"Veg Biryani - what a joke! It is just a fancy pulao." Well, you are not alone. The battle for veg biryani's existence has been there for years now, and people across India stand divided in their stance regarding vegetable biryani and pulao.
If you have been confused your entire life, then dear reader, we are here to settle this once and for all. Veg biryani and pulao are not the same! In fact, in this article, we will delve deep to help you understand the differences between the two dishes, establishing them as entirely dissimilar delicacies. Read on.
What Is Veg Biryani? Are Veg Biryani And Biryani The Same? As per historians, the word biryani comes from the Persian terms 'birian' and 'birinj,' which mean 'fried before cooking' and 'rice,' respectively. Over the years, biryani in India saw various regional modifications in terms of ingredients and spices. But what remained common was rice, sauteed meat, and a lot of flavours.
With increasing popularity, another version of biryani that came into being is veg biryani, made with long-grain rice (preferably basmati), lots of vegetables, herbs, and the quintessential biryani masala. What Is Pulao? Can Pulao Be Non-Vegetarian? According to 'Indian Food Tradition: A Historical Companion' by food historian K.T Achaya, Mahabharata mentions an instance of rice and meat cooked together, which is referred to as 'pulao' or 'pallao.
' The Oxford Dictionary weighs in; pulao is quite similar to the Turkish 'pilaf,' and this variant includes.