Biriyani: Indian Food Recipe

Biriyani is a rice based food, much like a stew, that is rich in spices. It can be made with either meat such as chicken and mutton (lamb) or with vegetables such as eggplant. The dish was brought to India by Muslim travelers according to Wikipedia. The name was derived from the Persian word "berya" which is translated into "fried" or "toasted" and the rice is toasted before it is cooked.

Biriyani is served on special occasions such as weddings, parties or holidays as it can be a labor intensive dish. Further, there are nine main variations of this dish, but many home cooks prepare their own versions as well. Here are but a few: (1) Awadhi - This is the original rice dish that was brought by the Muslims from the Mogul Empire; (2) Malabar - More commonly known as Chicken Biriyani and often made with onions and tomatoes. On the website All Recipes at www.allrecipes.com/recipe/biriyani/detail.aspx has an excellent version of this dish; and (3) Tahiri - This is the vegetarian version of the dish. It is basically prepared at a Malabar dish, but eggplant or other vegetables are used in place of the meat.

The favored rice used in this dish is Basmati, not just for it aroma, but because it is ideal for its thin fine grains. Further, spices make the dish, not only for aroma and taste, but for medicinal purposes also. According to Easy Indian Food, some of the spices include - (a) Cardamom, which is a stimulant, can help nausea and is a carminative (according to www.dictionary.com, it means a drug causing expulsion of gas from the stomach or bowel); (b) Cinnamon, which is astringent as well as an antidote for diarrhea and upset stomachs; (c) Clove, which is an antiseptic as well as a preservative and has help sooth tooth aches for centuries; (d) Garlic, which helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol; and (e) Ginger, which helps reduce blood clots and blood pressure as well as reduce joint pain and ease migraines.

Some of the other items or condiments that are used or served along side include, ghee (clarified butter), peas (more readily known as chickpeas or garbanzo), beans (such as lentils) , mint, and onions. Again, each home uses such items that they enjoy and have been taught from generation to generation. The website www.foodnetwork.com offers an easy version of lamb biriyani that will introduce you to the flavors of Indian.