Biryani

Biryani

Hyderabadi dum chicken biryani
Alternative names	Biriyani, biriani, buriyani, breyani (South Africa), briani (Mauritian Creole), ဒံပေါက် "Dan Pout" (Myanmar)
Course	Main dish
Place of origin	Indian subcontinent
Region or state	Afghanistan India Pakistan Bangladesh
Main ingredients	Rice, Indian spices, base (vegetables, meat or egg), yoghurt, other optional ingredients (e.g. dried fruits)
Variations	Many
Food energy (per serving)	Varies according to varieties kcal
Cookbook: Biryani  Media: Biryani

Biryani (pronounced [bɪr.jaːniː]), sometimes known as biriyani or biriani, is a mixed rice dish from the Indian subcontinent. It is made with spices, rice and meat or vegetables.

Etymology

The word "biryani" is derived from the Persian language, which was used as an official language in different parts of medieval India, by the various Turkic and Mughal ruling dynasties of Central Asian origin.^[1][2] One theory is that it originates from "birinj", the Persian word for rice.^[3] Another theory is that it derives from "biryan" or "beriyan" (to fry or roast).^[4][5] A rice pilaf with meat, called büryan is made by the Turkish and other Muslim communities of Macedonia.^[6]

Origin

The origin of the dish is uncertain. In North India, different varieties of biryani developed in the Muslim centres of Delhi (Mughlai cuisine), Lucknow (Awadhi cuisine) and other small principalities. In South India, where rice is more widely used as a staple food, several distinct varieties of biryani emerged from Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Andhra is the only region of South India that does not have many native varieties of biryani.^[3]

Lizzie Collingham states that the modern biryani was created in the Mughal royal kitchen, as a confluence of the native spicy rice dishes of India and the Persian pilaf.^[7] However, another theory claims that the dish was known in India before the first Mughal emperor Babur came to India.^[8] The 16th century Mughal text Ain-i-Akbari makes no distinction between biryanis and pulao: it states that the word "biryani" is of older usage in India.^[9] A similar theory—that biryani came to India with Timur's invasion—also appears to be incorrect, because there is no record of biryani having existed in his native land during that period.^[8]

According to Pratibha Karan, the biryani is of South Indian origin, derived from pilaf varieties brought to India by the Arab traders. She speculates that the pulao was an army dish in medieval India: the armies, unable to cook elaborate meals, would prepare a one-pot dish where they cooked rice with whichever meat was available. Over time, the dish became biryani due to different methods of cooking, with the distinction between "pulao" and "biryani" being arbitrary.^[3][8] According to Vishwanath Shenoy, the owner of a biryani restaurant chain in India, one branch of biryani comes from the Mughals, while another was brought by the Arab traders to Calicut (Kozhikode) in South India.^[10]

According to chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni, Oon Soru or mutton rice, mentioned in 2nd century CE Tamil Sangam literature is an early predecessor of modern-day biryani.^[11][12] Served as a feast for Pandyan soldiers, it was prepared by adding spiced mutton to rice, dal and jeera on the boil in a kadhai made of clay.^[13] It was made without onions, tomatoes and modern spices, which were not available in the area until the 16th century.^[12]

Difference between biryani and pulao

Pilaf or pulao, as it is known in the South Asia, is another mixed rice dish popular in Indian cuisine. Although some of its varieties are associated with Persian influence in northern India through the Mughals, it is also mentioned in ancient Hindu texts such as Yagnavalkya Smriti.^[14][15] Opinions differ on the differences between pulao and biryani, and whether there is a difference between the two at all.^[16]

Pratibha Karan states that while the terms are often applied arbitrarily, the main distinction is that a biryani comprises two layers of rice with a layer of meat (or vegetables) in the middle; the pulao is not layered.^[8]

Colleen Taylor Sen lists the following three distinctions between biryani and pulao:^[17]

1. Biryani is the primary dish in a meal, while the pulao is usually a secondary accompaniment in a larger meal
2. In biryani, meat and rice are cooked separately before being layered and cooked together. Pulao is a single-pot dish: meat and rice are simmered in a liquid until the liquid is absorbed. However, some other writers, such as Holly Shaffer (based on her observations in Lucknow), R. K. Saxena and Sangeeta Bhatnagar have reported pulao recipes in which the rice and meat are cooked separately and then mixed before the dum cooking.^[16][18]
3. Biryanis have more complex and stronger spices, compared to pulao. The British-era author Abdul Halim Sharar mentions this as the primary difference between biryani and pulao: the biryani has a stronger taste of curried rice due to a higher amount of spices.^[16][19]

Ingredients

Biryani (left) served with other Indian dishes.

Historically, the most common varieties of rice used for preparation of biryani were long-grain brown rice (in North India) and Zeera Samba rice (in South India). Today, basmati rice is the most commonly used variety.^[20]

The spices and condiments used in biryani may include ghee (clarified butter), nutmeg, mace,^[21] pepper, cloves,^[21] cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves, coriander, mint leaves, ginger, onions, and garlic. The premium varieties include saffron.^[21] For a non-vegetarian biryani, the main ingredient that accompanies the spices is the beef, fish, chicken and mutton. The dish may be served with dahi chutney or raita, korma, curry, a sour dish of aubergine (brinjal), boiled egg (optional), and salad.

Varieties

There are two basic types of biryani: pakki ("cooked", also pukka) and kacchi ("raw", also kutchi). In pakki biryani, the cooked meat and cooked rice are layered. In the kacchi biryani, raw marinated meat is layered with raw rice before being cooked together.It is also known as kacchi yeqni. It is cooked typically with chicken,beef and mutton but rarely with fish and prawn. The dish is cooked layered with the meat and the yogurt based marinade at the bottom of the cooking pot and the layer of rice (usually basmati rice) placed over it. Potatoes are often added before adding the rice layer. The pot is usually sealed (typically with wheat dough) to allow cooking in its own steam and not opened till ready to serve. A boiled egg and mixed salad often accompanies the dish. It is featured in wedding feasts in Bangladesh, usually served with borhani, a spicy drink.

The non-vegetarian biryani may include chicken, mutton and sea food among types of meat. Although originally cooked with meat, biryani is now also cooked with vegetables, especially in India, where a substantial number of people practice vegetarianism. The vegetable biryani is prepared with rice, masala and non-meat ingredients such as potatoes and cauliflowers.^[22][23] Egg biryani is another type of biryani.

Tehari

Tahari, Tehri or Tehari are variants on the name given to the vegetarian version of Biryani. It was developed for the Hindu bookkeepers of the Muslim Nawabs.^[20] It is prepared by adding the potatoes to the rice as opposed to the case of traditional Biryani, where the rice is added to the meat. In Kashmir, Tehari is sold as street food. Tehri became more popular during World War II, when meat prices increased substantially and potato became the popular substitute in biryani.

Mutton biryani

Mutton biryani may include goat or lamb (sheep) meat.

Chicken biryani

Chicken biryani is made with fried or baked chicken.

Beef biryani

Beef biryani, as the name implies, uses beef as meat. In Hyderabad, it is famous as Kalyani biryani, in which beef (buffalo meat) is used in preparing the Kalyani biryani.^[24][25] This meal was started after the Kalyani Nawabs of Bidar came to Hyderabad sometime in the 18th century. The Kalyani biryani is made with small cubes of beef, regular spices, onions and lots of tomatoes. It has a distinct tomato, jeera, dhania flavour.^[26] In Kerala, beef biryani is very famous.^[27]

Egg biryani

Same preparation as chicken biryani but with a boiled egg instead of chicken. Sometimes the rice is taken from chicken biryani, and may have chicken flavour in it.

Shrimp biryani

This variety uses shrimp. It is quicker to prepare, as it does not require long hours of complex marinating procedures.

Fish biryani

Fish biryani uses different varieties of fish. It is also known as fish khichdi in Britain.

Daal biryani

Daal biryani offers the addition of daal to the ingredients of biryani. This enhances the nutritional value and fragrance.

Soya biryani

Soya biryani is a popular version of the dish, it is specially popular among the people following a vegetarian diet. In addition to the usual ingredients, this version also includes soya chunks, which act as a source of protein.

List of varieties by region or culture

Hyderabadi vegetable biryani served in Tampa, U.S.

Thalassery biryani.

Bangladeshi home-made biryani

Sri Lankan chicken biryani

Chicken dum biryani

Sindhi biryani from Sindh

Camel meat biryani, from Pakistan

Short-grained khyma rice and long-grained basmati rice. Khyma is used to make Thalassery biryani and basmati for Hyderabadi biryani.

Hyderabadi biryani

The Hyderabadi biryani developed under the rule of Asaf Jah I, who had been appointed as the Governor of Deccan by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.^[20] It is made with basmati rice, spices and goat. Popular variations use chicken instead of goat.There are various forms of Hyderabadi biryani. One such biryani is the kachay gosht ki biryani or the dum biryani, where the mutton is marinated and cooked along with the rice. It is left on slow fire or dum for a fragrant and aromatic flavor.

Thalassery biryani

The ingredients are chicken, spices and the specialty is the choice of rice named Khyma. Khaima rice is generally mixed with ghee. Although a huge amount of spices such as mace, cashew nuts, sultana raisins, fennel-cumin seeds, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, shallot, cloves and cinnamon are used,^[28] there is only a small amount of chili (or chili powder) used in the preparation.

A pakki biryani, the Thalassery biryani uses a small-grained thin (not round) fragrant variety of rice known as Khyma or Jeerakasala. The dum method of preparation (sealing the lid with dough (maida) or cloth and placing red hot charcoal above the lid) is applied here.

Lucknowi biryani

In Awadhi cuisine, the Lucknow or Awadhi dum biryani is a pakki biryani. The rice and meat are generally partially cooked separately in spiced water; then layered and cooked by the dum pukht method. The vegetarian version is called tehri.

Bombay biryani

Bombay biryani originated in Mumbai, India. The ingredients are meat, rice, salt, onions, ginger and garlic paste, yogurt, all spices powder, chili powder, white cumin powder, coriander, potatoes, green chillies, yellow food colour, and kewra.

Punjabi chicken biryani

Punjabi chicken biryani (Murgh biryani) is made only with chicken breast legs.

Calcutta biryani

Calcutta or Kolkata biryani evolved from the Lucknow style, when Awadh's last Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was exiled in 1856 to the Kolkata suburb of Metiabruz.^[10] Shah brought his personal chef with him. The poorer households of Kolkata, which could not afford meat, used potatoes instead, which went on to become a specialty of the Calcutta biryani.^[20] Now meat is also served along with it. The Calcutta biryani is much lighter on spices. It primarily uses nutmeg, cinnamon, mace along with cloves and cardamom in the yoghurt based marinade for the meat which is cooked separately from rice. This combination of spices gives it a distinct flavour as compared to other styles of biryani. The rice is flavoured with ketaki water or rose water along with saffron to give it flavour and light yellowish colour.

Ambur/Vaniyambadi biryani

Ambur/Vaniyambadi biryani is a type of biryani cooked in neighboring towns of Ambur & Vaniyambadi in the Vellore district in the north-eastern part of Tamil Nadu, which has a high Muslim population. It was introduced by the Nawabs of Arcot who once ruled the place.

The Ambur/Vaniyambadi biryani is accompanied with 'dhalcha', a sour brinjal curry and 'pachadi' or raitha, which is sliced onions mixed with plain curd, tomato, chillies and salt. It has a distinctive aroma and is considered light on stomach and the usage of spice is moderate and curd is used as a gravy base. It also has a higher ratio of meat to rice.^[29]

Bhatkali biryani

Bhatkali biryani originates from the Nawayath Muslim community of Bhatkal, in coastal Karnataka. It evolved from the Bombay biryani, but has a distinct color, taste and flavour. Onions are used in larger proportions compared to other varieties. The meat (several types are used) is cooked with an onion-based sauce at the bottom of the cooking pot, with a layer of rice on top. The rice and meat are mixed before serving. Local spices such as cardamom, cloves and cinnamon are used to get the distinct aroma. It is served with Bhatakali kachumber or burhani (sweet curd raita). Bhatkali biryani is one of the most common wedding meals in Bhatkal and surrounding towns like Honavar, Murdeshwar, Manki, Shiroor, Byndoor, Gangolli, Kundapur all the way till Mangalore.

Memoni biryani

Memoni biryani is an extremely spicy variety developed by the Memons of Gujarat-Sindh region.^[10] It is made with lamb, yogurt, fried onions, and potatoes, and fewer tomatoes compared to Sindhi biryani. Memoni biryani also uses less food colouring compared to other biryanis, allowing the rich colours of the various meats, rice, and vegetables to blend without too much of the orange colouring.

Dindigul biryani

The Dindigul town of Tamil Nadu is noted for its biryani, which uses a little curd and lemon juice to get a tangy taste.^[30]

Beary biryani

This variety originates from the Beary Muslim community of Dakshina Kannada, and features in their major celebrations. The Beary biryani is light, less spicy and is easy to digest. Mutton is the most common meat used, although beef, chicken, fish and prawns are also sometimes used. The basmati rice is cooked separately and flavoured with ghee and spices like star anise, cinnamon, cardamon and cloves. The meat is cooked separately with onions, garlic, ginger, fresh coriander leaves. When the gravy thickens, the rice and the meat are layered, topped with caramelised onions, fresh mint leaves, roasted cashew nuts and sprinkled with ghee and saffron water. The biryani is then steamed. This cooking process ensures that the rice in the biryani is fluffy and light without requiring too much ghee or oils while the meaty juices are incorporated into the rice. Beary biryani is served with chicken kebabs and raita. It tastes best when left to sit for a few hours or overnight.

Palakkad Rawther biryani

The Palakkad Rawther biryani is a spicy dum biryani prepared mainly by the Rawther Muslim community in the Palakkad district of Kerala State and some parts of Tamil Nadu. The variants include: lamb and mutton, chicken, beef and egg. This is accompanied by Kaichar, a type of gravy, thair chuttney (curd salad) and a dessert prepared from winter melon. There are lot men and women specialized in commercial cooking this Biryani, especially in the Narikkuthi area of Palakkad. Nowadays, many small shops exclusively selling Biryanis (12–9 pm) have flourished in the town and its outskirts.

Sindhi biryani

Sindhi biryani, prepared by the Sindhi people, is very popular in Pakistan. It is served in nearly all the flights of Pakistan International Airlines.

Karachi beef biryani

Most biryani cuisines in Pakistan combine elements of Karachi biryani such as the common use of yogurt recipes.

Bohri biryani

The Bohri biryani, prepared by the Bohris is flavoured with a lot of tomatoes.^[10] It is very popular in Karachi.

Kalyani biryani

Kalyani biryani is a typical biryani from Hyderabad.^[31] Also known as the 'poor man's' Hyderabadi biryani, the Kalyani biryani is always made from small cubes of buffalo meat.

The meat is flavoured with ginger, garlic, turmeric, red chili, cumin, coriander powder, lots of onion and tomato. It is first cooked as a thick curry and then cooked along with rice. Then given dum (the Indian method of steaming in a covered pot).

The Kalyani biryani is supposed to have originated in the Bidar during the reign of the Kalyani Nawabs, who migrated to Hyderabad after one of the nawabs, Ghazanfur Jang married into the Asaf Jahi family. The Kalyani biryani was served by the Kalyani nawabs to all of their subjects who came from Bidar to Hyderabad and stayed or visited their devdi or noble mansion.

This was the practice for many decades. But after Operation Polo in which the Indian army took over Hyderabad State, the state of the nobles went into decline. Some of their illustrious cooks set up their own stalls and introduced the Kalyani biryani.^[32] to the local populace of Hyderabad.

International styles and variations

Bangladesh

Different types of Bengali biryani include Kacchi (mutton), Tehari (beef), Ilish Pulao (hilsa) and Murg Pulao (chicken). Kebabs include sheekh, reshmi, shashlik, tikka and shami varieties.

Swahili coast (Kenya and Tanzania)

Biriani ( البرياني written in traditional Swahili alphabet) is traditional Swahili wedding food. It is usually cooked overnight before the wedding day, so that is ready to be served at lunchtime.

South Africa

Biryani was brought to South Africa primarily by Indian Muslim immigrants from Gujarat. The South African version of the dish features fried potatoes and black lentils. The basis of the masalas (spices) are primarily the same but they, like the British immigrants, toned it down quite a bit, and they also created a layered one-pot version where all the raw ingredients are placed in one pot. It is either steamed on the stove top or baked in an oven.

Britain

Biryani was brought to the UK by immigrants from South Asia, especially Pakistanis. In most places, it is served in the Hyderabadi or Lucknowi style. Spices are toned down a lot from any of the original versions, keeping in mind the mild preferences of the locals.

Burma

A dish of Burmese biryani (locally known as danpauk), as served at Kyet Shar

In Myanmar (Burma), biryani is known in Burmese as danpauk or danbauk, from Persian dum pukht. Featured ingredients include cashew nuts, yogurt, raisins and peas, chicken, cloves, cinnamon, saffron and bayleaf. In Burmese biryani, the chicken is cooked with the rice.^[33] biryani is also eaten with a salad of sliced onions and cucumber. In Yangon, there are several restaurant chains that serve biryani exclusively. It is often served at religious ceremonies and luncheons. Biryani in Myanmar utilises a special rice grown domestically rather than basmati.

Middle East (Arab nations)

While similar cooked meat and rice dishes (i.e.Maqluba, Kabsa) are common in the Middle East, Biryani in the region likely has roots in the longstanding merchant and cultural ties between the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq with South Asia. Thus, Biryani is more typically found in places like Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. In other parts of the Middle Eastern Arabic World, for example Palestine, Biryani was introduced and integrated into the local cuisine by Palestinian families who worked in the Persian Gulf (Kuwait in particular). For example, many Palestinian families prepare Biryani in the Iraqi or Kuwaiti style, as many thousands of Palestinians lived and worked in Kuwait (and to a lesser extent, Iraq) prior to the first Gulf War. When Palestinians left Kuwait, they brought back Biryani recipes, and it became integrated into the indigenous cuisine. Biryani has also become popular in the Gulf countries due to the large populations of South Asian expatriates, especially Pakistanis, who work in the region.

One popular form of "Arabic" biryani is the Iraqi preparation (برياني: "biryani"), where the rice is usually saffron-based with chicken usually being the meat or poultry of choice. Most variations also include vermicelli, fried onions, fried potato cubes, almonds and raisins spread liberally over the rice.^[10][20] Sometimes, a sour/spicy tomato sauce is served on the side (maraq).

Thailand

Khao mok nuea ("beef biryani") at a Muslim-Thai restaurant in Chiang Mai

Called khao mok (lit. "covered with rice"; Thai: ข้าวหมก) in Thai cuisine, along with Thai massaman curry (Musulman Curry) and satay it is one of the most notable Muslim-Thai dishes. In Thailand a goat version is eaten almost exclusively by the Muslim population.

Sri Lanka

Biryani was brought into Sri Lanka by the South Indian Muslims who were trading in the Northern part of Sri Lanka and in Colombo in the early 1900s. Hotel De Buhari in Mardana, Colombo which was run by Haji.Muthuwappa and A.M.Buhari of India, was a historic eatout to commercialize biryani in Sri Lanka in the 1930s and it was popularly called 'Buhari' Rice by the native Singhalese. As the founders of the food joint returned to India in the 1970s, the restaurant was taken over by the Sri Lankan Government and still serves the famous Buryanis. In Sri Lanka they call it Buryani, a colloquial word which generated from Buhari Biryani. In many cases, Sri Lankan biryani is much spicier than most Indian varieties. Side dishes may include Acchar, Malay Pickle, cashew curry and Ground Mint Sambol. One form of biryani uses string hoppers as a substitute for rice and is sometimes served with scrambled eggs or vegetables.

Iran

Biryani of Isfahan

During the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736), a dish called Berian (Nastaliq script: بریان پلو) was made with lamb or chicken, marinated overnight – with yogurt, herbs, spices, dried fruits like raisins, prunes or pomegranate seeds – and later cooked in a tannour oven. It was then served with steamed rice.^[34]

In its more original form, in some cities the dish is known as dam pokht/dam-pokhtak. The compound in Persian means "steam-cooked"—a reference to the steamed rice that forms the basis of the dish. This name is still in common use in Iran alongside "beriani". In Southeast Asian countries such as Burma/Myanmar, this older, general Persian term is in common use, as danpauk.

In the central Iranian city of Isfahan, Berian is made with cooked mutton or lamb, which is stewed and minced separately, and then grilled in special small round shallow pans in an oven or over a fire. The meat is generally served with powdered cinnamon in a local bread, usually "nan-e taftoun", but also occasionally "nan-e sangak".

Malaysia

Biryani dishes were introduced to Malaysia by the Indian Muslim as well as the Arab diaspora. Nasi Bukhari is a local adaptation of Buhari biryani, originating from Tamil Nadu, India. Another biryani variation called Nasi Beriani Gam popular in Johor is an adaptation of the Indian Dum Biryani. Nasi Minyak, a dish commonly served at Malay weddings in Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra, is also sometimes referred to as Nasi Beriani. However, this is actually a variation of the Indian ghee rice. Just as with the Indian version, the rice in Nasi Minyak is cooked separately from the meat. As such, Nasi Minyak is generally not considered a Biryani by the Indian diaspora in Malaysia or Singapore. However, as with Biryani, Nasi Minyak is usually served with acar as condiment. Malaysian/Singaporean Nasi Minyak is typically served with chicken or beef Rendang, a decidedly Malay take on dry spicy Indian meat curries.

Philippines

There's a version of biryani in the Philippines Pampanga region on the northern island of Luzon and in the predominantly Muslim areas of the southern island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. The Kapampangan Nasing Biringyi is related to the Malay Nasi Beriani, see Kapampangan cuisine. In the southern island of Mindanao, biryani style rice dishes are served during big celebrations.

Mauritius

The Mauritian biryani is a version of the Hyderabadi Dum (Kachii) biryani and strictly conforms to the recipe requirement such as using a sealed copper degg, gravy will consist of chicken or meat mixed with garlic/ginger, yogurt, mint, cilantro, fenugreek, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves etc. The difference with the dum biryani is that the Mauritians add fried potatoes and roasted cumin to the gravy in. This replaces the Kashmiri chilli generally used in the Hyderabadi version. The rice is flavoured with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and whole cumin. Cooking is slow and meticulous as with the Hyderabadi recipe.

Indonesia

Nasi kebuli is an Indonesian spicy steamed rice dish cooked in goat broth, milk and ghee. Nasi kebuli is descended from Kabuli Palaw which is an Afghani rice dish, similar to biryani served in South Asia.^[35]

See also

• List of rice dishes

References

1. Naqvi et al. A thousand laurels--Dr. Sadiq Naqvi: studies on medieval India with special reference to Deccan (original from the University of Michigan). Vol. 1. Dept. of History & Dept. of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Osmania University, 2005. p 97
2. Sigfried J. de Laet. History of Humanity: From the seventh to the sixteenth century UNESCO, 1994. ISBN 978-9231028137 p 734
3. Pratibha Karan (2009). Biryani. Random House India. pp. 1–12 and 45. ISBN 978-81-8400-254-6.
4. Garland Hampton Cannon; Alan S. Kaye (2001). The Persian Contributions to the English Language: An Historical Dictionary. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 71. ISBN 978-3-447-04503-2.
5. Anoothi Vishal (2011-05-14). "When rice met meat". Business Standard.
6. Mustafa Kahramanyol (2003). Makedonya'daki Türk ve Müslüman toplumlarının günlük hayatı ve gelenekleri (kişilerden sorgulama yöntemi ile elde edilmiştir): Makedonya'daki Türk ve Müslüman toplumlarının günlük hayatı ve gelenekleri. T.C. Devlet Bakanlığı. ISBN 978-975-95920-3-5.
7. Lizzie Collingham (6 February 2006). Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors. Oxford University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-19-988381-3.
8. Vir Sanghvi. "Biryani Nation". Retrieved 2014-08-24.
9. Mukund Padmanabhan, Subash Jeyan, Subajayanthi Wilson (2012-05-26). "Food Safari: In search of Ambur Biryani". The Hindu. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
10. Priya Ganapati (2004-04-09). "Of biryani, history and entrepreneurship". rediff.com. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
11. Jacob Sahaya Kumar (27 July 2008). "No chillies for Cholas". Financial Express.
12. Swahilya (11 May 2007). "A taste of Sangam Age". The Hindu.
13. Renuka Narayanan (25 July 2008). "An ancient Coffeeshop". Hindustan Times.
14. K. T. Achaya (1994). Indian food: a historical companion. Oxford University Press. p. 11.
15. Priti Narain (14 October 2000). The Essential Delhi Cookbook. Penguin Books Limited. p. 116. ISBN 978-93-5118-114-9.
16. Holly Shaffer (2012). "6: Dum Pukht". Curried Cultures: Globalization, Food, and South Asia. Edited by Krishnendu Ray and Tulasi Srinivas. University of California Press. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-0-520-27011-4.
17. Colleen Taylor Sen (2014). Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India. Reaktion Books. pp. 194–195. ISBN 9781780233918.
18. Sangeeta Bhatnagar; R. K. Saxena (1 January 1997). Dastarkhwan-e-Awadh. HarperCollins Publishers, India. ISBN 978-81-7223-230-6.
19. ʻAbdulḥalīm Sharar (1989) [1913]. Lucknow: The Last Phase of an Oriental Culture (Hindustan Men Mashriqi Tamaddun ka Akhri Namuna). Translated by ES Harcourt and Fakhir Hussain. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-562364-2.
20. Yogi Gupta. "History of biryani". Retrieved 2014-08-27.
21. Brown, Ruth. (17 August 2011) "The Melting Pot – A Local Prep Kitchen Incubates Portland's Next Generation of Food Businesses." Willamette Week. Volume 37, #41.
22. "Spiced vegetable biryani". www.bbcgoodfood.com. BBC ( British Broadcasting Company).
23. "Vegetarian biryani". taste.com.au.
24. "The Other Hyderabadi Biryani With a 300-Year-Old Past".
25. "A tale of two biryanis".
26. "Why Kalyani Beef Biryani Is a Favourite of Many Hyderabadis, Muslim and Hindu".
27. "In fact: How beef became Malayalis’ object of desire".
28. Abdulla, Ummi (1993). Malabar Muslim Cookery. Orient Blackswan. p. 2. ISBN 8125013490.
29. Mukund Padmanabhan, Subash Jeyan and Subajayanthi Wilson (26 May 2012). Food Safari : In search of Ambur biryani. The Hindu.
30. Biryani bistro. The Hindu (11 March 2010). Retrieved on 2012-12-28.
31. "Stuff of memories". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 10 February 2008.
32. History of the Kalyani biryani.
33. Pham, Mai. "The Burmese Way / A visit to the land of pagodas and enchanting cuisine". The San Francisco Chronicle. Burmese chicken biryani differs from its Indian counterpart: the chicken is cooked with the rice.
34. Farhang-e Iranzamin by Iraj Afshar
35. pt. kompas cyber media (2014-07-06). "Sajian Kebuli, Mandi, dan Biryani". Kompas.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.