Derived from two Persian words — ‘birian’, which means ‘fried before cooking’, and ‘birinj’, biryani has evolved from a fire-roasted preparation stuffed in bread to the rice feast of today.

History tells of how Shah Jahan’s Mumtaz during her visits to army barracks ordered her chefs to prepare a robust dish with meat and rice to feed the undernourished soldiers. This, they say, was the evolution of the biryani.

Whether you are a fan of the Mughlai Biryani introduced by the shahi bawarchis or the Meen Biryani of South India that incorporates fish, or even Gujarat’s Memoni Biryani made of yoghurt, there is something for everyone.

The humble dish with its burst of flavours can never disappoint and continues to be a hit on every menu even today!