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What To Serve With Biryani Recipes: 26 Best Side Dishes

What to serve with biryani for a flavorful meal? I’ve got plenty of suggestions.

Biryani is a popular Indian dish. It’s a tasty rice meal with several toppings.

With so many possibilities, it might be hard to choose the best veg biryani accompaniments.

So I’ll examine several pairings for a tasty biryani experience in this guide.

What To Serve With Biryani Recipes featured image | Girl Meets Food

What are the best dishes to serve with biryani?

  • Raita – the classic accompaniment

Raita is a very popular side dish for briyani. It cools the biryani’s spices with yogurt’s refreshing flavor. Raita can include cucumber, tomato, and onion. Cumin or cumin powder and coriander can provide additional taste.

  • Papadum crispy delight

Papadum is a crispy Indian flatbread eaten as a side or appetizer. Its crunchiness complements biryani. Papadum is usually made with lentils or chickpeas, spices, and oil.

You can also discover some chickpea replacements in case you run out of this ingredient.

  • Naan the bread option

Indian recipes often include naan, a traditional bread. Its softness and fluffiness make it a great biryani complement. You can use wheat or all-purpose flour and achieve a more intense flavor with garlic and herbs.

  • Chutney flavor enhancer

Indian meals often include chutney. It complements biryani with a spicy and sweet flavor. You can make different types of chutney, such as tamarind, coconut, mint, or tomato.

  • Pickles the tangy addition

Indian recipes sometimes include pickles. They complement biryani with a tangy flavor. Mango, lemon, and carrot can all be pickled to pair with biryani.

  • Dahi Bhalla creamy side

Dahi Bhalla is a traditional Indian appetizer or side dish. Its creamy and tangy texture pairs well with biryani. Dahi Bhalla is made with lentils, yogurt, and spices. Cumin seeds and coriander can provide earthy flavor notes.

  • Samosas perfect snack

Indian samosas can be served as appetizers or side dishes. They complement biryani with their crispiness and taste. You can fill your samosas with potatoes, peas, or other ingredients.

  • Shami Kebab add a twist

Shami kebab is a traditional Indian side dish. Its savory taste complements biryani’s variety of spices. It’s usually made with minced meat, lentils, and spices. You can skip the meat for a vegetarian option filled with lentil or chickpea protein.

  • Mirchi ka salan the spicy side

Mirchi ka salan, or curried chilli peppers, is a spicy and flavorful side dish. It complements biryani with its heat. Cumin and coriander provide depth of flavor to a peanut, sesame seed, and coconut sauce.

  • Gulab Jamun the sweet treat

After a meal, Indians often serve Gulab Jamun. It complements biryani with a sweet and rich aftertaste. Gulab Jamun is deep-fried dough prepared from milk solids. Cardamom and rose water-flavored sugar syrup bring out its heavenly flavor.

  • Mango lassi refreshing drink

Mango Lassi is a popular Indian drink paired with many dishes. It complements biryani by cooling its variety of spices. Mango Lassi is produced by blending fresh mango pulp, yogurt, sugar, and cardamom. It’s a delicious drink for any occasion.

If you can’t find any mangos for your drink, you can replace them with peaches or other fruits. Here’s the link to the best mango substitutes I could find.

Biryani pairs well with numerous foods. Raita, papadum, naan, chutney, salad, pickles, dahi bhalla, samosas, gulab jamun, and mango lassi are all alternatives. These condiments provide flavor and can be tailored to suit specific tastes.

What salad to serve with biryani?

Biryani rice with chickpeas is on a plate surrounded with side dishes | Girl Meets Food

Depending on taste and availability, salad can be served with biryani. Some ideas:

  • Cucumber-raita salad

Classic Indian cucumber raita goes well with biryani. Cucumbers, yogurt, cumin powder, coriander, and other spices go into making this refreshing salad. It’s a nice complement to the spicy biryani and a terrific way to cut the heat.

  • Onion-tomato salad

A cool onion tomato salad goes nicely with biryani. Slice onions and tomatoes and combine with lemon juice, salt, and black pepper for a simple yet delicious side.

  • Green salad

Serve biryani with a simple green salad. Just toss lettuce, cucumber, tomato, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper together. For crunch and flavor, add carrots, bell peppers, or radishes.

A green salad can include different leafy greens—arugula, kale, Swiss chard, frisée etc. These substitutes for Swiss chard and alternatives to endive can help you discover more flavors.

  • Kachumber salad

Diced cucumber, tomato, onion, and green chili peppers make kachumber salad, a traditional Indian dish. It goes nicely with biryani, especially when spiced up with cumin and lemon juice.

  • Cabbage-carrot slaw

A crisp and refreshing cabbage and carrot slaw goes nicely with spicy biryani. Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper into shredded cabbage and carrots. If you want more texture, throw in extra raisins or nuts.

  • Fruit salad

Try a fruit salad as a light and refreshing dessert or side dish. Prepare a fruit salad by dicing up a variety of fruits. Add some zing by mixing in with lime juice and honey.

You can try some tropical fruits like papaya, kiwi, and pineapple for a unique twist. Have a look at some tasty papaya alternatives you can try for more options.

Salad with biryani has various alternatives. Cucumber raita, green salad, or cabbage and carrot slaw can satisfy various tastes. A fruit salad is also a great option for a sweet and refreshing side.

What sauce to serve with biryani?

Biryani rice is served in a metal bowl. There are 2 small bowls with sauces next to it | Girl Meets Food

Depending on personal choice and biryani type, there are several sauce possibilities. Some ideas:

  • Mint-yogurt sauce

Biryani goes nicely with Indian mint yogurt sauce. Greek yogurt, mint leaves, cumin powder, chili powder, and lemon juice make a refreshing dip. Add some garam masala for a smokey taste.

  • Tamarind chutney

The sour and sweet tamarind chutney pairs well with the fragrant biryani. Tamarind pulp, sugar, cumin, coriander, and chili powder are all included. It works wonderfully in biryani because of the sweetness and tang it brings to the dish.

  • Tomato-onion gravy

Vegetable biryani tastes well with tomato onion gravy. Tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, and garam masala are the common ingredients. The meal is brightened by the tanginess of the sauce.

  • Mint-coriander chutney

Another famous Indian condiment for biryani is mint coriander chutney. Mint and coriander leaves, green chiles, lemon juice, cumin, and salt make a tangy, spicy sauce. Blend mint coriander chutney ingredients until smooth and serve this amazing condiment with your main dish.

  • Mango chutney

Mango chutney complements biryani with its sweet and tangy flavor. It can be made with green mangoes, jaggery, and spices like mustard seeds and red chili powder. This chutney can add a unique flavor to your biryani.

Biryani sauce has various alternatives. A cool mint yogurt sauce, a sweet and sour tamarind chutney, or a spicy mint coriander chutney will satisfy any taste. For a complete and enjoyable dinner, pair your biryani dish with a tasty sauce.

What vegetables go with biryani?

A transparent baking dish full of biryani with vegetables is on a table. There is cutlery, a glass of water and veggies next to it | Girl Meets Food

Indian biryani is famous for its rice, spices, and often meat. It tastes great alone, but adding veggies boosts flavor and nutrition. Here’s my choice of vegetables to create a healthy side dish:

  • Mixed vegetable curry

Eat extra greens by making a curry with a wide variety of vegetables. Green peas, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots are the usual components. Serve it next to your biryani, and the two will go well together.

  • Aloo Gobi

Potato-cauliflower Aloo Gobi is a classic Indian dish. Black cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder flavor this biryani side dish. Potatoes and cauliflower can provide extra flavor and texture to your biryani meal.

  • Bhindi Masala

Spicy tomato-based okra can increases the taste and texture of an already wonderful biryani dish. Its authentic taste is achieved with okra, onions, tomatoes and bold spices and herbs.

  • Palak Paneer

This spinach-paneer dish is famous in India. Cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala flavor the spinach, while paneer cheese makes it creamy. Palak Paneer as a biryani side dish is an amazing vegetarian option with protein and veggies.

Biryani goes nicely with numerous veggies. Whether you like mixed vegetable curry, aloo gobi, bhindi masala, or palak paneer, adding veggies to biryani adds flavor, nutrition, and texture. Fresh vegetables can also provide flavor and fill out the meal.

Veg biryani accompaniments FAQs

Grey bowl of biryani is on a grey surface. There are some spices and chili peppers next to it | Girl Meets Food
Is biryani a main dish or a side dish?

Biryani is usually served as a main dish. It is abundant with flavors and spices, and often contains basmati rice with meat and vegetables. The combination of fragrant rice, protein and spices in biryani makes it a filling meal.

What dessert goes well with biryani?

Indian desserts such as kheer, gulab jamun, and rasmalai all pair well with biryani.

What is the white stuff that comes with biryani?

The white stuff that comes with biryani is usually a yogurt-based raita.

What is the most important thing in biryani?

The most important thing in biryani is the mix of spices. It often contains cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chilli powder.

What types of briyani are there?

There are many types of biryani, including Hyderabadi biryani, Lucknowi biryani, Goan biryani, and Kashmiri biryani.

BOTTOM LINE: Biryani is an Indian rice dish that goes well with a variety of sides, salads, and sauces. Riata, papadum, naan, chutney, pickles, samosas, and mango lassi are typical complements. Salads include cucumber raita, onion-tomato, green, kachumber, and cabbage-carrot slaw.

Mint-yogurt, tamarind, tomato-onion gravy, and mirchi ka salan are popular sauces. These sides and condiments have several flavors that can be adjusted for a wonderful biryani dish.

No matter your cooking skills, you can always find tasty side dishes to serve with your meals. Please feel free to look around the rest of my blog!

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