Excluding cornflour, egg, and oil, marinate chicken with the spices for at least 1 hour but up to 24 hours.
Wash the rice and soak for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Add ghee and oil and heat in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Add cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves, and sauté briefly.
Add peppers and onions and fry until light brown.
After cooking, pour half of the mixture into a bowl. Let the mixture stand, add masala, and briefly toast.
You’re now ready to add the water to the saucepan.
Increase heat and bring the saucepan to a boil.
Add salt and rice and continue to let boil to reduce the water to where it’s level with the rice.
Turn down heat to low and stir rice.
Sprinkle half of the fried onion mixture, along with the lemon juice, saffron water, mint, and cilantro evenly over the rice.
Place a lid over the saucepan and cook on low heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Afterward, check to make sure the rice is cooked and there isn’t any excess water, then fluff with fork.
While the rice is cooking, get a head start on the chicken.