Biryani, technically, is not from India. It has its origins in Persia, and it was the Mughals who made the recipe popular in the Indian subcontinent. Biryani comes from the Persian word called ‘birian’, which basically means fried before cooking. In India, Biryani became the go-to food for soldiers during the Mughal era, primarily because it contained all the essential macronutrients. Biryani contains rice with chunks of meat and aromatic spices, all of which is cooked on a slow flame. There are many restaurants that serve Biryani in Denver, and in this post, we are talking more about Biryani that you need to know.

The basics of biryani

Biryani has four main components – Rice, Meat, Marinade and Spices. The rice used for making the recipe is long-grain basmati that feels extremely soft and almost melts in the mouth once cooked. The choice of meat depends from which part of the country the biryani is coming from. For instance, chicken biryani can be found in almost every state, but the flavors can vary. Shrimp biryani is more common in the coastal region, while traditionally, both lamb and mutton biryani are popular. The marinade is usually made from yogurt, and special herbs and spices are added that further add to the aroma and flavors.

How is biryani cooked?

Biryani is cooked in various styles. The most common one is the dum biryani, where meat and parboiled rice is layered in a heavy-bottom pot, sealed on the top with dough and cooked slowly over a flame for hours. Another style is the pukka biryani, where the meat and chicken are cooked separately and combined to steam further, while the kacchi biryani requires both the rice and meat to be cooked together on a slow flame.

Decoding the various biryanis

There are varied kinds of biryanis in India. If you are a fan of spices, you should try the Hyderabadi biryani, which relies on many staple Indian spices. Dindigul biryani, on the other hand, uses more of black pepper and smaller chunks of meat. There is also the Ambur biryani, which includes meat chunks that are soaked in curd before preparation and includes mint flavor.

Now that you have found the best flavors and types of biryanis, it is time to find the best possible restaurant in town and try what works for you. We promise this is an Indian feast you wouldn’t regret!