The first memory of Biryani was in my mom’s kitchen. The aroma that used to fill in the kitchen was mesmerizing and just out of the world,it used to lure us in the kitchen and tantalize our taste buds,leaving us wanting for more, Her rice dishes were unique and out of the world (There is nothing like ma ke hath ka khana,mom’s love ❤️ on a platter)
For today’s recipe I was inspired by her rice dishes and the fact it is already feeling like summer 😕,when the appetite is nearly lost and you feel like eating something healthy but light. This dish fits the bill perfectly
Lucknowi Biryani is also referred to as Awadhi Biryani. It is different from other Biryanis in so many ways, foremost it is less on spices and more on flavors, which it get’s from whole spices.It is a Shahi Biryani from the capital city of Lucknow.

Lucknowi Biryani is usually madewith Red meat marinated in whole spices,local herbs,and rice but nowadays people have started making it with Chicken for health reasons and to avoid red meat.
Lucknow which is famous for it’s food, street food, tantalizing flavours, spices,mouth watering dishes,craft is a mecca for foodies
So today,let’s begin with a nawabi lucknowi dish – Lucknowi Biryani. I hope you will give your love to this Recipe.
So,shall we begin :
Ingredients:
Mutton : 1kg
Basmati Rice( Long grained): 1 kg
Onions : 4 medium (thinly sliced)
Tomatoes: 2 to 3 red medium sized.
Yoghurt: 2 or 2 and 1/4 th cup
Ginger garlic paste: 3 tablespoon.
Whole spices:
Almonds: 7 to 8(blanched and peeled)
Cardamom green :(4 to 5)
Black Pepper :1 teaspoon
Shahi Jeera(black cumin seeds) :1 teaspoon
Black,Masala Cardamom: 3 whole
Star anise(badamful) : 3
Clove(laung) : 1 teaspoon
Javitri (mace) : 2 to 3 flakes.
Nutmeg(Jaipal) : 1 small piece
Bayleaf(Tej patta) : 3 medium sized
Cinnamon sticks : 1inch(1 stick)
Powdered masala:
Garam masala or meat masala : 1 and 1/2 teaspoon.
Red chilli powder (kashmiri): 1 and 1/2 teaspoon for color.
Kewra(pine water): 2 tablespoon.
Kesar(Saffron) :1/2 teaspoon (add to the milk and keep ready.)
Milk : 3 to 4 tablespoon.(To create Saffron milk
Ghee(homemade butter) : 4 to 5 tablespoon
Oil : 4 to 5 tablespoon (oil of your choice)
Salt : According to your taste.

Preparation:
- Mutton :Wash the mutton under running water,keep aside to drain.
- Rice: Wash the Rice 2 to 3 times,till all starch is removed and the water becomes clear.
- Soak: Soak the rice for 45 minutes(the rice should be completely immersed in water)
- Roast : All the dry spices in a mix of ghee and oil in a wok (keep aside little to add to the rice,when paraboiling it)
- Fry : The Onions till golden brown.
- Marinate : In a utensil remove the drained meat.Add half the yoghurt,ginger garlic paste, roasted masala(spices except blanched almond),salt,lemon juice
- Rice: Drain the water from the soaked Rice, Boil 1 litres of water,add the whole spices like Black Pepper, cinnamon,star anise,cumin,cloves and salt,once the water starts to boil,add the rice,after a boil,reduce the flame and let the rice cook for about 10 minutes.
- Paraboil the rice,once it is half cooked(check by Taking a grain of rice & press between your fingers) Drain the water,transfer the rice into a wide plate or a wide mouthed utensil to let the steam out and avoid over cooking, spread the rice well so that enough air passess through and the grains do not stick.
- In the Indian wok pan(kadhai) Heat the oil,add the marinated meat(marinate minimum 45 minutes,best is 3 to 4 hours,prior before soaking or boiling the rice) tomatoes,remaining curd,ginger garlic paste and cook till the meat becomes tender and releases oil at the sides(cover and cook for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, stirring in between.
- Take roughly around 300 grams of the cooked rice and mix with the saffron and mace.
- Final stage: In a heavy bottomed utensil (patela)take the remaining oil and ghee and start adding the layers (You can either use rice or marinated meat for 1st layer,I use meat)
- Add the second layer of paraboiled rice (add layers of rice and meat),add kewra water,a dash of ghee,fried onion and close the lid
- Seal it with dough from all sides,keep a heavy object on top to avoid the steam escaping.
- Keep this Pateela(utensil) on top of a heavy bottomed dish or pan and not directly on the flame,to avoid the rice or meat getting charred.
- Slow cook for 40 minutes (this process is called DUM) cooking in steam that is created in the closed utensil.
- After 40 minutes,remove the pot from the flame, allow it to cool down for 5 to 10 minutes, remove the lid,garnish with blanched almonds, remaining fried rice
- Serve hot with your favorite salad or raita.
Lucknowi Biryani.
Course: Blog, Mains, Lunch, dinnerCuisine: Indian, Lucknowi, Uttar PradeshDifficulty: Medium, Knowledge of spices and basic cooking techniques necessary8
servings40
minutes45
minutes1300
kcal1
hour15
minutesThis Biryani from the Erstwhile royal Lucknow also known as Awadhi Biryani is infused with flavour in every bite,A true culinary delight. This aromatic recipe has a rich history and is known for it’s unique blend of spices, tender meat and Basmati Rice. A true flavor delight from the heart of India, the Capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Ingredients
Mutton : 1 kilogram
Basmati Rice long grain : 1 kg.
Onions: 4 medium (thinly sliced)
Tomatoes : chopped 2 to 3 medium sized.
Yogurt : 2 and 2 1/4 thcup for marination
Ginger garlic paste :3 tablespoon.
- Whole spices:
Almonds : 7 to 8 blanched and peeled.
Black pepper : 1 teaspoon.
Clove : 7 to 8
Green cardamom : 7 to 8.
Black Cardamom: 3 to 4
Shahi Jeera : ( Black cumin seeds : 1 teaspoon)
Star anise :3
Javitri : ( mace 2 to 3 flakes)
Jaiphal : ( Nutmeg : 1 small piece grated or powdered form)
Tell patta : (Bay – leaf: 3 medium)
Cinnamon stick 1 : 1 inch.
- Powdered masalas:
Garam masala or meat masala : 1 and 1/2 teaspoon.
Red chili powder (Kashmiri for colour) : 1 and 1/2 teaspoon.
kewra water : (pine water 2 tablespoon)
kessar(Saffron) : 1/2 teaspoon add to the milk and keep ready.
Milk : 3 to 4 tablespoon to create saffron milk.
Ghee : (Home made butter 4 to 5 tablespoons)
Oil : 4 to 5 tablespoon, oil of your choice.
Salt: According to your taste.
Directions
- Meat : Wash the meat under running water and keep aside to drain.
- Rice : Wash the rice 2 to 3 times,till all starch is removed and the water becomes clear.
- Soak : Soak the now cleaned rice for 45 minutes in water(the water level has to be above the rice so that the rice is completely immersed in it)
- Roast : All the dry whole spices except the blanched almonds should be roasted in a mix of ghee and oil.(keep equal measure of spices you take for roasting aside to be used in the rice, which needs to be used while paraboiling the rice.
- Saffron milk : Add Saffron to 4 tablespoons of milk and keep it aside, this will be used while we layer the Biryani.
- Fry : Fry the thinly sliced onions till golden brown.
- Marinate : In a big utensil, remove the drained meat,pat it dry and add half of the ingredients like yogurt, ginger garlic paste, roasted masalas, powdered masala like chili powder, turmeric,etc,salt,lemon juice. (The marinating should ideally be done for minimum 3 to 4 hours)
- Rice : Drain the water from the soaked rice,add this rice to 1 litre of water,along with the whole masalas like cumin seeds,bay leaf, mace(javitri)black pepper, cloves,star anise,bring to boil when the water boils,reduce the flame and let the rice cook for 10 minutes.
- Paraboil : Once the rice is half cooked,drain the water and transfer to a big wide mouth utensil or plate,for the steam to get released and to avoid the rice from getting overlooked. (This allows the rice grain to be free and stops them from sticking to each other.)
- Take roughly around 300 grams of the above steamed rice and add the saffron milk to it mix and keep aside
- Final stages – step 1 : In a heavy bottomed utensil (patela)take the remaining oil and ghee mix,add the whole masalasa and start adding the layers(I add the meat layer,you can add rice first)
- After the layers are put,add kewra water,dash of ghee,layer of saffron rice mixed with milk,which we had kept aside,fried onions, and other condiments of your choice, plus Kasuri methi.
- Seal : It’s important to seal the utensil well before keeping it on a hard base,to avoid heating the Biryani directly over the flame(seal the mouth of utensil with dough and place a heavy object on it.)
- Slow cook for 40 minutes, remove the pot from the flame but do not open the lid. let it cook further in the steam( This process is called DUM)
- After 40 to 45 minutes, remove the lid, garnish the Biryani with your favorite garnishes like Fried onions,fresh mint leaves,blanched almonds and serve hot with a side dish or raita(Indian salasa made with yogurt)
Notes
- Use long grain basmati rice for this Biryani
- The process of marinating the meat is very important, the longer you marinate the red meat the better,minimum 3 to 4 hours is a good time frame for the flavors to get infused in the meat.
- If you are going to marinate the meat longer,do not soak or paraboil the rice beforehand, the rice grains will become mushy and sticky.
- You can use other meat like chicken or duck meat,if you do not want to use red meat but marinate minimum for 2 hours atleast and cooking time will reduce to 30 minutes or till the meat becomes tender.
- Instead of meat,you can use the vegetarian options too by making Tofu,paneer or mushroom Biryani.
- In a later blog will share a vegetarian Biryani recipe.
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Hope you all have a great week, see you all again with my next blog.
Very tasty Biryani
Thanks 😊
Biryani is Love ❤️
Thank-you