Hyderabadi biryani

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Hyderabadi biryani
Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani.jpg
Hyderabadi biryani
Place of origin India
Region or state Hyderabad
Main ingredients

Hyderabadi biryani (also known as Hyderabadi dum biryani) is a style of biryani originating from the kitchens of the Nizams of the erstwhile Hyderabad State with basmati rice and meat (mostly mutton) . Originating in the kitchens of the Nizam of Hyderabad, it combines elements of Hyderabadi and Mughlai cuisines. Hyderabad biryani is a key dish in Hyderabadi cuisine and it is so famous that the dish is considered synonymous with the city of Hyderabad.

Contents

History

Hyderabad was conquered by the Mughals in the 1630s, and ruled by its Nizams. Mughlai culinary traditions joined with local traditions to create Hyderabadi cuisine. [1] :92 Local folklore attributes the creation of Hyderabadi biryani to the chef of the first Nizam, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I, in the mid-18th century, during a hunting expedition. [2] [3] In 1857, when the Mughal Empire declined in Delhi, Hyderabad emerged as the center of South Asian culture, [4] [5] resulting in a mix of innovations in Hyderabadi biryani. [6] [7] :viii [8]

Origin

The exact origin of the dish is uncertain. Despite legends attributing it to the Nizam's chef, the biryani is of South Indian origin, derived from pilaf varieties brought to South Asia by Arab traders. Pulao may have been an army dish in medieval India. Armies would prepare a one-pot dish of rice with whichever meat was available. The distinction between "pulao" and "biryani" is arbitrary. [9] [10] Hyderabadi biryani developed engrossing Deccani or Telangana flavors into it, as stated by the Himayat Ali Mirza, the great-grandson of Mir Osman Ali Khan. Himayat said that this evolution had taken place in the Asaf Jah’s Kitchen. [11]

Ingredients

Base ingredients are basmati rice, goat meat or (sometime chicken or beef), dahi, fried onion and ghee. Spices include cinnamon, cloves, cardamom (elaichi), bay leaves, nutmeg, papaya paste, caraway (shahi jeera), mace flower (javitri), star anise (biryani flower), lemon, and saffron. [3]

Hyderabadi biryani is of two types: the kachchi (raw) biryani, and the pakki (cooked) biryani. [12]

Kachche-gosht ki biryani

The kachchi biryani is prepared with kachchi gosht (raw meat) marinated with spices overnight and then soaked in curd (dahi) before cooking. The meat is sandwiched between layers of fragrant basmati rice and cooked "in dum" after sealing the handi (vessel) with dough. This is a challenging process as it requires meticulous attention to time and temperature to avoid over- or under-cooking the meat. [13] [14]

Accompaniments

A biryani is usually served with dahi chutney and mirchi ka salan. [15] Baghaar-e-baingan is a common side dish. The salad includes onion, carrot, cucumber, and lemon wedges.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyderabad State</span> Princely state in South India (1724–1948)

Hyderabad State was an independent monarchy/princely state located in the south-central Deccan region of Indian Subcontinent with its capital at the city of Hyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state of Telangana, the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka, and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra in India.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilaf</span> Rice dish

Pilaf, pilav or pilau is a rice dish, or in some regions, a wheat dish, whose recipe usually involves cooking in stock or broth, adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat, and employing some technique for achieving cooked grains that do not adhere to each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biryani</span> Rice-based dish from Indian subcontinent

Biryani is a mixed rice dish, mainly popular in South Asia. It is made with rice, some type of meat and spices. To cater to vegetarians, in some cases, it is prepared by substituting vegetables for the meat. Sometimes eggs and/or potatoes are also added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haleem</span> Type of stew

Haleem is a type of stew that is widely consumed in South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia. Although the dish varies from region to region, it optionally includes wheat or barley, meat and lentils. It is made by blending or mashing the meat in the curry and serving hot with flat breads or on its own. The original Haleem, which is different from this variety, is an ancient Iranian dish served with wheat, meat, cinnamon, and sugar that remains popular in Iran. Popular variations of haleem include keşkek in Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and northern Iraq; harisa in the Arab world and Armenia; halim in Afghanistan, Iran, West Bengal, in Mauritius and Bangladesh; and khichra in Pakistan and India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyderabadi Muslims</span> Indian Muslim community

Hyderabadi Muslims, also referred to as Hyderabadis, are a community of Deccani people, from the area that used to be the princely state of Hyderabad in the regions of Marathwada, Telangana, and Kalyana-Karnataka.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyderabadi cuisine</span> Native cooking style of Hyderabad, India

Hyderabadi cuisine, also known as Deccani cuisine, is the native cooking style developed in the kitchens of the Muslim aristocrats of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, India. The haute cuisine of Hyderabad began to develop after the foundation of the Bahmani Sultanate, and the Qutb Shahi dynasty centered in the city of Hyderabad promoted the native cuisine along with their own. Hyderabadi cuisine had become a princely legacy of the Nizams of Hyderabad as it began to further develop under their patronage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyderabadi haleem</span> Type of haleem popular in the Indian city Hyderabad

Hyderabadi haleem is a type of haleem popular in the Indian city of Hyderabad. Haleem is a stew composed of meat, lentils, and pounded wheat made into a thick paste. It is originally an Arabic dish and was introduced to the Hyderabad State by the Chaush people during the rule of the Nizams. Local traditional spices helped a unique Hyderabadi haleem evolve, that became popular among the native Hyderabadis by the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lukhmi</span> Type of samosa of Hyderabad, India

Lukhmi is a Hyderabadi savoury mince pie, and a local variation of a samosa. The snack's authentic preparation includes stuffing with mutton-mince kheema. It is a non-vegetarian derivative of the samosa although, unlike the latter, the lukhmi is shaped into a flat square patty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dahi chutney</span> Yoghurt-based side dish classed as a chutney

Dahi chutney is strained dahi that is mixed into a chutney of mint and onions, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is popular in South India and is a side dish along with mirchi ka salan for the popular Hyderabadi biryani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirchi ka salan</span> Indian chilli and peanut curry

Mirchi ka salan, or curried chilli peppers, is a popular Indian chilli and peanut curry from Hyderabad, Telangana, India, that usually accompanies Hyderabadi biryani alongside dahi chutney. The dish contains green chilli peppers, peanuts, sesame seeds, dry coconut, cumin seeds, ginger and garlic paste, turmeric powder, bay leaf, and thick tamarind juice.

Khushka, kuska, or Khusqa is a rice dish of primarily South Asian origin made with spices, rice and ghee. It's a lunch dish, primarily served with Kurma or Korma and is very popular in Southern India.

Awadhi cuisine is a cuisine native to the Awadh region in Northern India and Southern Nepal. The cooking patterns of Lucknow are similar to those of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Northern India and western India with the cuisine comprising both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The Awadh region has been influenced by Mughal cooking techniques, and the cuisine of Lucknow bears similarities to those of Central Asia, Kashmir, Punjab and Hyderabad. The city is also known for its Nawabi foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindhi biryani</span>

Sindhi Biryani is a special meat and rice biryani dish originating from the Sindh province of Pakistan. Owing to its popularity, it forms one of the most consumed dishes of Pakistani cuisine and Sindhi cuisine.

Mutton Pulao is a dish fairly common in North Indian, South Indian and Pakistani and Turkish cuisine that incorporates mutton into a rice pilaf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Hyderabad</span> Overview of the culture of Hyderabad (India)

The culture of Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabadi Tehzeeb or Dakhini Tehzeeb, is the traditional cultural lifestyle of the Hyderabadi Muslims, and characterizes distinct linguistic and cultural traditions of North and South India, which meet and mingle in the city and erstwhile kingdom. This blending was the result of the geographic location of the region and the variety of historical dynasties that ruled the city across different periods—its inception by the Qutub Shahi dynasty in 1591 AD, the occupation by the Mughal Empire and its decline, and the patronage under the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thalassery cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Thalassery, Kerala

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Telangana</span> Cultural history of an Indian state

The Culture of Telangana in India has a cultural history of about 5,000 years. The region emerged as the foremost centre of culture in Indian subcontinent during the rule of Kakatiyas, the Qutb Shahis and Asaf Jahi dynasties—. The rulers patronage and interest for culinary, arts and culture transformed Telangana into a multi-cultural region where two different cultures coexist together, thus making Telangana the representative of the Deccan Plateau and its heritage with Warangal and Hyderabad being its epicenter. Hyderabadi cuisine and Kakatiya architecture both from Telangana, are on the list of UNESCO creative city of gastronomy and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The regions major cultural events celebrated are "Kakatiya Festival" and Deccan Festival along with religious festivals Bonalu, Bathukamma, Dasara, Ugadi, Sankranthi, Milad un Nabi and Ramadan.

References

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Further reading