Chicken Biryani.

Just as beautiful for entertaining as it is for a comforting family meal, biryani is a Central and South Asian dish of layered rice, spices and meat or vegetables. There are many variations of biryani, but here, marinated chicken drumsticks are tucked in between layers of basmati rice, fried onion, whole spices and fresh herbs. Don't be intimidated by the multiple steps: Split up the work by marinating the meat in advance, and feel free to use store-bought fried onions instead of frying your own (use about 1 heaping cup). Traditionally, biryani is sealed with dough, but in this recipe, the lid is covered with a thin kitchen towel to ensure a proper seal and catch excess condensation so the rice steams properly. Garnishing with pomegranate seeds is not traditional, but they add a pop of color and a welcome fresh bite. Serve chicken biryani with raita, if desired.