One of the most comforting yet royal dishes, biryani, is indeed the most complete meal altogether. Adored by food lovers across the globe, Biryani is simply heavenly in every form. Given its overall popularity, you can try searching for either ‘non-veg or veg biryani near me’ to satisfy your cravings.
As you search for the best biryani to suit your taste, you will come across a myriad of tastes and flavors to try out. Let us guide you through the vast world of biryanis and the diverse flavors you must try out.
Rating the Best Biryanis Out There
Biryani is not just food but a complete house of emotions in itself. The fact that makes it a highly versatile cuisine is that its taste and flavour can be modified significantly by only removing or adding specific ingredients.
As you try to taste the best biryani near you, here are some variants to try out:
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Kolkata Biryani
The Kolkata Biryani is a legendary dish. There has been quite a debate between the lovers of Kolkata and Hyderabadi biryani for a long time. In itself, Kolkata Biryani can be regarded as a complete package. There are several tales behind the creation of this heavenly delicacy. The famous Nawabs of Calcutta were not able to afford meat. Therefore, they tried to replicate the most famous Awadhi Biryani by including eggs and potatoes.
The biryani is cooked with rice and yogurt and features marinated meat as well. Additionally, potatoes and eggs are also added to enhance the flavor profile. The overall biryani features a slightly less spicy flavor while boasting a sweeter profile along with the richness of saffron and kewra for the aromatic experience.
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Hyderabadi Biryani
It is one of the most aromatic biryani flavors out there. The Hyderabadi Biryani is one of the most sought-after flavors adored by food-lovers all around. The strong aroma of this biryani is derived from the use of Kewda, saffron, and rose water – all sprinkled on the dish.
As a matter of fact, there are two types of Hyderabadi biryani – kaccha and pakka. The Pakka variant involves cooking the rice and meat properly. On the other hand, the kachcha variant involves the use of uncooked, marinated meat that is placed between layers of rice. Eventually, the container containing the dish is sealed properly and the entire thing is cooked slowly. This delivers the infused aroma.
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Lucknowi or Awadhi Biryani
This royal biryani hails from Lucknow, the city of Nawabs. This form of biryani has been shared across stories of the first-ever biryani that was passed down through the Mughal Empire.
The Lucknowi form of biryani is usually softer than other forms. This is because of the use of mild spices to impart a lighter feel. In this form of biryani, the meat is also cooked gradually for several hours. This allows the spices to infuse into the rice and meat effectively.
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Sindhi Biryani
Derived from the land of Sindhis, as the name implies, the Sindhi Biryani is filled with the richness of nuts and dry fruits. The primary differentiating factor for this variant of biryani is the use of chopped chillies, along with a decent involvement of coriander, spices, fresh mint, and onions.
During the preparation of this divine delicacy, sour yogurt is also used to enhance the flavor profile. This imparts the biryani a tangy flavor, making it a highly sought-after option.
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Bombay Biryani
This form of biryani is prepared using the Maharashtrian style of cooking. This variant is quite similar to other forms of biryani. One of the major differences is that Bombay Biryani makes use of ingredients like pruned plums. This unique ingredient to the dish imparts a slight sweetness to the taste.
At the same time, the preparation of Bombay Biryani also involves the use of kewra water to deliver an aromatic experience. Usually, the Bombay Biryani is accompanied by some side dish featuring a significant portion of fried onions. While you can come across several biryani variants in Mumbai, the Bombay Biryani is a popular one.
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Kashmiri Biryani
This form of biryani is inspired by the famous Mughlai biryani. As the Mughals used to visit Kashmir quite often, the Kashmiri Biryani draws its inspiration from the kitchens of the Mughals.
The Kashmiri Biryani is a divine blend of tender chicken pieces with basmati rice featuring the goodness of Kashmiri spices and dried fruits. The unique flavour of the dish stands out due to the use of asafoetida. The dish is also renowned by its popular variant known as the Kashmiri Bhuna Gosht.
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Ambur Biryani
With origins in the state of Tamil Nadu, Ambur is popular for its biryani. If you have ever been on the roads from Chennai to Bangalore, chances are you will come across a number of eateries offering this delicacy.
Ambur Biryani is renowned for its tangy flavors because of its unique marinating styles and special ingredients. Usually, during its preparation, chefs soak tender pieces of meat in curd while coating the same with coriander and mint chutney before adding them to the rice. The tangy flavors balance out the meatiness in the dish. This variant of biryani comes in different forms, including chicken, mutton, prawn, and beef.
Conclusion
India is home to several cultures and religions, each culture depicting its unique customs and culinary tastes. These customs are effectively reflected in the unique cooking styles and preferences. The Biryanis of India will take you on a culinary adventure you have never experienced before. You can search for the biryani restaurant near you from the list of top-rated restaurants on Swiggy.