Kurdish Biryani - Iraqi Biryani Recipe (2024)

Craving a truly aromatic and flavorful rice dish? Here comes the authentic taste of Iraqi Kurdish cuisine! This fragrant Kurdish biryani consists of a rice packed with vermicelli, veggies, herbs, nuts and protein, relishing flavors in every bite!

This aromatic dish is usually made for special occasions like family gathering, dinner festivities, Ramadan, and Eid holidays. A perfect mixture of sweet and sour is a true celebration of Iraqi cuisine and a must-try dish!

A Signature Kurdish Biryani

What Exactly is Biryani?

Historians believe that biryani dish originated in Persia and it was brought to Indian subcontinent. Even the name biryani can be traced to the original Persian "birinj biryan" - which means literally a fried rice.

Nowadays, biryani is commonly regarded as a national dish in Indian and Arab countries. Importantly, Kurdish biryani or Iraqi biryani is a quintessential dish in Kurdistan region, and its main ingredients are rice with vegetables, nuts and chicken.

The different textures combined with the spices – it's truly magical! Just try this fluffy rice with crunchy nuts and sweet raisins and you will have a dish unforgettable to your memories!

Why You Will Love Kurdish Biryani:

This dish has only delicious, simple, and affordable ingredients.

Kurdish biryani is an impressive and festive dish for a special dinner and other celebrations!

It is really a refreshing substitute for plain cooked rice.

The fragrant combination of crispy potatoes, sweet raisins, crunchy nuts, and fluffy rice is absolutely irresistible to everyone!

It can be easily cooked even by the beginners! Just follow the easy steps in this recipe.

Top Tips for the Best Kurdish Biryani:

I sincerely recommend you to prepare all ingredients beforehand and cut everything on separate plates. This way the cooking process will go easier for you.

If you decide to choose chicken for your biryani, you can use only chicken breast or boil a whole chicken. After it's boiled, shred the chicken or cut it into cubes.

You can buy a rotisserie chicken: take all the meat off and add it to your biryani.

As for the meat cubes, it is much better to pre-cook them. First, cook them in a pressure cooker. Second, saute meat cubes on medium heat. Now they're ready to be added to the spiced rice.

If you decide to add tiny meatballs, mix black pepper, salt, and 1 teaspoon of 7 spices to 2 cups of ground beef. Shape small meatballs and fry them on medium heat.

For frying, use a large pot to avoid oil splashes in your kitchen.

Washingand rinsingricehelps to get rid of extra starch.

It's best to use anon-stick pan to keep the potatoes and nuts crunchy.

Placing akitchen/paper towelon the pot's lid is very important. It absorbs the moisture and the rice becomes fluffy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Kurdish Biryani Is a Blast of Flavors

Simple Ingredients for Kurdish Byriani:

• Oil
• Water
• Vermicelli noodles
• Frozen peas and carrots
• Potatoes
• Slivered almonds
• Raisins
• Chicken breast
• Basmati rice
• Maggie cube
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Biryani spices

Easy Directions to Follow:

Step 1:

In a medium saucepan, add ¼ cup of oil and vermicelli noodles. You have to stir them frequently to achieve the golden brown color. Add 1 cup of hot water, salt, and frozen peas and carrots. Cook on medium heat for the water to be fully absorbed. Transfer to a large tray and set aside.

Peel, wash, and cut your potatoes into small cubes. Next, you have to mix them with salt and oil. Now it's time to pan-fry potatoes on medium heat to have them golden and crispy.

Toast the slivered almonds in a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil. Stir almonds over medium heat. The moment almonds' color becomes a golden brown, add raisins and cook for only 30 seconds.

Now it's time to mix the cubed chicken breast with salt and 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the cubed chicken to a different skillet and stir over medium heat. The minute chicken cubes are white, turn off the heat and set the pan aside.

Step 2:

It's time to add ¼ cup of oil to a pot, along with rinsed rice, salt, maggie cube, biryani spices, black pepper, and hot water.

Make sure everything is combined well. Keep the pot on high heat without lid.

The moment all the moisture is absorbed, cover with lid and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.

Assembly:

Everything is cooked and ready! Now it is the right time to harmoniously assemble this amazing dish. You should bring a large tray. Then, add to it your cooked vermicelli, carrots and peas mixture, cooked chicken, almonds, and cooked rice.

Add more spices for a better fragrance and taste: 1 tablespoon of biryani spices and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Now gently mix it all to make sure everything is well combined.

Here you have it – a delicious homemade Iraqi Biryani or Kurdish biryani! Sounds perfect to serve it with a side of chopped vegetable salad or cucumber yogurt salad. Enjoy the mouthwatering delicacy of Kurdish authentic cuisine!

Delicious Kurdish Biryani

Other Iraqi and Kurdish Recipes You Will Love:

• Kurdish kubba Hamuth -Iraqi Kubba Soup
• kubba Halab
• Kubba Mosul
• Mint Lentil Soup Recipe|A Step by Step Guide
• Effortless Beef and Vegetable Casserole Recipe
• Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe (Dolma)
• Hearty Fava Bean Stew
• Special Bulgur Pilaf with Vermicelli and Chicken
• Unique Stuffed Dumplings: Kubba Halab
• Klecha Recipe | Date cookies (كليجة)

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