Biryani is a flavorful, aromatic, and classic rice dish which is one of the most loved Pakistani desi food around the world. This mouthwatering dish is almost everyone’s favorite dish in every Pakistani household. Let’s learn about the types of biryani in Pakistan.
This Pakistani food item is a perfect mixture of rice, meat, spices, and vegetables. Pakistani feasts and menus of Pakistani restaurants are incomplete without this dish. Interestingly, it is not just a popular dish in Pakistan but everyone around the world loves this Pakistani food.
In this article, we will tell you how you can make biryani in 10 different ways. But before discussing its different types let us tell you about the history of this mouthwatering Pakistani dish.
History of Biryani
The word biryani is derived from the Persian word “Birian” which means to fry before cooking. Originally, it was made by frying the rice before cooking it with meat. There are many different narrations among historians about the origin of this dish. According to some, biryani was made for the first time in the time of the Mughal Empire in the royal kitchen especially for soldiers to strengthen them with good nutritious food.
According to others, biryani originated in India even before the Mughals. Some say the origin of Biryani was Persia and it came into India through the Mughals. They claim that biryani came into being by a mixture of Persian Pulao and Indian spicy rice. According to some other narrations, biryani was brought into the Indian subcontinent through Arab traders.
Well, no matter what is its origin or when it was discovered, now this dish is made worldwide with many delicious variations and flavors. It is made with various different styles in every part of the world.
Types of Biryani: Which one is Your Favorite?
In Pakistani cuisine, you will find different types of biryani including the Sindhi biryani, the Hyderabadi biryani, and the memoni biryani.
Interestingly, Sindhi or Mughlai biryani isn’t just the only type of biryani, rather there are many different types of biryani in the world and today in this article we’ll discuss them one by one. So, you can surprise your family and loved ones with a new type of biryani every time you make one.
1. Hyderabadi Biryani
Hyderabadi biryani is the most popular type of biryani, not just in Hyderabad but throughout the world. This type of biryani resembles the Iranian style of cooking and there is also this belief that this type of biryani originated at the time of Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Hyderabadi biryani can be made in two ways. One way of making this biryani is to leave the meat overnight after marination and then soak it in yogurt the next day before starting to mix it with rice.
Another way is to cook rice and meat separately and then perform the step of layering. Both types of Hyderabadi biryani are supposed to be cooked using a dough-sealed earthen pot. Whatever method you choose to make, don’t forget to put fried onions on top of the rice along with some necessary biryani spices to enhance the taste of your biryani. Also, you can replace the meat with vegetables if you are not fond of chicken or lamb meat
2. Sindhi Biryani
Sindhi biryani is another most popular type of biryani that is loved by Pakistanis. This type of biryani is called Sindhi because actually it originated from Sindh and it’s one of the most essential parts of Sindhi cuisine even today.
The essential ingredients of Sindhi biryani are basmati rice, meat, yogurt, the paste of onion and tomato, coriander and mint leaves, dried plums, green chilies with a wide range of spices. Also, yellow food coloring is used in Sindhi biryani to give it a bright yellow color along with white rice.
3. Memoni Biryani
Memoni biryani is another version of Sindhi biryani, the method of cooking and ingredients are very similar with only a slight difference. Lamb meat is mostly used in Memoni biryani. Some of the extra ingredients used in Memoni biryani are sour yogurt, potatoes, and fried onions.
Also, a generous amount of green chilies and dried plum is used to enhance the taste and give it a sour and spicy tinge. Conversely, food color is not used in this type of biryani due to which the original one color of biryani comes out refreshingly.
4. Mughlai Biryani
Mughlai biryani is made exactly the way Mughals used to make this dish. As we discussed that according to many narrations biryani was first originated by Mughals and then the changes were made and many variations of biryani emerged.
In Mughlai biryani, the rice is fried in ghee, and then it is layered and mixed with dry fruits and other spices. The addition of dry fruits enhances the taste and richness of the biryani even more.
5. Lucknowi Biryani
Lucknowi biryani is also famous by the name of Dumpukht biryani which is being made very differently from other types of biryanis. The meat is prepared by being partially cooked in broth and by marinating and infusing it with spices. Rice is boiled separately with cinnamon, saffron, and star anise. Further, the rice and meat are layered in a handi and cooked thoroughly so that the spices and flavors penetrate well. And then you can eat this royal biryani with chutney and salad to fully savor its mild flavors.
6. White Biryani
You might be wondering what type of biryani is this? Interestingly, this biryani is filled with so much flavor and aroma that you’ll forget about the color of biryani. All the procedure of making white biryani is similar to the traditional style with the exception of color and usage of tomato in the ingredients.
7. Karahi Biryani
Karahi biryani is the perfect type of biryani for those biryani enthusiasts who are on a time budget and want to have a quick biryani recipe. What you can do is make a quick chicken or lamb karahi, add some biryani masala into it, and mix it up with some rice and then let it cook for a few minutes. The result will be a delicious and mouthwatering yummy biryani in just a few minutes.
8. Chicken Tikka Biryani
Tikka biryani is the yummiest and spiciest type of biryani. This classic style of biryani is made with chicken tikka instead of marinated or any kind of meat. It offers a mixture of flavors of biryani and chicken tikka. You’ll make it just like a traditional biryani and will add chicken tikka into it for an enhanced flavor and aroma. To increase the flavor, you can also add saffron and other varieties of spices.
9. Vegetable Biryani
Another classic fusion style of biryani is this vegetable biryani. This type of biryani is perfect for vegetarians and people who are not much fond of meat or chicken. Instead of meat, different kinds of vegetables and boiled eggs are used in this biryani. However, the whole procedure of cooking is the same as a traditional biryani. You add layers and a wide range of spices into it and serve it with chutney and salad.
10. Fish Biryani
If you’re a seafood enthusiast then you must try this type of biryani which is very famous among seafood lovers. Fish biryani is made using fish meat along with basmati rice and a variety of all essential spices. Fascinatingly, the fish meat is added in rice with kewra which enhances the taste and aroma and makes the biryani super spicy. The texture of this type of biryani is very juicy and it has a rich taste to enjoy.
