Veg Hyderabadi Biryani: What It Is, and How to Serve a Ready-to-Eat One

In short: Hyderabadi biryani is long-grain basmati rice layered with a spiced filling and cooked so the flavours meet, fragrant with whole spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and mace. Our Hyderabadi Biryani is a vegetarian one, with vegetables and paneer (₹150, 250 g), ready in 3 to 4 minutes; serve it with raita and salad.

What makes a biryani Hyderabadi?

Biryani in Hyderabad grew up in the kitchens of the city's rulers, and is known for layering rice with the filling and cooking it on dum (slowly, sealed) so the rice takes in the spices. The classic is made with meat; vegetarian versions use vegetables and paneer.

What is in ours?

Long-grain basmati rice layered with vegetables, paneer and a biryani masala of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and mace; aromatic and well spiced, with every grain separate. It contains milk and cashew nuts.

How do you serve it?

With raita (curd with cucumber or onion), a salad and papad, it is a complete meal from one pouch. Fluff it gently after heating so the grains stay separate.

How do you heat it?

Drop the sealed pouch into boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, or empty it into a pan for 2 to 3 minutes on a medium flame. It keeps 12 months at room temperature, so there is nothing to thaw. Once opened, eat it straight away, or refrigerate it and finish within 24 hours. More in how to heat a ready-to-eat pouch.

It is cooked in small batches in our family kitchen in Morbi, sealed in a foil pouch at 121°C with no preservatives, and delivered across India (2 working days in Gujarat, 3 to Mumbai, 3 to 5 elsewhere; free delivery above ₹799). See all our rice and biryani.

Questions people ask

Is veg biryani the same as pulao?

No. Biryani layers rice with a spiced filling and whole spices; pulao cooks rice and vegetables together more simply. Try our Veg Tawa Pulav.

Is your Hyderabadi biryani vegetarian?

Yes, it is made with vegetables and paneer, like everything we make.

What do you eat with biryani?

Raita, salad and papad; some like a mild curry alongside.

How long does ready-to-eat biryani keep?

12 months unopened at room temperature, with no preservatives.