Hyderabad is a one-stop shop for biryani. The first name that comes to our minds when we think of one-pot rice dishes, it has to be biryani. And if someone pops the word Hyderabad, it has to be Hyderabadi dum biryani. For those untouched by the phenomenon, biryani is a one-pot dish that is made with rice and succulent pieces of meat or chicken. The rice is layered and then the meat is added along with spices one after the other. A dum biryani’s specialty lies in the fact that it is slow-cooked and sealed with a layer of dough.
The fragrant and aromatic rice dish is popular across the country, with each region sprucing up a different kind of variety. The southern parts of the Indian sub-continent are as enthusiastic about biryani as the northern parts. However, in the South, you’ll find each state with a special type. Hyderabad might be known for its dum biryani around the world but there is one hidden gem that is yet to be placed on the food map. It is Hyderabad’s doodh ki biryani.
Source: Youtube Swad Official/Instagram
Recently, a food blogger shared a reel of the making of this biryani on his Instagram account and we stopped right there. The Instagram handle, @youtubeswadofficial, posted a video of the making of doodh ki biryani at an eatery in Lucknow. We digged a little deeper and found that it is actually a specialty of Hyderabad. Here is what this lesser-known biryani looks like.
In the video, the person cooks the mutton with milk. He then boils the rice and drains the water. He adds it to a huge utensil and spreads the rice on the base. He separates the oil from the meat and adds it to the utensil. After repeating the process of layering, he covers the lid and puts it on dum.
This delicious preparation makes us wonder what is so special about this doodh ki biryani.
Doodh Ki Biryani
From the lands of hot, spicy and fiery dishes, it is hardly possible to find anything that is low on heat. However, this doodh ki biryani is just that. A complete opposite of the dum biryani that is famous in Hyderabad for its spiciness, this biryani is all things mild and creamy. Made with roasted nuts, creamy milk and a few spices, the biryani offers very subtle and delicate flavours. The light taste and texture of the biryani is quite a refresher amidst the range of heavy meaty biryanis of Nizams.
Want to make some biryani tonight? Here is a Hyderabadi dum biryani recipe that you can try at home.