Categories: Rice, Chicken, Indian, Main dish 
      Yield: 8 servings 
  
    3/4 c  Rice Basmati 
           - or long-grain rice 
  1 1/2 c  Less 2 tbsp water 
      1 ts Oil 
           Salt to taste 
    1/2 lb Chicken 
           - cut into small pieces 
      3 tb Oil 
      1 lg Onion chopped 
    1/2 ts Ginger paste 
    1/2 ts Garlic paste 
      1 ts Ground cumin 
      1 ts Ground coriander 
    1/2 ts Turmeric powder 
      1    Bay leaf 
      2    Cloves 
      2    Cardamoms 
        pn Cinnamon 
      1 sm Tomato quartered 
      1 sm Potato 
           - peeled and quartered 
      3 tb Plain yogurt 
    1/4 ts Saffron 
  
  Wash rice and put in a small saucepan with all above ingredients. 
  Bring it to a boil on high heat, then cover and simmer gently until 
  all the water is absorbed. The grains should be tender but firm. Set 
  aside uncovered. Heat oil in a large saucepan (medium heat), add 
  onions and fry till golden around the edges, add garlic and ginger. 
  All at once add all the spices and fry one minute longer. Add all 
  other ingredients except saffron. Add salt to taste. Cover and cook 
  on low heat till chicken is tender, stirring occasionally (about 1/2 
  hour). There should be very little liquid remaining in the pan. 
  (During cooking a little water may be added if necessary to avoid 
  sticking). 
  Add half the prepared rice, spreading it evenly over the mixture, 
  drizzle one tbsp of oil over it and add the saffron mixed into two 
  tsp of milk. Cover with remaining rice, cover and cook on very low 
  heat for ten minutes. 
  Serve accompanied with whipped, lightly sweetened yogurt. 
  The chicken could be substituted with 1/2 pound of mixed vegetables.