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Malabar Biriyani

11 March 20253 min read

Discover the rich taste of Malabar Biriyani, a traditional Kerala dish made with fragrant rice, spiced meat, and aromatic herbs. Learn the step-by-step recipe to prepare this delicious and flavorful biriyani at home.

Malabar Biriyani

Preparation of Meat Curry

  • Chicken – 500g (or Mutton/Fish)
  • Onion – 2 (finely chopped)
  • Tomato – 2 (finely chopped)
  • Ginger-Garlic Paste – 2 tbsp
  • Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
  • Chili Powder – 1 tsp
  • Masala Powder – 1 tsp
  • Curd (Yogurt) – ½ cup
  • Mint & Coriander Leaves – ½ cup
  • Salt – As required
  • Oil – 2 tbsp

Preparation of Rice

  • Basmati Rice – 2 cups
  • Jeerakasala Rice (Aromatic Local Rice) – 1 cup
  • Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
  • Water – 5 cups
  • Salt – As required
  • Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamom, Bay Leaves

For Garnishing

  • Fried Onions – ½ cup
  • Butter – 1 tbsp
  • Cashews & Raisins – 2 tbsp

Preparation Method

Cooking the Meat Curry

  1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté onions until golden brown.
  2. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté well.
  3. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until soft.
  4. Mix in the masala powders and cook until oil starts separating.
  5. Add chicken (or mutton/fish) and cook on low flame for 10-15 minutes.
  6. Finally, add curd, mint, and coriander leaves, mix well, and turn off the heat.

Cooking the Rice

  1. Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 20 minutes.
  2. In a large pan, bring water to a boil and add cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and bay leaves.
  3. Add the soaked rice and cook until 70% done. Drain excess water and set aside.

Dum (Final Layering & Cooking)

  1. Grease the bottom of a large pot with butter and spread a layer of cooked meat curry.
  2. Add a layer of half-cooked rice on top and garnish with fried onions, cashews, and raisins.
  3. Cover the pot tightly and cook on low flame (Dum) for 15-20 minutes.
  4. Once a rich aroma spreads, turn off the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

😋 Enjoy the delicious Malabar Biriyani! 🍛