19/10/2025
Instant Pot Akhni
Recipe Credit by Farzana Kumandan
Ingredients for the Marinade
1kg chicken pieces
3 tablespoons double cream yoghurt
1 tablespoon garlic and ginger
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 large, grated tomato
1 cup fried onions
3 tablespoons Sprinkles and Spice Karahi Masala or your favourite curry spice
1 tsp Sprinkles and Spice Orange Pepper
1 tsp Salt
Additional Ingredients
3 cups soaked basmati rice
1 cup water
4-5 potatoes halved
Handful of freshly chopped coriander
3 additional cups water
3 tsp salt
2 tablespoons butter
Method
Marinade the chicken with all the listed ingredients for at least an hour or overnight.
Add 1 cup of water to The Instant Pot XL Wide. Add the potatoes, chicken and the coriander.
Add the 3 cups water to the left over marinade masala bowl and add 3 tsp salt (for the rice) and mix it well. Add it to the Instant Pot and add the raw strained rice in an even layer. Do not stir. Level the rice out with the back of a spoon and add the butter.
Pressure cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes (7-8minutes for smaller pieces of chicken) with a Natural Pressure Release for 30 minutes.
Serve with dhay, sambal, paaper or your favourite sides.
Enjoy 🩷
Tips
💕 Use bigger pieces of chicken (not wings or small pieces cut for curry) If you are using smaller pieces of chicken adjust the cooking time or the chicken will cook off the bone.
💕 Dont be afraid to over spice. You adding water for the rice to cook and you need that extra flavour as the water tones down the flavours.
💕 If you are sauteing or braising, remember to add water and deglaze the bottom of the pot, before pressure cooking.
💕 If you making it my way, always add ½-1 cup water in your Pressure Cooker first, it helps avoiding food burn or food sticking to the bottom.
💕 Since we Pressure Cooking for only ten minutes cut the potatoes in half and if its bigger potatoes cut it in quarters, resulting in a super soft potato which is a must in akhni!
💕 Use a good quality long grain Basmati rice for the best results, Bimri or fragrant rice is not recommended for this recipe (it takes longer to cooks)
💕 Add the raw, soaked rice evenly, not all in one heap and DO NOT stir, but level the rice so the rice is covered by the water.
💕 Pressure cook and do a natural pressure release for 30 minutes, the natural pressure release ensures the rice has that final steam, leaving it for longer will have the chicken cook off the bone.
💕 Remember practice makes perfect
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