THE ULTIMATE LOVE OF INDIA

How many of us love to love the idea of loving a biryani??

Or have you ever fantasized about having a full plate of rice with some amazing exotic flavors, a mesmerizing aroma, with some pieces of your favorite meat to add to it?

Craving already?

Well, this is actually a real craze for biryani, especially here, in India. Indians absolutely love biryani on every occasion, be it a friend gathering, a wedding, or even without any special occasion. This biryani was mainly popular among the Muslims in India, which is now loved by all. We now have a huge variety of this dish all across India. But have you ever thought about how it actually originated at the first? If yes, then you are at the right place. 

Biryani is a dish with a lot of history and stories behind it. The reason behind its origin is the fact that India has a history of being ruled by foreign groups. These groups included the Turks, Persians, and also Afghans. Thus, naturally, India was affected by their food habits too. Biryani is also one such dish. While its exact origin is something very unclear, the dish got its name from a Persian word, ‘Birian’, which means ‘fried’.  Some historians believe that the dish was introduced to India by the Mughals and actually originated in Persia. Some statements show that it was created by Mughal chefs with a mixture of Indian and Persian flavors. It is also debated that it was a later version of Pulao. 

This dish was made over a wood fire, or charcoal in a Matka(earthen pot). It is also believed that the beloved wife of Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, felt that their soldiers were weak due to a lack of nourishing food, so, she asked their chef to prepare a rich rice dish with some meat. At that time, it was made by frying rice in ghee and also with some amount of saffron to add flavor and color. This could possibly be what biryani is. Some legendary beliefs also show that the dish was a modified version of the then Pilaf (pulao). Pilaf is a Persian rice dish that came to be known as Biryani in India after being combined with Indian seasonings, spices, and flavors. 

That was a lot of history!

Today, this aromatic delicacy is India’s most loved food item. It has different versions in different parts of India such as Aachari biryani in Delhi, Malabar biryani in Kerela, Dum biryani in Hyderabad, which is the most famous for its rich biryani varieties, Bhatkali in Karnataka, the Dhakai version from Bangladesh which is famous in West Bengal and many more. It is also made with vegetables in place of meat, for vegetarians in India with the same amount of flavors and spices.

India has always been known for its spices and unique flavors all over the world. Undoubtedly, this has to be the most historical and royal dish that plays a major role in the food history of India.