Biryani is one of the most popular Indian rice dishes loved by young and old alike. The origin of biryani dates back to the Mughal era where this dish was prepared specially for the soldiers.
Over time, the recipe has evolved and at present we find many variations of the biryani that is influenced by the different regional style.
But, there are two main ways of cooking biryani – the first one is the original Dum Biryani in which the rice and the meat is slow cooked in steam , the second one is a more recent version in which the rice and vegetables are cooked separately and then mixed together in a skillet.
The authentic flavor of the biryani comes from the blend of fragrant basmati rice, saffron and whole spices.
From the convenience point of view, biryani is a wholesome and delicious one-pot meal that can be served alone or just with some raita, curd or salad, it does not require any side dish or curry. So, in a way it is a time-saving and interesting lunch/dinner option that is loved by kids and adults.
And when it comes to the healthful aspects of biryani, white basmati rice used in this dish is a gluten-free carbohydrate that is easy to digest and is suitable for people with digestive disorders and celiac diseases. Biryani is an exceptionally versatile dish and you can always make it healthier by reducing the amount of spices and oil and incorporating more vegetables into it.
So, let us take a look at some easy and delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian biryani recipes that you can try in your home.
18 Easy Homemade Veg and Non-Veg Biryani Recipes
1. Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani
Total time – 8 hours 40 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2 to 3
Cuisine – Andhra
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Bone-in-chicken pieces
- Biryani masala powder
- Fried onions
- Chopped coriander leaves
- Chopped mint leaves
- Sunflower oil/Ghee
- Saffron strands soaked in hot milk
For Mariantion:
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Turmeric
- Green chilies
- Yogurt/Curd
- Lemon juice
- Kashmiri red chili powder
- Biryani masala powder
- Green cardamom powder
- Salt
Dry Spices for rice:
- Water
- Oil
- Mace
- Black cardamom
- Green cardamom
- Cinnamon stick
- Cloves
- Bay leaf
- Pepper corn
- Shahi jeera
Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani is an extremely famous and popular delicacy famous all over India and around the world. But it is extremely easy to make at your home. All you need to do is mix all the ingredients and cook on a slow steaming (Dum) process. The prolonged marination time softens the chicken so not much oil or ghee is needed to cook it. The trapped steam helps to retain the flavors and aroma of the spices in the rice.
Despite the use of a wide range of spices, the Hyderabadi Dum Biryani is not high in calories because it does not make use of too much oil or ghee. In fact, you can substitute ghee entirely with vegetable oil if you want. Once the rice is done, fluff it with a form and serve with raita and curry.
Check out the full recipe at – indianhealthyrecipes
2. Egg Biryani
Total time – 1 hour 15 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Ghee
- Whole spices – cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, bay leaf
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Green chilies
- Garlic cloves
- Ginger
- Onions
- Tomato
- Turmeric powder
- Cumin
- Fennel seeds
- Coriander powder
- Thick coconut milk (optional)
- Biryani masala/Garam masala
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Eggs
- Cashew nuts
The combination of delicious and flavorful biryani with eggs is a treat for all egg lovers out there. Egg Biryani includes the goodness of both worlds – its quick and easy to prepare and requires no prior preparation and taste simply amazing. This egg biryani can be prepared in a rice cooker or pressure cooker which makes it all the more convenient. Once the rice is cooked, don’t forget to fluff it with a fork to prevent it from getting mushy.
You can always use vegetable oil instead of ghee to prepare this Biryani. The inclusion of boiled eggs in this recipes works as a potent source of protein. It also supplies certain essential vitamins, minerals and healthy fats to the body.
Check out the full recipe at – cookingandme
3. Mutton Biryani
Total time – 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 3-4
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Onion
- Tomato
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Green chilli
- Mint leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Green peas
- Chilli powder
- Salt
- Orange food color
For Marination:
- Mutton
- Yogurt
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Turmeric powder
- Biryani masala powder/Garam masala powder
To Temper:
- Oil
- Fennel seeds
- Clove
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Bay leaf
Mellow spicy and flavorful Mutton Biryani is a complete meal in itself that can be enjoyed with raita and salad. It is extremely easy to make – just sauté the spices and other ingredients and then cook it in a pressure cooker on medium to low heat. It is very important to sauté the marinated mutton with the spices for 5 to 6 minutes on low heat before adding it to the rice. This sautéing makes the mutton tender and juicy.
Adding green peas to the biryani is purely up to your choice, you can add it to give a nice crunchy texture to the dish. The steam cooked mutton adds some necessary nutrients to the dish. Mutton is a potent source of protein and fiber along with iron and various other minerals that are required for formation of hemoglobin, strengthening the bones and growth and repair of muscles and tissues.
Check out the full recipe at – spicytreats
4. Indian Lamb Biryani
Total time – 2 hours 30 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 6 to 8
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Boneless leg of lamb
- Basmati rice
For Marinade:
- Ginger
- Garlic cloves
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
For curry sauce:
- Olive oil
- Red or yellow onions
- Tomato sauce
- Ground cayenne pepper
- Paprika
- Kosher salt
- Ground turmeric
- Garam masala
Ingredients for Pre-cooking the Rice:
- Ghee/Butter
- Cumin seeds
- Cardamom pods
- Bay leaves
- Cinnamon sticks
- Red onion
- Saffron strands
- Kosher salt
The combination of soft, tender and juicy lamb meat with aromatic basmati rice in this Lamb Biryani is the best way to indulge your taste buds. The aromas and flavors of saffron and other whole spices combine with the rice and meat to create a mouthwatering dish that tastes wonderful by itself or with raita and salad. The prolonged marination of sautéing of the lamb makes it all the more tender and juicy.
Lamb is an excellent source of protein, vitamin B12, niacin and riboflavin which are required for growth and development of muscles, red blood cell production, production of energy and improved vision. It is also a potent source of minerals zinc, iron and copper.
Check out the full recipe at – panningtheglobe
5. Pressure Cooker Beef Biryani
Total time – 1 hour
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 4 to 5
Cuisine – Kerala, South Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Beef
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Bay leaf
- Onion
- Green chilli
- Crushed ginger and garlic
- Turmeric powder
- Coriander powder
- Pepper powder
- Garam masala
- Fennel powder
- Tomato
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Ghee
- Salt
This is a quick and easy Pressure Cooker biryani ideal for those days when you want to eat something delicious and yet don’t have the energy for long preparation and slow steam-based cooking. The combination of spicy and flavorful basmati rice and juicy beef cooked to perfection makes a delicious dinner ideal for the weekends. Just serve it with some raita and pickle and your meal is ready.
Although, this biryani recipe makes use of ghee but you can replace it with vegetable oil to keep in low in calories. Choosing lean cuts of beef also helps to cut out some of the saturated fat. Beef, like any other red meat is an excellent source of complete protein, B-vitamins, iron, zinc and healthy monounsaturated fats.
Check out the full recipe at – mariasmenu
6. Prawns Biryani
Total time – 2 hours
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 8
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Oil
- Prawns shelled and de-veined
- Red chili powder
- Turmeric powder
- Fennel seeds
- Biryani masala
- Garam masala powder
- Onion
- Coconut milk/Yogurt
- Green chilies
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Tomatoes
- Pepper powder
- Cinnamon stick
- Shahi jeera
- Bay leaf
- Black cardamom
- Green cardamom
- Star anise
- Pepper powder
- Stone flower
- Coriander leaves
- Potatoes
- Mint leaves
- Lime juice
- Salt
For White Paste:
- Melon seed
- White sesame seed
- Poppy seed
- Almonds
- Cashew nuts
For Rice:
- Basmati rice
- Coconut milk
- Water
- Onion
- Sugar
- Cashew nuts
- Raisins
- Black cardamom
- Cinnamon stick
- Star anise
- Bay leaf
- Mace powder
- Salt
- Ghee
- Saffron strands
- Mint leaves
- Salt
This hot and spicy Prawn Biryani is ideal for those who like savory food. The combination of a wide variety of whole spices adds some mouth-watering flavors to the rice. The combination of coconut milk and prawns renders a tropical taste to the biryani. If you don’t like the taste of coconut in biryani then you can replace it with yogurt. This recipe is elaborate and a bit time consuming but the taste is definitely worth the effort.
Prawns used in this biryani are a great source of low calorie protein that helps to build muscle mass without adding too many calories. It is also a rich source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and zinc along with vitamins A and E. It also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation and the risk of heart disease.
Check out the full recipe at – flavorsofmumbai
7. Fish Biryani
Total time – 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 3 to 4
Cuisine – South Indian
Ingredients –
For cooking rice:
- Basmati rice
- Water
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Cumin seeds
- Bay leaf
- Salt
For Fired Fish:
- Fish pieces
- Salt
- Chilli powder
- Coriander powder
- Turmeric powder
- Cumin powder
- Lemon juice
- Oil
For Biryani:
- Pandan leaf
- Onion
- Green chilli
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Chilli powder
- Coriander powder
- Turmeric powder
- Cumin powder
- Garam masala powder
- Tomato
- Curd
- Mint leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Salt
For Saffron Milk:
- Saffron
- Warm milk
This is a traditional Dum Style Fish Biryani which is cooked on steam. The slow cooking method helps to bring out the aromas of the spices and makes the fish perfectly tender. The combination of perfectly cooked and spicy fish with the saffron-flavored basmati rice creates a luxury dish suitable for parties and gatherings. And the best thing is, being low in calories compared to meat biryani, you can enjoy it frequently.
Now this is a healthy, low-calorie biryani that you can enjoy often. Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that neutralize inflammation, protects the heart and brain and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. It is also a low-calorie source of protein that supports muscle growth and repair.
Check out the full recipe at – yummytummyaarthi
8. Keema Dum Biryani/ Mutton Keema Biryani
Total time – 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 3
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Mutton Keema
- Basmati rice
- Thick curd/Yogurt
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Mint leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Turmeric powder
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Red chili powder
- Garam masala
- Salt
- Cloves
- Cinnamon stick
- Mace
- Green cardamom
- Nutmeg powder
- Olive oil/Vegetable oil
- Kewra essence (optional)
The Mutton Keema Biryani is an interesting and easy variation of the classic Mutton Dum Biryani where the minced mutton is cooked with spices and then mixed with the basmati rice. This biryani also makes use of the traditional dum or steam method. The slow cooking the main secret of making flavorful and aromatic biryani. You can serve it with some onion raita and you have a complete meal. This recipe can also be prepared with chicken keema.
The use of olive oil or vegetable instead of ghee helps to keep it light and low in calories. The minced mutton also comes with less fat content compared to larger pieces. Keema is easier to digest and light on the stomach and yet it not harmful like processed meat.
Check out the full recipe at – jopreetskitchen
9. Vegetable Dum Biryani
Total time – 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 4 to 5
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
For Rice Layer:
- Basmati rice
- Green cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Bay leaf
- Star anise
- Black cardamom
- Water
- Salt
Veg Gravy layer:
- Onions
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Carrots
- Potato
- Cauliflower florets
- Button mushrooms
- French beans
- Green peas
- Yogurt
- Water
- Red chili powder
- Oil/Ghee
- Salt
Biryani Masala:
- Cinnamon stick
- Clove
- Green cardamom
- Mace
Topping layer:
- Fried brown onions
- Saffron strands soaked in warm milk
- Fresh mint leaves
- Oil/Butter/Ghee
This is a light and flavorful vegetable biryani that is marked by the distinct aromas of whole spices and saffron. The combination of fresh vegetables and flavorful basmati rice creates a wonderful layer of texture and makes it a complete meal in itself. This is a mellow spicy biryani that does not make use of tomatoes, chilies or turmeric, the entire taste comes from the steam cooking of the ingredients with the spices.
You can substitute ghee and butter with vegetable oil to keep it light and healthy. The fresh vegetables – carrots, potatoes, cauliflower and mushroom supply some much needed vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber to the dish.
Check out the full recipe at – vegrecipesofindia
10. Mushroom Biryani/Kalan Biryani
Total time – 1 hour
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2
Cuisine – South Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Button mushrooms
- Onion
- Tomato puree
- Thick curd
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Garam masala powder
- Red chilli powder
- Oil
- Ghee
- Water
- Salt
To Make Paste:
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Green chilies
- Fennel seeds
To Temper:
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Bay leaf
Mushroom biryani is a delicious and flavorful vegetarian dish that contains all the goodness of classic biryani, minus all the preparations. It takes just 1 hour to prepare and can be enjoyed by the whole family. It is a one-pot meal where you need to put in all the ingredients in the pressure cooker and cook for a couple of whistles. Just serve it warm with onion raita and your dinner is ready.
Mushrooms used in this biryani works as a great substitute for meat and give a nice chewy texture to the dish. It is one or the rare food-based sources of vitamin D that boosts the absorption of calcium from food. The Beta-Glucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid in mushroom reduces the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
Check out the full recipe at – sharmispassions
11. Paneer Biryani
Total time – 50 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 4
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Oil
- Paneer
- Onion
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Green chilli
- Mint leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Tomato
- Salt
- Turmeric
- Red chilli powder
For Masala Powder:
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Clove
- Coriander seeds
- Pepper corns
- Jeera
- Fennel Seeds
Paneer Biryani is a super-easy, delicious and nutritious rice dish that is extremely popular with vegetarians. The perfectly grilled paneer cubes combined with the fragrant basmati rice creates a complete one-pot meal that does not require any side dish. Just serve it with curd and salad and your lunch/dinner is ready.
Although, this biryani recipe is a bit spicy and savory, yet it is light and low in calories because it does not make use of ghee or butter for flavoring. Paneer or cottage cheese is a potent vegetarian source of protein that is essential for growth and repair. Calcium is paneer also helps to build stronger bones and teeth and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Check out the full recipe at – revisfoodography
12. Soya Chunks Biryani
Total time – 1 hour
Recipe type – Breakfast/Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Soya chunks
- Onion
- Tomato
- Curd
- Turmeric powder
- Red chilli powder
- Green chilies
- Mint leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Salt
To temper:
- Ghee/Oil
- Cinnamon
- Bay leaf
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Jeera
When, prepared the right way, Soya Chunks Biryani tastes as good as Mutton Biryani and it is a wonderful rice entree that can be enjoyed by vegans and vegetarians. Sautéing the soya chunks with the spices allows the spices soak into them and render a juicy and chewy texture. Soya Chunks Biryani is a versatile dish and you can also add vegetables to it.
Soya chunks are a powerful vegetarian source of complete protein and a great substitute for meat. It has all the essential amino acids that are required for muscle growth and repair. It is also a good source of carbohydrates that provide energy to the body. Minerals iron and calcium present in soya chunks support hemoglobin production and strengthen the bones.
Check out the full recipe at – rakskitchen
13. Chana Biryani
Total time – 8 hours 30 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 3 to 4
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Chickpeas
- Shallots
- Tomato
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Fennel seeds
- Stone flower (Kal Paasi)
- Star anise
- Bay leaf
- Coconut milk
- Water
- Oil
- Ghee
- Salt
For the paste:
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Green chilies
- Fresh grated coconut
Chana Biryani is a spicy and flavorful rice entree recipe made with basmati rice and chickpeas. It is a healthy, filling and tasty one-pot meal that can be served as a meal or a lunch box recipe for kids. The perfectly cooked chickpeas give a nice chewy texture to the biryani. The Chana biryani can be served alone or with a raita of your choice.
Chickpeas are a potent source of protein for vegetarians that supply the essential amino acids to the muscles and tissues. It is also a rich source of dietary fiber that supports digestive health and improves satiety. Nutrients manganese and folate found in chickpeas support bone development, promote wound healing and help in new cell growth and brain cell communication.
Check out the full recipe at – ticklingpalates
14. Aloo Dum Biryani/ Potato Biryani
Total time – 50 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 3-4
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Large potatoes
- Onions
- Tomato
- Thick curd
- Crushed ginger-garlic
- Cilantro leaves
- Oil
- Salt
To make paste:
- Onion
- Mint leaves
- Green chilies
Whole Spices:
- Cumin seeds
- Cloves
- Black cardamom
- Green cardamoms
- Cinnamon
Aloo Dum Biryani is a flavorful and yet simple biryani recipe, ideal for those who don’t too many vegetables and nuts in their biryani. The potatoes and basmati rice cooked in the aromatic and savory onion mint paste not only renders an appetizing aroma to the dish, but also lends a nice color to it. You can always leave out the crud or replace it with thick coconut milk if you are a vegan.
Despite the use of a lot of spices and herbs, this potato biryani is light and low in calories because it does not make use of ghee or butter, not even for flavoring. Minimal amount of oil is used for sautéing the potatoes and spices and the rest of the cooking is done through steam.
Check out the full recipe at – cookclickndevour
15. Palak Biryani
Total time – 40 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Spinach/palak
- Onion
- Tomato
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Green chilies
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Thick curd
- Red chilli powder
- Garam masala powder
- Turmeric powder
- Coconuts chopped
- Bay leaf
- Cloves
- Green cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Oil
- Salt
- Water
- Golden fried onions and cashew
Palak Biryani is a tasty and amazing way to include more spinach in your kid’s diet. It is an extremely simple and quick one-pot meal ideal for those days when you don’t want to cook an elaborate meal and still want to eat healthy. The coconut used in the paste completely masks the vegetal taste of spinach while the golden fried onions and cashew nuts add a nice texture to it.
Spinach is a low-fat leafy green packed with essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, niacin, protein, fiber and vitamins A, C, E, K and B-vitamins. The abundance of antioxidant flavonoids in spinach neutralize free radical damage and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Check out the full recipe at – cookingfromheart
16. Methi Biryani/Fenugreek Leaves Biryani
Total time – 50 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
- Methi/Fenugreek leaves
- Basmati rice
- Onion
- Tomato
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Curd
- Lemon
- Chili powder
- Coriander powder
- Garam masala
- Butter
- Cooking oil
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Salt
Methi Biryani prepared using a combination of basmati rice, spices and fresh fenugreek leaves is a healthy and interesting alternative to the classic paneer and vegetable biryani. The perfectly cooked basmati rice and the right proportion of methi leaves are the two secrets to making perfect methi biryani. Adding too much of methi leaves will render a bitter taste to the rice. You can serve it with onion and cucumber raita or fired potatoes.
Just like mint or Pudina, fenugreek leaves also aid digestion and counter heart burn and acid reflux. It is a good source of iron and vitamin K that helps to cure anemia and strengthens bones – reduce the risk of bone fractures and bone loss.
Check out the full recipe at – pepperbowl
17. Raw Jackfruit Biryani/Kathal Biryani
Total time – 50 minutes
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 3 to 4
Cuisine – North Indian
Ingredients –
- Basmati rice
- Water
- Whole spices – cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaf
For gravy:
- Cooking oil
- Ghee
- Cinnamon
- Onion
- Tomato
- Raw Jackfruit
- Green chilli
- Ginger-Garlic paste
- Turmeric powder
- Coriander powder
- Red chilli powder
- Garam masala powder
- Curd
- Kasoori methi
- Sugar
- Coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Saffron soaked in milk
- Salt
This delicious and healthy Jackfruit Biryani is an exotic rice entree that tastes as good as Mutton Biryani. The combination of perfectly cooked tender jackfruit and aromatic basmati rice is a delicacy for vegetarians. Jackfruit, also known as Kathal in Telugu and Panasakaya in Telugu is an exotic Indian vegetable with a fibrous texture and is considered vegetarian meat.
Jackfruit contains high amounts of nutrients – vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, healthy fats, electrolytes and phytonutrients that make it a complete food. The antioxidants in jackfruit boost immune function while the carbohydrates act as high energy source. The fibers improve digestion and potassium helps to maintain blood pressure level and cardiovascular health.
Check out the full recipe at – chitrasfoodbook
18. Cauliflower Biryani/Gobi Biryani
Total time – 1 hour
Recipe type – Main Course
Yield/Serves – 2
Cuisine – Indian
Ingredients –
For the rice:
- Basmati rice
- Cashew nuts
- Ghee
- Water
- Salt
For the masala:
- Oil/Ghee
- Jeera
- Onion
- Green chilly
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Whole spices – cardamom, clove, cinnamon
- Tomato
- Coriander powder
- Red chili powder
- Turmeric powder
- Garam masala
- Salt
- Coriander leaves
Cauliflower Biryani or Gobi Biryani is yet another delicious and flavorful vegetarian one-pot meal and convenient lunch box dish for kids and adults. The trick here is to cook the Gobi masala and rice separately and then mix the two in a skillet. This biryani tastes great on its own, but it can also be paired with raita, pickle and salad.
The fresh cauliflower and green peas used in this biryani add a nice crunchy texture and make it all the more filling. Cauliflower is a rich source of fibers, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that has numerous benefits for overall health. The antioxidants protect the cells against free radical damage and reduce the risk of cancer, vitamin K boosts cardiovascular health, dietary fibers help to prevent digestive disorders and phytonutrients support the detoxification process.
Check out the full recipe at – divyascookbook
Choose any of these handpicked recipes and prepare a delicious and heart-warming biryani to celebrate a special occasion or just a grand weekend meal with your family.