Distinct Types Of Biryani

Indian cuisine has taken over the world. Many Indian food enthusiasts and newcomers enjoy the different dishes for their colorful and vibrant nature; the distinct variation of the many foods varies from spicy to sweet burst, with flavors that are mind-blowing. Indian food is a paradise for spice lovers. Some of the famous dishes across the globe include biryani, butter chicken, chicken tandoori, and many others. No doubt, India has definitely made a mark with some of its signature dishes because the unique flavors are unforgettable to the palate. A lot of Indian restaurants in Sydney are known for their authentic Indian dishes.

What Is Biryani?

Biryani is a rice dish that is made in various ways. It can be prepared with different ingredients like vegetables, chicken, or fish. The cooking process of biryani involves steaming and layering of different ingredients. Some of the key ingredients of biryani include rice, protein, spices, yogurt, and onion. The choice of rice is usually basmati rice, preferred due to the long grains. The protein can vary from chicken, lamb, fish, and paneer, to mention but a few. For vegetarians, the substitute for meat is paneer, vegetables, and eggs. The onions are caramelized to add more flavor to the biryani.

Distinct Types of Biryani

India is very diverse, and there are so many variations of biryani that originate from different regions. Some of the different types of the famous biryani include the following.

• Hyderabadi Biryani–  As the name suggests, the dish originated in Hyderabad, India. It’s cooked with a blend of spices and herbs. People also add saffron, which gives it a unique color and flavor. The choice of meat for Hyderabadi biryani is usually goat meat or chicken. To prepare the dish, they also use long-grain basmati and marinated meat. The meat is often marinated with yogurt, herbs, and spices. Hyderabadi Biryani is slow-cooked to achieve its rich flavor. To garnish the dish, fried onions, fresh coriander, or green chilies are often used. Hyderabadi Biryani is very common in Sydney due to its wide availability in most Indian restaurants in Sydney.

• Lucknowi Biryani– This dish is a special type of biryani which originated from Awadh region, this version of biryani is aromatic and flavourful. Lucknowi biryani has a different kick to it as it contains less spice and has a unique flavor compared to the Hyderabadi biryani, which is very intense. The cooking process of Awadhi biryani involves the use of attar, a perfume oil that contributes to the aroma of this famous dish, giving it uniqueness. This rice is usually served with a yogurt sauce or gravy. Rose water and kewra water are used to give the dish a nice fragrant flavor. Indian catering in Sydney often offers this dish due to its mild spice level that everyone can handle.

• Ambur biryani– Again, as the name suggests, this dish originated from Ambur in Tamil Nadu. The key ingredient of the ambur biryani is the short grain rice. Unlike most biryani, they chose to use the short grain rice known as steerage samba rice or jeera rice, which has a unique aroma and flavor. The cooking process for the Ambur is also slow, which allows all the flavors to penetrate the dish. This dish is usually served with spicy gravy.

Conclusion– There are so many varieties of biryani offered by Indian catering in Sydney. Besides the aforementioned, other dishes include the Malabar biryani, Kolkata biryani, and many others. One thing about these biryani is that they are versatile in nature; the usual ingredients can be substituted to fit the needs of those who belong to a different diet bracket. Surprisingly, the Hyderabad biryani has been reported to be the number one contender by many.