By Shireen Jamooji
December 9th, 2023
Is there ever a bad time for biryani? With these easy tips, you can whip up a dish of your favourite comfort food in the comfort of your kitchen. No more big restaurant bills, just biryani comfort any time you like.
Selecting the right rice is crucial for a perfect biryani. Opt for long-grain basmati, ensuring it separates well when cooked, avoiding clumps.
Crafting biryani masala allows customisation of spice levels. Blend 15+ roasted whole spices into a fine powder; variations may include local spices for regional flavour.
Fry evenly sliced onions until golden brown for birista. Create saffron rice by soaking saffron strands in hot milk, and mixing kewra water before sealing for steaming.
Tailor your approach based on the chosen biryani type—chicken, mutton, beef, fish, prawn, or vegetarian options. Adjust cooking methods for different ingredients, ensuring tenderness.
Enhance base flavours by marinating meat or vegetables overnight in a mix of yoghurt, biryani masala, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, turmeric, and salt.
Achieve separate, flavour-coated rice grains by soaking for 30 mins, boiling with whole spices for 5 mins, and then straining.
Balanced bites result from strategic layering. Begin with a base of meat or paneer, followed by layers of rice, meat, and additional rice. Intersperse with fried onions, coriander, and mint leaves. Finish with saffron milk and kewra.
Common additions include raita, offering a cooling contrast, and boiled eggs or fried potatoes for texture. Some regions serve biryani with a light curry on the side for added moisture.