chilly powder,3/4 tsp coriander powder,1/4 tsp pepper powder,1/2 tsp garam masala ,1/2 tsp lemon juice and enough salt for one hour.Shallow fry the marinated chicken and keep it aside.

Step 3:Preparing the gravy
Heat oil in a pan and saute the big onions,1 tsp ginger-garlic paste and greenchilles until the onion turns light brown in colour. Add the remaining powders left after marination(turmeric,chilly,coriander,pepper and garammasala) and fry until the oil separates.Add the curd and mix well .Add the tomatoes and saute until the tomatoes becomes mushy.Now add the chicken pieces and 1/2 cup water and mix well.Cover and cook in low flame for 10 minutes.

Step 4:Layering 
Apply some ghee to a a heavy bottomed deep pan. Put one layer of chicken with gravy in the pan. On top of that spread some rice and make another layer. Spread coriander leaves,mint leaves,fried onions,cashew nuts and raisins.Again spread another layer of chicken . Repeat the process until the chicken and rice is finished. The top layer should be of rice. You can drizzle ghee & sprinkle 3-4 drops of rosewater on top. Cover the pan with an aluminium foil and close with a tight lid. Dum for 25-30 minutes.