Degchi
A one-pot Pakistani rice dish of chicken braised with yogurt and whole spices, then layered with basmati rice and steamed until the grains soak up the chicken stock. Lighter than biryani and quicker to make, it is a favourite for family lunches and gatherings.
Quick answer: 70 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Rice, Chicken, Onion, Ginger · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 400 g 2 cup Rice, basmati, soaked 20 minutes
- 700 g 1.5 lb Chicken, bone-in pieces
- 2 pc 2 pc Onion, sliced
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, paste
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, paste
- 100 g 0.4 cup Yogurt
- 1.5 tsp 1.5 tsp Garam masala
- 2 pc 2 pc Bay leaf
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp Clarified butter
- to taste to taste Salt
- 4 pc 4 pc Cardamom (Optional)
- 1 pc 1 pc Cinnamon (Optional)
Steps
Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.
- Heat clarified butter in a pot and fry the sliced onion for 8 to 10 minutes until golden.⏱ Frying onion · 8 min
- Add ginger-garlic paste, bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon, and fry briefly.⏱ Frying spices · 1 min
- Add the chicken pieces and fry until they change colour.⏱ Frying · 7 min
- Add yogurt, garam masala and salt, cover and cook until the chicken is nearly tender.⏱ Cooking chicken · 10 min
- Measure the remaining liquid in the pot and add water to make up roughly 1.5 times the rice volume, then bring to a boil.
- Add the rice (rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes), cover tightly and steam on low heat until the rice is done and fluffy. The chicken should reach 74 °C / 165 °F.⏱ Slow-steaming · 20 min
- Fluff gently with a fork and serve hot with raita or salad.
Cook this in the app — get Degchi on Google Play
Get it on Google PlayNot sure you have everything? Check this against your pantry
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chicken Pulao take?
70 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 50 minutes of cooking.
Is Chicken Pulao hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 7 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Chicken Pulao serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Chicken Pulao halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Chicken Pulao?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: salt. Spice-box items: garam masala, bay leaf. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: chicken, onion, ginger, garlic, yogurt, clarified butter. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice.
Any tips for making Chicken Pulao?
Use the exact liquid-to-rice ratio for perfect, non-mushy grains — measure after the chicken is cooked. Letting the pulao rest covered for 10 minutes off heat before serving helps the grains set.
Notes and questions
No notes yet. Ask a question about this recipe, share a tip, or tell us if something needs fixing. Our team reads every note before it appears.
Ask a question or add a note
This recipe in other languages
Used in these posts
When to Restock Atta, Rice and Daal: Simple Reorder Points
Running out of atta on a Friday night is a timing mistake, not bad luck. Work out how many meals a bag gives you and reorder at a fixed line.
What to Thaw Tonight: A Fridge Thaw Schedule for the Week
The 5 pm moment when the chicken is still a block of ice is a planning problem, not a cooking one. A simple night-before thaw schedule fixes it.
How Much Rice and Curry to Cook for a Family of Five
Most recipes serve four, and a family of five lands awkwardly in between. Here are the working amounts for rice, daal, chicken, mince and atta, scaled from recipes in our library.
Elaichi, Laung, Dalchini: Whole Spice Names in English
Recipe says elaichi, shelf says cardamom, and the bay leaf at the shop is not quite tej patta. Here is a plain guide to the whole spices behind pulao and qorma.
Relatives Staying a Week? A Desi Meal Plan That Works
Seven days of guests means 21 meals and one tired host. Plan three anchor dishes, rotate the rest and let everyone own a night.
Lunchbox From Last Night's Dinner: Pack Before You Sit Down
The best school lunchbox is the dinner you already cooked. Four dishes from our library that pack well, plus the one habit that makes it all work.
Cooking terms in this recipe: Dum · Sella rice · Elaichi (cardamom) · Tej patta (bay leaf)
Popular home recipes
More with yogurt More with rice More with ghee More with onions