Biryani

Biryani is a rice-based dish made with spices, meat, and vegetables. The word “biryani” is derived from the Persian word “biryan”, which means “fried” or “roasted”. Biryani is believed to have originated in Persia, and was brought to India by the Mughals. The dish is popular in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Biryani is typically made with basmati rice, though other types of rice can be used. The rice is cooked with ghee (clarified butter), and spices such as cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Meat, fish, or vegetables can be added to the rice. Biryani is often served with raita (a yogurt-based sauce), and a variety of accompaniments such as salad, pickles, and papadum (a type of flatbread).

There are many regional variations of biryani. In India, the dish is often made with chicken, mutton, or fish. In Pakistan, beef is commonly used. The Bangladeshi version of biryani is often made with goat or lamb.

Advice

When making biryani, it is important to use the right type of rice. Basmati rice is the best choice for this dish as it is light and fluffy, and it absorbs flavors well. Additionally, it is important to use good quality spices and to fry them until they are fragrant before adding them to the dish. If you are looking for a rich flavor, adding ghee or clarified butter to the dish will help to enhance the flavor. Finally, it is important to simmer the biryani for a long time, as this will help the flavors to develop and combine.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Lamb Biryani

  • RICE
  • salt
  • basmati rice
  • LAMB
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • yogurt
  • garam masala
  • coriander
  • cumin
  • kashmiri chile powder
  • ginger
  • black peppercorn
  • turmeric
  • salt
  • onion
  • tomato
  • lamb chop
  • indian cinnamon
  • green finger chile
  • clove
  • cardamom
  • garlic
  • FRIED ONIONS
  • oil
  • salt
  • onion
  • FOR ASSEMBLY
  • saffron thread
  • cilantro
  • butter
  • milk
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Pressure Cooker Shrimp Biryani

  • garlic
  • turmeric
  • kashmiri chile powder
  • smoked paprika
  • tomato
  • onion
  • serrano chile
  • curry
  • water
  • shrimp
  • cilantro
  • basmati rice
  • ginger
  • lime juice
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  /public/recipe-tin-eats-logo.svg

Chicken Biryani

  • oil
  • cilantro
  • cumin
  • saffron thread
  • star anise
  • clove
  • water
  • cayenne pepper
  • cardamom
  • ghee
  • cinnamon
  • turmeric
  • paprika
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • coriander
  • ginger
  • garam marsala
  • onion
  • basmati rice
  • yoghurt
  • bay leaf
  • garlic
  • green cardamon pod
  • chicken thigh
  • cilantro
  • onion
  • yoghurt
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Turkey Biryani

  • salt
  • yogurt sauce
  • cashew
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • tomato paste
  • turmeric
  • cinnamon
  • raisin
  • cilantro
  • black peppercorn
  • yogurt
  • cayenne pepper
  • basmati rice
  • garam masala
  • onion
  • turkey leg
  • turkey
  • hard-boiled egg
  • vegetable oil
  • cardamom
  • clove
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

One-Pot Vegetable Biryani

  • cauliflower
  • lemon juice
  • garlic paste
  • ginger paste
  • garam masala
  • bay leaf
  • carrot
  • onion
  • plum tomato
  • potato
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • green bean
  • pomegranate seed
  • green pea
  • greek yogurt
  • turmeric powder
  • ghee
  • fried cashew
  • basmati rice
  • salt
  • kashmiri red chile powder
  • star anise
  • vegetable stock
  • cardamom
  • thai green chile
  • clove
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Chicken Biryani

  • RICE AND ASSEMBLY
  • sugar
  • onion
  • nut
  • basmati rice
  • salt
  • ghee
  • fruit
  • ONION RAITA AND CHICKEN
  • black pepper
  • ginger
  • lemon
  • onion
  • yogurt
  • chicken thigh
  • cardamon
  • sugar
  • bay leaf
  • garlic
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Nasi Biryani

  • RICE
  • chicken curry
  • coconut milk
  • salt
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • cinnamon
  • carrot
  • tomato
  • star anise
  • onion
  • saffron
  • cardamom
  • basmati rice
  • pandan
  • chicken stock
  • ghee
  • clove
  • GARNISH
  • cilantro
  • raisin
  • cashew
  • onion
  • ghee
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Eggplant Biryani

  • SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
  • spice mill
  • EGGPLANT MASALA AND FRIED ONIONS
  • black pepper
  • canola
  • tomato
  • ginger
  • coriander seed
  • fennel seed
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • tomato paste
  • cumin seed
  • salt
  • turmeric
  • kashmiri chile powder
  • mace blade
  • onion
  • yogurt
  • garlic
  • chinese
  • RICE AND ASSEMBLY
  • saffron thread
  • yogurt
  • serrano chile
  • basmati rice
  • salt
  • bay leaf
  • cilantro
  • cardamom
  • clove
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Biryani With Goat Meat

  • goat meat
  • cumin
  • garam masala
  • turmeric
  • water
  • orange coloring
  • onion
  • onion
  • green chily
  • coriander
  • garlic paste
  • ginger paste
  • green coloring
  • curry
  • tamarind root
  • sunflower
  • basmati rice
  • salt
  /public/immaculate-bites-logo.svg

Chicken Biryani Recipe

  • garlic
  • chilli spice
  • cumin spice
  • curry spice
  • smoked paprika
  • white pepper
  • bay leaf
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • jalapenos pepper
  • salt
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • white black pepper
  • cashew
  • yogurt
  • basmati rice
  • cilantro
  • ginger
  • chicken thigh
  • oil butter ghee
  • cardamon pod
  • liquid broth
  • flavorful chicken add more spices like curry
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Dum Pukht Biryani - Slow Cooked Biryani

  • desiccated coconut
  • garlic paste
  • ginger paste
  • poppy seed
  • garam masala
  • red chili powder
  • salt
  • goat meat
  • turmeric
  • cilantro
  • yogurt
  • green chily
  • onion
  • green coloring
  • orange coloring
  • milk
  • tomato
  • rice
  • vegetable oil
  • cashew
  • saffron strand
  • gravy
  • marinade
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Jhinga Biryani

  • yogurt
  • ginger paste
  • khus khus poppy seed
  • saffron strand
  • saunf aniseed fennel seed
  • prawn
  • black peppercorn
  • coriander
  • ​ mint
  • turmeric powder
  • cumin seed
  • garlic paste
  • basmati rice
  • red chilly
  • green chilly
  • milk
  • tomato
  • coriander seed
  • onion
  • oil
  • clove
  • pods green cardamom
  • salt
  • frying
  • masala
  • marinade
  • masala
  • lime juice
  /public/food52-logo.svg

Ethereal Egg Biryani

  • Rice
  • salt
  • basmati rice
  • egg
  • Sauce
  • ginger
  • onion
  • serrano
  • tomato paste
  • cilantro
  • lime juice
  • fennel seed
  • garam masala
  • coriander
  • salt
  • sweet paprika
  • mint
  • cumin
  • turmeric
  • greek yogurt
  • cayenne pepper
  • shallot
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Vegetarian Biryani

  • butter
  • oil
  • ginger
  • turmeric
  • potato
  • jalapeño
  • onion
  • tomato
  • pea
  • rice
  • salt
  • cilantro
  • curry powder
  • cumin
  • yogurt
  • cayenne pepper
  • water
  • carrot
  • garlic
  /public/seriouseats.svg

Lamb or Chicken Biryani Recipe

  • marinade
  • Sauce
  • rice
  • tomato
  • cilantro
  • garam masala powder
  • black cardamom pod
  • fennel seed
  • cinnamon shard
  • mace petal
  • potato
  • star anise pod
  • bay leaf
  • black peppercorn
  • clove
  • Marinade
  • sauce
  • salt
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • turmeric powder
  • lamb shoulder
  • red chilli powder
  • yogurt
  • coriander seed
  • cumin seed
  • hot green chily
  • ghee
  • onion
  • Rice
  • lime juice
  • basmati rice
  /public/food52-logo.svg

Tempeh Biryani

  • bay leaf
  • tomato
  • basmati rice
  • onion
  • yogurt
  • saffron
  • biryani masala
  • garam masala
  • coriander
  • vegetable oil
  • rose water
  • garlic paste
  • ginger
  • tempeh
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • clove
  • chili powder
  • cumin
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • ghee
  • cardamom
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Sindhi Biryani (Spiced Goat and Rice Pilaf)

  • salt
  • lemon juice
  • mint
  • ginger
  • canola oil
  • bay leaf
  • garlic
  • orange coloring
  • green chile
  • black cardamom pod
  • clove
  • cilantro
  • yogurt
  • cinnamon
  • basmati rice
  • goat shoulder
  • coriander
  • black peppercorn
  • onion
  • turkish apricot
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Ethihad Airways' Lamb Biryani

  • salt
  • canola oil
  • cilantro
  • clove
  • cashew
  • mint
  • cinnamon
  • turmeric
  • saffron thread
  • tomato
  • ginger
  • serrano chile
  • garlic
  • grain basmati rice
  • lamb shoulder
  • cumin powder
  • chiles de árbol
  • cardamom
  • onion
  • yogurt
  • ghee
  • butter
  • black peppercorn
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Pakistani Lamb Biryani

  • salt
  • red orange
  • rose water
  • yogurt
  • cumin seed
  • turmeric
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • canola oil
  • red pepper flake
  • ginger
  • black peppercorn
  • lamb shoulder
  • garam masala
  • bay leaf
  • cinnamon
  • white basmati rice
  • onion
  • pods black cardamom
  • clove
  • threads saffron
  • serrano chile
  • garlic
  • tomato
  • pods green cardamom

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
onion
cilantro
ginger
basmati rice
garlic
yogurt
clove
turmeric
cinnamon
tomato
garam masala
cardamom
bay leaf
mint
ghee
coriander
black peppercorn
cashew
cumin
water
vegetable oil
oil
garlic paste
cumin seed
saffron thread
butter
milk
serrano chile
lime juice
cayenne pepper
lemon juice
ginger paste
carrot
turmeric powder
rice
canola oil
kashmiri chile powder
star anise
chicken thigh
tomato paste
raisin
potato
saffron
coriander seed
fennel seed
orange coloring
marinade
lamb shoulder
smoked paprika
curry
yoghurt
greek yogurt
sugar
black pepper
coconut milk
goat meat
green chily
green coloring
saffron strand
pods green cardamom
masala
chicken
curry powder
black cardamom pod
rose water
lamb chop
indian cinnamon
green finger chile
shrimp
paprika
garam marsala
green cardamon pod
yogurt sauce
turkey leg
turkey
hard-boiled egg
cauliflower
plum tomato
green bean
pomegranate seed
green pea
fried cashew
kashmiri red chile powder
vegetable stock
thai green chile
lemon
nut
cardamon
fruit
chicken curry
pandan
chicken stock
spice mill
canola
nutmeg
mace blade
chinese
tamarind root
sunflower
chilli spice
cumin spice
curry spice
white pepper
bell pepper
jalapenos pepper
white black pepper
oil butter ghee
cardamon pod
liquid broth
flavorful chicken add more spices like curry
desiccated coconut
poppy seed
red chili powder
gravy
khus khus poppy seed
saunf aniseed fennel seed
prawn
​ mint
red chilly
green chilly
frying
ginger powder
pepper
all purpose flour
yellow curry powder
olive oil
serrano
sweet paprika
shallot
egg
jalapeño
pea
vegetables carrot
light olive oil
white
chicken leg
hot indian green chile
sauce
garam masala powder
red chilli powder
hot green chily
cinnamon shard
mace petal
star anise pod
biryani masala
tempeh
chili powder
green chile
goat shoulder
turkish apricot
kala jerra
red chile powder
grain white rice
green thai chile
grain basmati rice
cumin powder
chiles de árbol
red orange
red pepper flake
white basmati rice
pods black cardamom
threads saffron

Insights

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • salt
  • onion

Staple Ingredients

  • onion 58%
  • salt 58%
  • basmati rice 48%
  • cilantro 45%

Common Ingredients

  • garlic 39%
  • ginger 39%
  • yogurt 32%

Usual Ingredients

  • clove 29%
  • tomato 29%
  • turmeric 29%
  • bay leaf 23%
  • cardamom 23%
  • cinnamon 23%
  • garam masala 23%
  • cashew 19%
  • coriander 19%
  • cumin 19%
  • ghee 19%
  • vegetable oil 19%

Rarey Ingredients

  • garlic paste 16%
  • water 16%