Hyderabad Blue - BIRYANI

India have a lots of clues and hints which defines it as Incredible..and one of them is Hyderabad.

Hyderabad, which have turned up as the fifth largest metropolis of India, the state capital of Andhra Pradesh, known for its rich history, art & culture...

But today it have an identity as booming IT City. Beautiful monument Charminar adds up to its beauty..more when thought about the beautiful & bold ladies born & brought up..like Miss Asia-Pacific 2000 Dia Mirza; Tennis player Sania Mirza...

The City of Nizams smells like Heaven and the credit goes to The Briyani....the famous "Hyderabadi Biryani".

Sources say that the biryani is originated from either Persia or Arabia. Biryani is derived from the Farsi word 'Birian' that means "fry before cooking".

But in the Hyderabadi Biryani, neither the meat nor the rice is fried before cooking but they are marinated in a paste of yogurt and spices. The 'the marinated meat' is transferred to Handi (deep vessel) forming the layer of meat. The next layer is of the Rice, which is also marinated into yogurt. The Handi is sealed with dough of flour and left for Dum cooking for hours.

When the meat and rice are cooked, the seal is opened and we find the flavoured colourful biryani which have more of yogurt flavour with species.

Hyderabadi Biryani is accompanied with Dahi chutney (curd & onions); Mirchi ka salan - a chilly curry. The salad includes onion, carrot, cucumber, & lemon wedges.

~ But to enjoy the flavour of Hyderabadi biryani one doesn't need to go Hyderabad and eat...rather one can move to the "HYDERABAD HOUSE". Its an International chain of Restaurants. I recently went there, one in Bangalore. The ambiance was great..something very much soothing and warm and easy-going.

We almost reach at the peak hours of the dinner time...and hence had to wait out side for the table...indeed a busy restaurant. There is also the facility of Take-Away. The staff of the restaurant was calm , friendly and suggestive..which really helps to the people like me cumming for the first time..

Soon we got the seat.. and without wasting much time order was placed.. Chicken Tikka and the very original Hyderabadi Biryani. It did not take much time to come and I was very much impressed by the piece of art in food to see. The chicken looked marvelous...so juicy-hot-spicy. Simply mouth-watering.

I don't know what to say...it was luck or unluck but indeed i was fortunate enough to have a to the candle light dinner. There was the power cut...Hence, the staff placed lighted Candles on each table. Well then we had CANDLE-LIGHT DINNER. It was then I realised that the aura of the restaurant was not only good in looks but practically was great. The Candle made the room glow and above all inspite of so many candles there was no smoke which made us sit comfortably and enjoy the food.

Indeed, it added to the flavour of the food. The Hyderabadi Biryani looked as prefect as anything. With lots of aroma, flavour, beautifully blended of colours and spice. The Rice were cooked just on the right temperature..that i could even count each rice. The chicken tasted great, it was so soft that one dint even need to have fork or knife to cut it. The curd provided as the accompaniment was smooth and tasty. And the chilly-curry just completed the whole meal so well.

The HYDERABAD-HOUSE indeed is the place were one can enjoy the very ethnic flavours of India. And "Hyderabadi Biryani is the right staple to smell and taste."

~ Check out the link: http://www.hyderabadhouse.com/