Current location:Starry Scope news portal > opinions
Hyderabad curries favour: No one knows the origin of biryani
Starry Scope news portal2024-05-08 14:14:13【opinions】6People have gathered around
IntroductionWhen we ordered a mutton biryani at the Shadab restaurant - ‘delight in every bite!’ - in Hyderabad,
When we ordered a mutton biryani at the Shadab restaurant - ‘delight in every bite!’ - in Hyderabad, all I could see was a piebald pyramid of rice heading our way on a silver platter.
But, then, the ingredients became visible: lushly perfumed chunks of mutton, with a kaleidoscopic range of flavours - roasted onions, ginger, garlic, cinnamon and cumin seeds among them - served with a side dish called mirchi ka salan, a chilli and peanut curry mix.
No one knows the origin of biryani, but it is assumed to have arrived with the conquering Moghuls from Central Asia, where it was then refined in the Muslim kingdoms of Lucknow in northern India and Hyderabad in southern India.
There are animated debates about which offers the best version, with Hyderabad usually winning the argument.
Food historian Jonty Rajagopalan believes ‘the secret is in the marination of the meat’.
A star of India: Bruce Palling travels to Hyderabad (pictured) in southern India and discovers some of its best biryani joints
Bruce visits Hyderabad’s Falaknuma Palace (pictured), which serves biryani at its flagship restaurant
The next important thing is how the meat - usually mutton - is spiced and layered between the rice.
Both are cooked together, sometimes with the skin of green papaya added to tenderise it.
We started with some of the more aristocratic versions of biryani.
This requires a short trip to Falaknuma Palace, a vast classical mansion on a rocky citadel overlooking Hyderabad.
It’s a former palace of the Nizam - the region’s ruler until Indian independence who was, at one point, considered to be the richest person on earth.
Food historian Jonty Rajagopalan believes ‘the secret' to making the best biryani 'is in the marination of the meat’. Pictured: Charminar in Hyderabad, the region said to serve the best
'No one knows the origin of biryani, but it is assumed to have arrived with the conquering Moghuls from Central Asia,' writes Bruce (file image)
In its flagship restaurant, each biryani comes in its own circular silver container with a chapati-like top as tight as a drumskin sealed along the edges with dough.
Once broken, there’s a release of spices and aromas of mutton.
The most popular chain of biryani restaurants in Hyderabad is Paradise - ‘world’s favourite biryani’ - with nearly 30 outlets.
The main branch, near Hyderabad’s Sunshine Hospital, has posters of famous Indian personalities on the walls, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Some claim that the Paradise biryani is too spicy to qualify as authentic. But it’s excellent value for little more than £3.
Even lower down the culinary pecking order, the curiously named Saddam Hotel Restaurant ladles out hundreds of biryani dishes daily from huge steaming pots for little more than 50p a plate.
Paradise is the most popular chain of biryani restaurants in Hyderabad. Bruce dines at the main branch (pictured) near Hyderabad’s Sunshine Hospital
Above, the posters of famous Indian personalities on the walls at Paradise's main location
Then we headed for the fabled Shadab, where some 200 people were seated in padded leatherette booths with whirring fans above.
All were searching for bite-sized portions of mutton, wrapping it around the rice and eating it with their fingers.
I realised after my first mouthful that my search for the perfect biryani was over. This was it.
TRAVEL FACTS
Bruce travelled with The Ultimate Travel Company, which offers five nights at the Taj Falaknuma Palace, in a Royal Suite B&B, from £2,965 per person, including return flights with British Airways and private airport transfers. Go to: theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk, 020 4525 2788.
Address of this article:http://nicaragua.unhasdecoradas.org/html-98c199856.html
Very good!(1344)
Related articles
- Michelle Yeoh shines in VERY quirky tin foil
- 'Liusanjie of New Generation' Sings for New Era
- CIIE: a vivid reality of the world sharing Chinese opportunities
- Royal Marines preparing to lead 'Dunkirk
- Living literally on the edge! Drone footage shows 18th century three
- Xinhua Commentary: Xi's Meeting with Ma Injects Positive Energy to Relations Across Taiwan Strait
- CIIE: a vivid reality of the world sharing Chinese opportunities
- Xi Plants Trees in Beijing, Urging Nationwide Afforestation Efforts for Beautiful China
- China to further integrate culture, tourism
- Locals slam 'Britain's worst cycle lane' claiming it is still dangerous
Popular articles
Recommended
The Eurovision Song Contest is kicking off with pop and protests as the war in Gaza casts a shadow
President's trip paves way for more outcomes
A more inclusive path beneficial for multipolar world
Cargo ships in Zaozhuang navigated along the Beijing
Rainfall allows Spain's Catalonia to ease water restrictions for 1st time during drought
Xi, Lula Send Congratulatory Letters to Seminar Involving CPC, Workers' Party of Brazil
China Focus: Record Qingming holiday box office heats up for May Day moviegoing frenzy
American city is selling hundreds of vacant homes for just $1 to revive struggling neighborhoods
Links
- Russia test
- Germany: Parliament’s lower house to vote on gender self
- Trump, Speaker Johnson meet at Mar
- Trump, Speaker Johnson meet at Mar
- Tennessee governor signs bill requiring local officers to aid US immigration authorities
- Jury visits a ranch near US
- Brazil court says government must compensate victims of stray bullets in police raids
- Louisiana lawmakers quietly advance two controversial bills as severe weather hits the state
- Haiti declares state of emergency amid violence, inmates on the run
- Trump, Speaker Johnson meet at Mar