Good food has a way of bringing people together like nothing else can, and the legendary dishes of India are an excellent example of this. While Biryani (sorry, Bae-ryani) is something that we all know and love, India is home to many other preparations which layer rice, meat and spices to create sensational blends of flavour and texture.
Over the centuries, the subcontinent has seen delightful innovations in the realm of rice-and-meat-based dishes, the ingredients and preparation techniques picking up local inflections and transforming into tantalising creations. Whether it’s a simple khichdi, or a fully-loaded goshtaba, the exquisite one-pot wonders are as flavoursome as they are diverse.
While Biryani still rules the roost, here are 10 rice-and-meat dishes that you must try to understand the true depths of tastes that India has to offer!
1) Yakhni Pulao
Take some helping of meat, lovingly adorned with nawabi-approved spices, and slowly simmer it for hours on end until its juices build into an aromatic meat stock worthy of a royal table. This glorious concoction, colloquially dubbed 'yakhni', could incite even the most sullen of gourmands to swoon - for yakhni is the soul of the hallmark Awadhi dish of yakhni pulao. Torrents of rich, tempting yakhni are then added to long-grain fragrant rice, so that the rice can enhance in its richness. Not to mention, in true Nawabi style, the chicken used in yakhni pulao are often fed special diets of musk and saffron pills, both to perfume the meat and further enhance the flavour of the yakhni! Simply serve with a drizzle of pure ghee, and you've got yourself a delectable Awadhi delicacy.
2) Yarkandi Pulao
A flavoursome combination of buttery rice, chunks of meat, and matchstick-thin cuts of carrots, Yarkandi pulao has been travelling between the ancient Leh-Ladakh and Yarkand trade routes for decades. Cooked inside large and heavy-bottomed traditional stone pots called 'doltok', this unique recipe is now also served at the Namza Dining in Leh.
3) Mangshor Bhuna Khichuri
This rustic recipe is the secret winter comfort of the Bangalis! A generous scoop of yellow lentils or masoor dal is cooked with a medley of vegetables and fragrant pieces of mutton. Plenty of ghee is added to the mix and the khichuri is served to a drier consistency, like a moist pulao. Bask in the nourishing warmth of this luscious, savoury dish - it may even become your new staple!
4) Jadoh
If you're in Meghalaya, don't forget to take a bite of the famous Jadoh! This Khasi dish is prepared with indigenous rice cooked along with chunky pieces of pork and locally sourced herbs and spices. For the pride of the dish, lashings of fresh pig blood is also added to give it that earthy and mildly metallic flavour. Best enjoyed with the pork-centric 'Doh Khleh' side dish, a meal of Jadoh is certainly one of a kind.
5) Assamese Korma Pulao
A creamy, fragrant one-pot delight said to have been brought to Assam by Mughal soldiers years ago. Today, it's the dish of choice during celebratory meals–a festive mealtime staple in many Assamese Muslim households. The recipe has been adapted to the region's palate and resources, making it the perfect balance of old world flavours with modern twists. From caramelised onions that contribute to the dish's signature brownish hue to the perfectly cooked, aromatic, sticky, short-grained Joha rice, this dish is a delectable treat that is simply impossible to resist. A bite of Korma Pulao is a bite of Assamese culinary history!
6) Galho
If you're a fan of porridge, but looking for something a bit more adventurous, then Galho is the dish for you. It's the Angami Naga's speciality that combines glutinous indigenous rice, fresh herbs and a selection of local meats for a dish that's got a hint of tanginess and packed with flavours. It's the perfect dish when you're craving a warm bowl of comfort. Dig in and let the aromatic wild garlic chive, ginger and dzachie transport you to the Angami Naga world!
7) Mutton Tehri
Looking for something more robust than Galho? Then head to Hyderabad, Bangladesh or even Karnataka for a tasty Mutton Tehri. A one-pot dish made with long-grain aromatic rice, succulent chunks of meat and spices, its flavours are heightened with the addition of the pungent mustard oil. Every spoonful is a burst of aromatic spices and family-style comfort. Give in and indulge in this heavenly mouthful of Tehri- you won't regret it.
8) Anglo Indian Junglee Pulao
A colossal colander of conviviality, the Anglo Indian Junglee Pulao is a one-pot party platter! Bursting with chicken (or lamb) pieces and a medley of vegetables, this pulao is given balance and brightness with an aromatic blend of spices and fresh herbs like mint and coriander. And of course, the creamy coconut milk adds an extra layer of oomph! Gear up for the fiesta with a classic Devil Chutney to accompany the pulao.
9) Erachi Choru
A hearty comfort plate of the simplest nature from God’s own country, Kerala, Erachi Choru is an ideal everyday meal for its ease of preparation. Wild red rice and the most delicious meat curry are all that’s required along with a tempering of mustard, curry leaves and shallots. For a modern twist, try the Erachi Puttu - layers of spiced meat and steamed cylinders of rice flour and coconut scrapings.
10) Mutanjan
A dish shrouded in legends, and one that is all but rare these days. A heavenly union of sweetened rice intricately interwoven with strands of savoury meat, Mutanjan is a culinary creation rumoured to have been favoured by royalty since the times of Muhammad bin Tughluq. Drenched in delectable nuts and raisins, the sweet and savoury dish is a must-have during Ramadan, although good Mutanjan can prove hard to find. But fret not- Lebua Lucknow, Saraca Estate has the perfect solution to all your Mutanjan cravings, courtesy of their star chef, Mohsin Qureshi, who gladly indulges such requests!
So whether you're looking for a classic, like Biryani, or want to explore the flavours from the land of rich culinary heritage, India has it all! From the royal yakhni pulao to the rustic Mangshor Bhuna Khichur, these rice-and-meat creations show that India is much more than just Biryani. Here's to rice, meat and spices - the true key ingredients of exotic Indian dishes!
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