Pilaf, Pulao And Biryani: Know The Difference Between These Comforting Rice Dishes

Be it any cuisine, you are sure to find a rice dish integral to it. Be it the Italian risotto, the Chinese fried rice and our much loved Biryani, rice dishes are ubiquitous to all cuisines. And why not? After all, rice dishes have everything that one can expect from a wholesome plate of food- it is filling, delicious and aromatic too.

Hailing from East India, my days aren’t complete with Bhaat. Be it Usuna (steamed rice) or Pakhala, we Odias just can’t get enough of rice. However, when I moved to Delhi, a brooding sadness engulfed me when I realized that I’ll have to eat phulkas and parathas for lunch. However, as a momentary relief, I grabbed the chance to go out or order in a comforting rice dish along with curry on the side on weekends. One winter afternoon, when I was ordering a plate of pulao, I was really confused as the menu showed two items with similar names- pulao and pilaf. That’s when it struck me that both these dishes are different- both in taste and method of preparation. And I think many are stuck in this loop of confusion. Hence, we set to dig out the difference between India’s three most loved rice dishes- pilaf, pulao and biryani.

I had first encountered the term pilaf in one of the popular cooking shows. A contestant in Masterchef Australia had cooked pilaf along with a curry on the side. Upon researching, I realized that in the case of pilaf, rice, meat, veggies and spices are cooked in a flavoured broth/stock. The dish is central to parts of the Middle Eastern region, Central Asia and South Asia.

...And What About Pulao?

On the contrary, in the case of our very favourite pulao, rice is soaked in water before cooking. Veggies, meat and spices are sauteed, the soaked rice is added and then the ingredients are cooked by adding more water as per requirement. Unlike pilaf, pulao doesn’t require any flavoured broth or stock.  

In Its Own League, Biryani

In the case of biryani, the delicious rice dish is very different from both the rice dishes mentioned above in terms of ingredients, cooking time of the ingredients and method of preparation too. The dish is more complicated on all grounds than the other two rice dishes. The preparation is more time-consuming and laborious. Biryani has numerous bold spices and the ingredients are cooked in layers. The rice that is typically added to biryani is semi-cooked when it’s added to the main cooking pot.

Now that you know the difference between these popular rice dishes, you can definitely shun and shut the mouth of the people who commit the crime of calling veg biryani pulao. Also, don’t forget to follow the detailed recipes and make these decadent rice dishes at home. Do try them out and let us know how you like them.