Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      tablespoon    saffron
   4      teaspoons     warm milk
   2                    hot green chili peppers -- as serranos
                        -- seeded & stemmed
   2                    hot red chili peppers -- as serranos
                        -- seeded & stemmed
   2      large         onion -- chopped
   1      2" piece      ginger root -- peeled
   8      cloves        garlic -- peeled
     1/4  teaspoon      ground cloves
   8      whole         peppercorns
     1/2  teaspoon      cardamom seeds -- 1 16oz box
   1      1" piece      cinnamon stick -- crushed
   1      teaspoon      coriander seeds
   1      teaspoon      cumin seeds
     1/4  teaspoon      poppy seeds
     1/4  teaspoon      ground mace
     1/2  cup           cilantro or mint leaves
     1/4  cup           fresh lemon juice
   2      cups          plain yogurt
   3      pounds        boneless chicken -- cut into 1" cubes
                        salt to taste
   2      tablespoons   vegetable oil
   1      tablespoon    ghee
   1                    onion -- finely chopped
   8      large         tomatoes -- chopped
   2      cups          uncooked basmati or other long-grain rice
     1/3  cup           raisins -- raw cashews, and
                        -- almonds
   6                    hard-boiled eggs -- halved

Preparation:

Soak saffron in warm milk for 5 minutes and puree in blender. Add chiles, onions, ginger, garlic, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom seeds, cinnamon, coriander and cumin seeds, poppy seeds, nutmeg, mace, cilantro or mint leaves and lemon juice. Blend into smooth paste. Put paste into large bowl, add yogurt and mix well. Marinate chicken in yogurt mixture with salt, covered for at least 2 - 6 hours in refrigerator. In skillet. heat oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Add ghee and 15 seconds later add onion and fry for about8 minutes. Reserve for garnish. In same skillet, cook chicken with its marinade with tomatoes for about 10 minutes over medium heat, uncovered. Remove chicken pieces from the sauce and set aside. Add rice to sauce, bring to boil, and cook, covered over low heat for 15 minutes. Return chicken and add raisins, cashews and almonds; mix well. Simmer, covered for 5 minutes. Place chicken, eggs and rice in large serving dish in such a way that yellow of the eggs, the saffron-colored rice, the nuts and the chicken make a colorful display. Add reserved onion as garnish.