• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Delicious Crescent
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Food Philosophy
  • Nutrition
    • Healthy Eating Tips
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
Hyderabadi lamb biryani pin image.
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
Hyderabadi lamb biryani pin image.
×
Home » Recipes » Indian

Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani

Published: Dec 31, 2020 Updated: Mar 25, 2025 Author: Roxana Begum· This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
Hyderabadi lamb biryani pin image.

Hyderabadi lamb biryani is an amazingly delicious Indian dish with tender chunks of lamb in layers of fluffy rice, fragrant spices and fried onions. A much easier and authentic recipe presented step by step.

Pair it with Mirchi Ka Salan to make a great meal.

Chunks of marinated lamb on top of a mound of spiced Indian rice.

Lamb Biryani

This is a classic Indian mixed rice dish that is part of the Indian Mughlai cuisine, with its roots in a fusion of Central Asian and Indian flavors and techniques. Another lamb and rice dish from that region is the famous Kabuli Pulao. A wildly popular dish, biryani is served at major feasts, weddings, banquets and is a must-try for all food connoisseurs.

Why Is Hyderabadi Biryani So Special?

It is one of the most famous regional variations because of the combination of ingredients and technique used.

Lamb biryani can be prepared in two ways: (1) pakki biryani by cooking the meat fully before layering it with the rice and then steaming it. (2) kacchi biryani, where the raw marinated meat is placed in one single layer in the cooking pot and then topped with partially cooked rice and steamed together.

Kacchi biryani is so unique to Hyderabad, and is often the choice of chefs at important occasions. 

Sometimes, initially there may be some adjustments to be made to suit your own appliances and kitchen. But once you master this recipe, you will realize how easy and tasty it is. And will be able to dish out an amazing biryani quickly, as you don't have to cook the meat separately.

Fluffy and separate, the cooked rice grains should scatter like pearls. And with chunks of flavorful lamb that are well done, juicy and falling off the bone.

A plate full of lamb biryani served with chili pepper curry.

Ingredients

basmati rice, lamb meat, raw papaya paste, yogurt, spices, cilantro, mint, saffron, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, chili peppers, fried onions

Basmati Rice: Choose the highest quality aged basmati rice from a popular brand. Check in your local Indian grocery store or online for the different varieties offered for each brand and get the best, which is often the most expensive.

Lamb Meat: It is very important to use meat from young lamb. Meat from overly mature livestock will not work for this recipe (see recipe notes if you use this). Choose shoulder or leg meat, with bone, and cut into large chunks. Add marrow bones and lamb chops for good taste and variety. 

Raw Papaya Paste: This works as a meat tenderizer and is mandatory for the recipe. The papaya should be raw and green in color. Process it with the skin into a fine paste.

Yogurt: It should be neither too thick nor too runny.

Spices: This recipe uses both whole spices and ground spices. The latter can be made in bulk and stored for multiple uses. Spices are available at Indian grocery stores for a good price or online.

Herbs: Use fresh herbs when you can. Frozen cilantro and dried mint can also work for the marinade. 

Saffron: Choose best quality saffron. For more on that, check the post on Saffron Tea.

Onions: Slice the onions very thin. I used the 7.5 mm setting on my mandolin slicer. Sprinkle some flour on the onions before frying, to make them fry quicker and crisper. Check recipe notes for gluten-free tips.

Hyderabadi lamb biryani served in a plate.

Step By Step Overview

**Full recipe at the end of post.

Fried Onions

  • Fry thinly sliced onions until light golden brown.
Frying thinly sliced onions.

Meat Marination

  • Grind the biryani spices, add to meat and marinate overnight. 
  • Combine meat with marinade ingredients and fried onions. 
Blending spices and combining lamb meat with marinade.

Rice Preparation 

  • Rinse the basmati rice very well and drain. Soak ½ cup basmati rice in water and save the rest.
  • Boil water with salt, onion oil and whole spices in a large cooking pot. Cook rice until the grains are soft and drain in a colander.
Cooking rice and layering with meat and marinade.

Assemble The Layers

  • Transfer the meat with marinade to a large wide thick bottomed oven proof cooking pot.
  • Spread remaining herbs and most of the fried onions over the marinade.
  • Drain the soaked basmati rice and spread it over the fried onion layer. 
  • Then layer all the cooked rice. Sprinkle remaining fried onions, lemon juice, saffron water and ghee over the rice. 
Steaming biryani and mixing the rice/meat layers.

Final Steaming

  • Oven: Cover with parchment paper, aluminum foil and fit the lid tight over it and bake until the steam builds up well. 
  • Stove Top (alternative): In a thick bottomed cooking pot, first heat the biryani at medium high for few minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer until the steam builds up well.
  • Cool the biryani, gently mix the rice and meat, garnish with herbs, fried onions and serve.
Lamb biryani served with mirchi ka salan and raita.

Extra Tips

  • When boiling the rice, make sure to watch the time (4 to 5 minutes) and the rice should be soft at the tips and have a white dot in the center. It should still hold its shape well. 
  • Adding a pinch of salt or sugar to the saffron is helpful to grind it fine.
  • Stove top: Use a non stick cooking pot or a conventional heavy bottomed pot.
  • For a variation, add some boiled eggs on top of the meat/marinade before assembling with rice.
  • You can try using brown basmati rice, brown + white basmati rice or basmati rice + quinoa to enhance its nutrition value.
  • For more troubleshooting tips and frequently asked questions, check our popular Chicken Biryani.

What To Serve With It?

To make a festive meal serve it with bagara baingan (eggplants in rich gravy) or mirchi ka salan (chili peppers in creamy gravy) or Hyderabadi Tomato Egg Curry and raita (made with yogurt, sliced red onions, cilantro).

More Rice Recipes

  • Baghali polo (dill rice with lima beans) served with a lamb shank on a plate.
    Baghali Polo (Persian Dill Rice)
  • Close view of mushroom biryani.
    Mushroom Biryani
  • Persian saffron rice with chicken, yogurt and spinach served in a plate.
    Saffron Rice with Chicken, Yogurt and Spinach
  • Persian shrimp and rice served on a white plate.
    Shrimp Rice with Herbs (Meygoo Polo)

★ DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!

Close up view of a plate full of lamb biryani served with chili pepper curry.
5 from 11 votes

Lamb Biryani

Hyderabadi lamb biryani is an amazingly delicious Indian dish with tender chunks of lamb in layers of fluffy rice, fragrant spices and fried onions. A much easier and authentic recipe presented step by step.
Prep Time40 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Marination12 hours hrs
Print SaveSaved!
Course :Main Course
Cuisine :Indian
Servings: 16 Cups
Calories: 306kcal
Author: Roxana Begum

Ingredients

FRIED ONIONS

  • 1 lb onions yellow finely sliced
  • 1½ cups peanut oil

LAMB MEAT MARINATION

  • 2 lb lamb with bone young lamb shoulder/leg, with bone, cut in 2 inch pieces, see note
  • 1½ cups yogurt plain
  • 2 tablespoons raw papaya paste
  • 2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste or grated ginger and garlic
  • 1½ teaspoons salt adjust per taste
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder see note
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 chili pepper jalapeño, serrano or cayenne adjust per taste
  • 2 tablespoons oil leftover from fried onions
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup cilantro fresh chopped
  • 3 tablespoons mint fresh chopped

BIRYANI SPICES (see note)

  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 black cardamom
  • 8 green cardamom
  • 8 cloves
  • 2 bay leaves medium
  • 1 teaspoon shah jeera black cumin, see note
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • ½ star anise or ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg plus 1 blade mace

BIRYANI

  • 4 cups basmati rice long grain
  • 12 cups water
  • 2½ tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon oil leftover from fried onions
  • 1 teaspoon saffron ground and dissolved in 2 tablespoon hot water
  • 2 tablespoon ghee

WHOLE SPICES FOR RICE

  • 2 black cardamom
  • 6 green cardamom
  • 6 cloves
  • 2 bay leaves medium
  • 1 cinnamon stick
US Customary - Metric

Equipment

  • Wide Frying Pan
  • Candy/Fry thermometer
  • Spice Grinder
  • Oven Proof Cooking Pot
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

FRIED ONIONS

  • Heat the oil at medium high in a wide frying pan. If you place your palm about 3 inches over the surface of the oil, you should feel the heat. Or use a candy/fry thermometer.
  • Fry the onions in batches. Do not crowd the pan. Fry until they are crisp light golden brown. Set aside.

LAMB MEAT MARINATION

  • Combine meat with all the marinade ingredients up to oil and add ½ lemon juice, ½ herbs and ½ fried onions.
  • Grind all the biryani spices in a spice grinder, and add it to the meat/marinade and combine. Marinate overnight.

RICE PREPARATION

  • Rinse the basmati rice 4 to 5 times in plenty of water until it is clear. Drain well. Soak ½ cup basmati rice in water for about one hour. Save the rest.
  • Boil 12 cups of water with 2½ tablespoons salt, onion oil and whole spices (see note) in a large cooking pot. Add the rice and boil at medium high to high heat for 4 to 5 minutes until the grains are soft. Stir the rice while it is cooking. Drain rice in a colander and set aside.

ASSEMBLE RICE AND MEAT LAYERS

  • Transfer the meat with marinade to a 5 to 6 quart wide thick bottomed oven proof cooking pot.
  • Spread remaining herbs and most of the remaining fried onions over the marinade.
  • Drain the soaked basmati rice very well and spread it over the fried onion layer. This raw soaked rice will absorb the juices from the marinade.
  • Next, layer all the cooked rice. Sprinkle the remaining lemon juice, fried onions, saffron water and ghee over the rice.
    TIP: If you prefer, you may pick out the whole spices from the cooked rice before steaming.

FINAL STEAMING

  • Oven: Place parchment paper and then two sheets of aluminum foil over the cooking pot. Press the lid tight over it. Bake the lamb biryani in a preheated oven at 350ºF for one hour and 15 minutes, until the steam builds up well.
  • Stove Top (alternative): Use a thick bottomed cooking pot. Heat the biryani at medium high for about 10 to 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to the low setting and simmer for one hour and 15 minutes until the steam builds up well.
  • Let it cool five minutes and gently mix the rice and meat layers. Using a spatula, mound the biryani on a serving plate, making sure to present the rice in various colors — yellow, orange, white and brown. Place some lamb pieces on the top. Scatter fried onions, herbs, extra saffron rice on the top.
  • Serve it with Hyderabadi tomato egg curry, mirchi ka salan and/or a yogurt salad prepared with creamy yogurt, sliced red onions and cilantro.

Notes

  1. Fried Onions:
    • I used the 7.5 mm setting on my mandolin slicer to slice the onions finely.
    • Sprinkle some flour on the onions before frying, to make them fry quicker and crisper. If you use all purpose flour, then it will not be gluten free. Try corn starch or rice flour plus corn starch instead.
    • If you are unable to fry the onions as described in the recipe, at the very least make sure to sauté them until crisp golden brown like it is done in this Persian noodle soup recipe and adjust oil used for the recipe.
  2. Chili Powder: I used Kashmiri chili powder as it is mild. If you prefer it hot, then use regular chili powder.
  3. Basmati Rice:
    • Rinse it several times, until the water is clear and not starchy.
    • The idea is to cook the rice just enough, to be fluffy, be separate, retain shape and be firm.
    • The soaked rice should be drained well and not be too wet.
  4. Marinade:
    • The meat should be optimally coated with the marinade.
    • If the marinade is excessive it can result in the rice becoming soggy.
  5. Branded spice mixes may include salt and chili powder. If they are used to substitute the biryani spices in the recipe, then the salt and chili powder should be adjusted accordingly.
  6. Whole spices can be cooked wrapped in a muslin cloth, like the one used for bouquet garni or a metal mesh cooking infuser. If using whole spices for the marinade, just double the amount of spices in the recipe. When the spices are ground, the flavors are more intense.
  7. Using the optimal amount of salt and oil is very important. If everything else is right and you don't use appropriate amount of salt, that alone can ruin the taste of the biryani.
  8. Lamb:
    • It is very important to use young lamb shoulder or leg, with bone, cut and clean. You can add some marrow bones and lamb chops as well.
    • If you use meat from mature lamb, it will need more cooking time. So, you could first cook the marinated meat at low medium setting, until 50% done and then top with rice and steam it.
  9. Make Ahead: The onions can be fried ahead, wrapped in paper towels and packed in airtight containers or ziplock bags. Spice mixes can be made in bulk and stored in airtight glass containers for one to two months.
  10. Storage and Freezing: Biryani freezes very well. Leftovers can be stored in refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or frozen for later.
  11. Ghee is available at regular supermarkets and Indian grocery stores. Make it at home from butter following the instructions in this chickpea cookie recipe notes section.
  12. Shajeera: These may be referred to as black cumin or black caraway seeds in Indian stores. The labeling is not consistent. Ask your Indian grocer for “shahjeera”. You can make this in a slow cooker as well.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 354mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?I would love to know about it. Tag me @thedeliciouscrescent.

More Indian Recipes

  • Close up view of eggs in tomato curry served in a bowl.
    Egg Curry (Restaurant Style)
  • Close view of bhuna gosht served in a white plate.
    Bhuna Gosht (Pan Roasted Meat)
  • Side view of Indian split chickpea curry.
    Chana Dal (Restaurant Style)
  • Close up view of sauteed spicy shrimp served in a plate.
    Sautéed Spicy Shrimp
« Easy Fruit Salad With Orange Juice
Mirchi Ka Salan (Pepper Curry) »

Share the Post

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sameera

    June 18, 2022 at 9:49 am

    Super

    Reply
  2. Tawnie

    January 02, 2021 at 12:12 am

    Absolutely amazing. First time having this and we loved it! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      January 02, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      Thanks

      Reply
    • Dutch Sutton

      June 20, 2021 at 10:00 pm

      How can I save this remarkable tasty and filling dish??

      Reply
      • Roxana Begum

        July 28, 2021 at 5:54 pm

        I have tips for storage under the recipe.

        Reply
  3. Devy

    January 01, 2021 at 11:40 pm

    I'm so happy with this lamb biryani. The spices are so well-balanced and the lamb is just delicious and tender. And of course, the rice is so incredibly tasty.

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      January 02, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      So glad you liked it.

      Reply
  4. Cathleen

    January 01, 2021 at 11:14 pm

    This looks so yummy. And your step by step instructions were so helpful! Bookmarked to make next week, thank you so much for the recipe :)

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      January 02, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Deanne

    January 01, 2021 at 11:03 pm

    I saw lamb at the grocery store the other day and couldn't decide what to make with it. Your lamb biryani sounds like the perfect recipe!

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      January 02, 2021 at 6:56 pm

      Let me know how you like it.

      Reply
  6. Sara Welch

    January 01, 2021 at 9:51 pm

    This was everything a gourmet meal should be, and then some! Easily, a new favorite dish; it was delicious!

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      January 02, 2021 at 6:56 pm

      Surely gourmet!

      Reply
5 from 11 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hyderabadi lamb biryani pin image.

NICE TO MEET YOU!

Head shot of Roxana

Hi, I'm Roxana, registered dietitian and recipe developer. Here I share wholesome & delicious recipes with room for cravings. Healthy makeovers. Step-by-step photos & videos.
Read More…

Trending Recipes

  • Chicken biryani served in a plate.
    Easy Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
  • Indian dal served in a bowl with bread.
    Dal Recipe (Indian Lentil Curry)
  • Haleem topped with fried onions, chili slices, herbs and lemon wedges.
    Hyderabadi Haleem Recipe
  • Persian love cake served with tea.
    Persian Love Cake Recipe
  • Close up view of Persian grilled chicken kabobs on skewers.
    Grilled Chicken Kabobs (Joojeh)
  • Close up view of Persian herb stew in a white pan.
    Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew)
  • Ash-e reshteh served in a bowl..
    Ash Reshteh (Persian Noodle Soup Recipe)
  • Maamoul cookies arranged in a plate.
    Maamoul Cookies (Date Filled Cookies)

Footer

Hyderabadi lamb biryani pin image.

^ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy & Terms

Contact

  • Contact
  • Accessibility
As featured in image

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · THE DELICIOUS CRESCENT ·

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.