There are many different options out there when it comes to choosing a side dish for chicken Biryani.
If you are planning to create an Indian meal that features chicken Biryani, it is great to look for some best side dishes to serve alongside the main character.
Read on to find out what dishes go best with chicken Biryani and can bring the authentic Indian spirit to your own kitchen.
What is chicken Biryani?
Chicken Biryani is a delicious Indian rice dish that is flavorful, aromatic, and super tasty.
It can be found in different regions of India with slight variations in the recipe.
However, it is most consumed by the Muslims as people in this religion don’t eat pork, so chicken is one of the top choices for meat in their diets.
This dish consists of layers of long grain rice, chicken meat, fragrant spices like cardamom, cinnamon sticks, slives, bay leaves, nutmeg, and saffron steamed in a covered pot.
Sometimes, the recipe also calls for eggs or potatoes.
Chicken is the most common version, but the Biryani can also be made from other kinds of meat like goat or lamb, or even seafood like fish and prawn.
The word Biryani is derived from the Persian word Birian, meaning rice that is cooked with various spices and cooked over a wood fire.
What to consider when choosing a chicken Biryani’s side dish?
Side dishes are a great way to add variety and flavor to your meal.
Although chicken Biryani is fantastic on its own, it will be better to be paired with some other side dishes.
Here are some things that you should keep in mind when choosing a side for chicken Biryani:
Choose a light dish with more vegetables to serve with chicken Biryani
Chicken Biryani is a hearty dish on its own.
It consists of both meat and rice, so there is no need to serve this dish with other dishes that contain these two ingredients.
You should opt for a lighter dish that is mainly made up of vegetables to complete a meal that is not only delicious but also nutritious and easy to eat.
It is better to opt for a dish without a spicy taste
Since chicken Biryani is a classic Indian dish, it features many flavors from various spices.
It is also quite spicy, therefore, when choosing a side dish to serve with this delicacy, remember to stick with a milder taste so that it can ease the hot flavor from chicken Biryani.
Otherwise, your meal might burn up your mouth, especially if you have a sensitive palate.
5 best side dishes to serve with chicken Biryani
Now, it’s time to take a look at the best five side dishes that go perfectly with chicken Biryani:
1. Raita
No products found.Raita is a great side dish for chicken Biryani as it has a pleasant sour taste from yogurt and refreshingness of vegetables, especially cucumber.
It helps cool your palate and body down from spicy food like chicken Biryani or just add some extra flavor to your meal.
2. Pakoras
Pakoras are a favorite snack in India, but it can work great as a perfect side dish for chicken Biryani.
This dish is typically made from potatoes or onions that are coated with a batter and deep-fried until crispy.
Pakoras provide a contrast in the texture when serving with chicken Biryani as they are crunchy and light, while chicken Biryani is soft and hearty.
3. Vegetable curry
If the chicken Biryani is a bit dry to you, serve it with curries.
Vegetable curries are best in this case because you have enough meat in the chicken Biryani recipe.
The creamy taste and texture pair well with steamed rice to complete an Indian-style meal.
4. Paneer Makhani
Another option for chicken Biryani’s side dish is Paneer Makhani.
This creamy and rich gravy doesn’t consist of meat, but it is still a rich source of protein and calcium.
It also delivers a slightly sour and refreshing taste from tomatoes to balance the taste of your chicken Biryani.
When serving this dish as a side for chicken Biryani, you should season it with fewer spices, especially those that have a pungent and spicy flavor.
5. Naan bread
Naan bread is a traditional kind of flatbread in Indian cuisine.
It is often used as a cooking utensil to grab foods in this Asian cuisine.
Naan bread is easy to make, light, delicious, and can work well with any savory dish.
The bottom line
Although you have a lot of options to choose from to serve with chicken Biryani, it is important to take into account what you and how your family or friends like to complete an Indian-style party.
Hopefully, the aforementioned suggestions will help give you some ideas on what types of dishes can go well with the Muslim delicacy, chicken Biryani.
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