Marinate chicken with Kashmiri chili powder, coriander powder, pepper powder, garam masala, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice and salt
Fry onions until golden brown, then fry cashews and raisins separately and set aside
Heat oil with whole spices (cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, bay leaf) for the masala
Add ginger-garlic-green chili paste and finely chopped onion to the oil
Add finely chopped tomato and cook until soft
Add yogurt and cook the masala base
Add lemon juice, curry leaves, coriander leaves, mint leaves, biryani masala powder, turmeric, chicken masala powder, garam masala and pepper powder
Add marinated chicken to the masala and cook until partially done
Add water to create a thick gravy and simmer
Boil jeerakasala rice in 7 cups of water with oil, ghee, whole spices, chopped onion, carrot and salt until 70% cooked
Layer the partially cooked chicken masala in a heavy-bottomed pot
Layer the boiled rice on top of the chicken
Sprinkle fried onions, fried cashews and raisins on the rice
Sprinkle coriander leaves and garam masala powder
Pour ghee and milk or coconut milk mixed with leftover masala on top
Cover and cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes until steam forms, then reduce heat to low and cook for 45 minutes until rice is fully cooked
