Fish Biryani Recipe is a spicy, flavourful and delicious biryani prepared by layering fried fish with an onion tomato masala with a layer of basmati rice and cooked to perfection. In this blog post learn how to make delicious fish biryani with step by step pictures and video.
Fish Biryani
Biryani, Everyone loves it. It is truly a delicacy of India. You can make it with anything you like starting from vegetables to fish. There is one thing in common in these types of biryani, which is the process of making it. The original biryani calls for few steps and the main one is the "DUM" part. But now we have found an easy way of making biryani which is using a pressure cooker.
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But the unique flavour, look and aroma comes to a biryani when it is cooked in a dum style. I have a Traditional Mutton Briyani, Vegetable Briyani which is made in dum style. Making a perfect biryani doesn't need any masterclass, just use the good quality basmati rice, so you will get the perfect grains and aroma of a biryani. Rice shouldn't be over cooked and the masala made for the biryani should be well balanced.
About Fish Biryani
Biryani can be made with variety of ingredients. Some of the most popular ones are chicken and mutton. Fish biryani is a recipe which is made in limited states around India, but it is widely popular all over Kerala.
I made this Fish biryani using traditional dum style. Fish pieces is marinated with spices and fried in oil till crispy. A masala is made in the same oil with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, yogurt, spices. Cooked basmati rice is layered over this masala along with fried fish, fried onions and cooked on low heat until fragrant.
Fish biryani has a unique taste and flavour to it. If you love sea food you will enjoy this biryani. And I recommend you to check my prawn biryani as well.
My Favorite Biryani Recipes from this blog
Pressure cooker Chicken biryani
Fish Biryani Ingredients
Basmati Rice - use good quality basmati rice for biryani which provides best flavour and aroma to the dish.
Whole Spices - main flavour for the biryani comes from the whole spices used. Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, adds warmth and flavour.
Fish - use firm white fish for biryani. Seer fish, king fish are good options.
Onions & Tomatoes - like most Indian cooking, onions and tomatoes form the base.
Yogurt - yogurt helps create the thick masala for the biryani also provides the tangy taste.
Spice Powders - you can use biryani masala powder or any spice blend of choice.
Fresh Herbs - coriander leaves and mint leaves adds the aroma to the biryani.
Why You will Love this Recipe?
Easy & Impressive - The recipe is easy and very forgiving. Also it is quite impressive, so if you are cooking this for a sea food lover, they will admire you for making this.
How to Make Fish Dum Biryani (Stepwise Pictures)
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| Take all your ingredients |
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| Boil lots of water with whole spices |
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| Add rice to it and cook |
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| Once it is cooked, drain them |
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| Set this aside |
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| Take your fish pieces |
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| Sprinkle in salt and spice powders |
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| Give a squeeze |
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| Now everything is marinated well |
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| Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan, you are gonna make briyani in this pan |
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| Drop the fish pieces in |
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| Flip over and sear them |
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| Remove them to a plate once they are cooked |
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| In the remaining flavourful oil |
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| Add in pandan leaves |
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| Sliced onions |
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| Saute them well |
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| Add in green chillies |
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| add in ginger garlic paste |
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| And the spice powders |
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| Now add in tomatoes |
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| Pour in some water |
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| Cook them |
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| Sprinkle some salt over |
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| Add a bunch of mint and coriander leaves |
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| Add in curd too |
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| Mix these well |
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| Let them cook till everything is combined |
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| Spread the rice evenly |
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| Sprinkle some more herbs |
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| Pour some saffron liquid on top |
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| Arrange the fish pieces over this |
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| Cover with a lid |
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| Now for the dum part, heat a heavy tawa |
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| Place the whole thing on top |
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| Let it steam |
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| Add beautifully cooked |
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| Serve |
Expert Tips
- use good quality basmati rice which is important for the taste and texture of the biryani.
- Make sure to soak the basmati rice to soften the grains which provides more fluffy texture in biryani.
- Any white fish can be used for the biryani. I prefer to use fish with less bones like seer fish and king fish.
- Taste and adjust seasonings in the masala.
More Biryani Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe Card
Fish Biryani Recipe (Fish Dum Biryani)
Equipment
- Cooking pot
Ingredients
For Cooking Rice for Biryani
- 2 cups Basmati Rice
- 10 cups Water
- 4 no Cardamom
- 4 no Cloves
- 1 inch Cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 2 no Bay Leaf
- 2 tbsp Salt
For Frying Fish (Marination)
- ½ kg Fish Use firm white fleshed fish
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri Chilli powder
- 2 tsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Salt
- ¼ cup Coconut Oil
For Biryani Masala
- 1 no Pandan Leaves optional
- 2 large Onion peeled & thinly sliced
- 3 no Green Chilli slit
- 3 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri Chilli powder
- 1 tbsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 1 large Tomato chopped finely
- ½ cup Curd
- ½ cup Mint Leaves finely chopped
- ½ cup Coriander leaves finely chopped
- Salt to taste
For Saffron Milk
- ¼ tsp Saffron
- ¼ cup Warm Milk
Instructions
- Wash and Soak rice for 30 mins. Now boil lots of water with all the ingredients given for cooking rice. Add the soaked rice in the water and cook it for 8 to 10 mins till the grains are 90 percentage cooked. Strain it in a colander and set aside.
- Mix saffron with warm milk and set aside so it steeps.
- Marinate the fish in the ingredients given for 30 mins. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan(this is the pan where you are going to make biryani). Add the fish pieces in this oil and cook them for 5 mins on each side. Remove them to a plate.
- In the remaining oil, add in pandan leaves and fry them for few mins. Add in sliced onions, green chilli and saute for 5 mins or so. Once the onion is cooked, add in ginger garlic paste and saute them for a min. Now add in all the spice powders and mix them for 30 sec. Add in tomatoes and a splash of water. Cook this for 5 mins till the tomatoes is mashed completely. Add in salt, mint leaves, coriander leaves and curd. Mix well. Cook this for 5 mins till the masala is completely cooked.
- Now spoon the cooked rice on top and add some more coriander and mint leaves. Drizzle over some saffron milk and place the fish pieces on top of the rice.
- Cover this whole thing and place over a heavy bottom iron tawa and put the tawa on low heat. Let this whole thing be on dum for 15 to 20 mins. Open the lid and mix everything up. Serve this biryani with raita.
Notes
- use good quality basmati rice which is important for the taste and texture of the biryani.
- Make sure to soak the basmati rice to soften the grains which provides more fluffy texture in biryani.
- Any white fish can be used for the biryani. I prefer to use fish with less bones like seer fish and king fish.
- Taste and adjust seasonings in the masala.
Nutrition
If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.
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Vijeta Karpe
Nice & easy recipe of fish biryani.. What r these pandan leaves & where can i find it?.. i know mostly it is used in Thai & Philipino cuisine..
Patience Gibson
This Fish Biryani recipe sounds delicious! The combination of aromatic spices and tender fish must make for a flavorful dish. It would be great to know which type of fish works best and any tips for keeping the fish from breaking while cooking!
Coral Crue
this looks extremely delicious. where do we get pandan leaf?
prethika skm
clear presentation aarthi...will make it soon
Hamaree Rasoi
Awesome looking biriyani. Looks wonderfully prepared.
Deepa
morri
I made it, but with bay leaves instead of pandan and I deboned the fish before steaming. Very yummy, we all love fish dishes.
lisha
what is the other option if i dont have a tawa.
Aarthi
@lishaYou can place the whole thing in a very low oven for 10 mins. Or you could place it over any big frying pan or pan.
Anu Shoj
mouth watering biriyani...awesome!
Cheers
Anu
Anu's Healthy Kitchen
Anonymous
Tried this today and came out really good. My husband loves it...
Rahath TK
I love your blog , keep sharing your wonderful recipes
Anonymous
I love your recipes
Priya
Hai Arthi,
This is my first try at Fish Briyani. It turned out soooo tasty. The steps were like seeing you cook. Thank you
അഞ്പ Anju
Thank you so much arthi... your recipies with pics are really helpful for me... I love your recipies...
അഞ്പ Anju
Thank you so much arthi... your recipies with pics are really helpful for me... I love your recipies...
Anonymous
Aarthi , can you tell me which garam masala to use, as each brand have different flavor or let me know your recipe to make home made garam masala. Thanks
Aarthi
@Anonymouscheck this out
http://www.yummytummyaarthi.net/2013/03/homemade-garam-masala-powder-my-version.html
Anusha Isaacraj
Thanks pa for this recipe.
All your recipes are too good!!!
God bless u n family 🙂
Anonymous
gud one aarthi
Anonymous
Hi...
Found ur website few days ago nd really like it.
One question that how look does it take to cook fish?Nd how to know that its is cooked?
Even though whenever I tried to cook chicken , it takes 40-45 mins and even more. Can you tell why?or what is the error at my end
Aarthi
fish cooks in 10 to 12 mins
Anonymous
hey
I tried . I cooked for around 20 mins , even then there was raw smell and the family was complained that its nt cooked frm inside.
Same i experience with chicken as the inner part seems bland even after marinating.
Sry i am really clueless abt fish, how to judge its cooked? and which fish should i choose?
Anonymous
nd also please could you tell me how to cook white creamy lemon chicken? Like I am not able to find, If you could send me the link
Neha
Hi Arthi I'm a fan of ur recepies. I tried most of your recepies all turned out very yummy. Keep posting
Rathi
Hi Arthi..I'm a huge fun of yummy tummy. Your website is my first priority when comes to food search.
Your Fish Biryani came out really delicious and moist. It's definitely a keeper. My whole family loves it including my 2 years old 🙂
Zaheda
I tried this with Prawns, it was probably the best biryani I have ever tasted. My husband and kids love it . This is a 5 star recipe. Thank you so much