Dish guide

Biryani Recipes

Biryani is a layered rice dish from South Asia: fragrant basmati rice and a spiced meat, seafood or vegetable masala are cooked together, usually sealed so they finish in their own steam (called "dum").

Regional styles differ in how the layers are cooked. In the Hyderabadi kacchi style, raw marinated meat cooks under the rice; in pakki styles, the meat is cooked first. Awadhi (Lucknowi) biryani is milder and perfumed with whole spices and saffron.

13 recipes

Photo: ANOOF C on Unsplash

Chicken biryani

Bowl of saffron-orange biryani rice topped with a chicken leg, with small bowls of raita and curry behind

Non-vegIndian

Chicken Biryani

2 hr 45 min Medium Serves 5

Non-vegIndian

Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

6 hr Hard Serves 5

Clay pot of biryani garnished with mint beside a bowl of raita, whole spices and green chillies on a red cloth

Non-vegIndian

Lucknowi Dum Biryani

2 hr 55 min Medium Serves 5

Stainless steel pan filled with layered yellow and white biryani rice and herbs

Non-vegIndian

Instant Pot Chicken Biryani

1 hr 30 min Easy Serves 5

Mutton, goat & lamb biryani

Platter of meat biryani with boiled eggs, potatoes and cucumber slices on a red cloth

Non-vegIndian

Mutton Biryani

5 hr 40 min Medium Serves 6

Copper bowl of meat biryani with herbs and fried onions on a linen napkin

Non-vegIndian

Goat Biryani (Pressure Cooker)

2 hr 55 min Medium Serves 6

White plate of spiced rice with pieces of meat and potato on a dark cloth

Non-vegIndian

Lamb Biryani

4 hr 20 min Medium Serves 6

Seafood & egg biryani

Wide white plate of spiced rice topped with prawns in a thick masala and fresh coriander

Non-vegIndian

Shrimp Biryani

1 hr 45 min Medium Serves 5

Contains eggIndian

Egg Biryani

2 hr Medium Serves 4

Vegetarian biryani

VegetarianIndian

Vegetable Biryani

2 hr 15 min Medium Serves 5

Bowl of yellow spiced rice with peas, carrots and soft cubes of paneer

VegetarianIndian

Paneer Biryani

1 hr 50 min Medium Serves 5

Serve with

Bowl of thick yogurt garnished with fresh herbs, with a wooden spoon

VegetarianIndian

Cucumber Raita

27 min Easy Serves 6

Fresh green and red chillies on a white table

VeganIndian

Mirchi ka Salan

55 min Medium Serves 6

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between biryani and pulao?

In biryani, par-cooked rice and a separately cooked (or raw marinated) masala are layered and steamed together. In pulao, the rice is cooked directly in a measured amount of seasoned liquid with the other ingredients, so it is usually milder and made in one step.

What does dum mean in biryani?

Dum is slow cooking in a sealed pot over very low heat. The trapped steam finishes the rice and lets it absorb the aroma of the masala, saffron and ghee.

What is kacchi biryani?

Kacchi (raw) biryani layers raw marinated meat under par-boiled rice, and everything cooks together during a long dum. Pakki (cooked) biryani cooks the meat first, then layers it with the rice.

Which rice is best for biryani?

Aged long-grain basmati rice. It absorbs less water and cooks into long, separate grains.