Chettinad Biryani Recipe (Vegetarian)

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Head to Tamil Nadu in South India, which is also the region of the Chettiar community that is known for its robust and versatile food. And when we are talking about this food culture, how can we not mention about the famous Chettinad Biryani? My recipe of this biryani version is a spicy flavorful vegetarian one made with basmati rice, fresh mushrooms, yogurt, plenty of spices, herbs and coconut milk. The mushrooms add a good deal of umami flavor and a meaty texture to the biryani! Try it to know.

chettinad biryani on a blue rimmed white plate with a fork.

About Chettinad Biryani

Mushrooms make a regular appearance in my family meals. So, many of my favorite recipes include this earthy ingredient.

On this post, I have shared a delish, robust and complex-flavored recipe of Chettinad Biryani made with mushrooms, yogurt, spices and coconut milk as the base.

Chettinad Biryani hails from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, home to the Chettiar community known for its vibrant culture, distinctive architecture, and, most notably, its bold and flavorful cuisine.

This biryani, like many dishes of the Chettinad culinary repertoire, is a harmonious blend of the community’s trade influences, local ingredients, and traditional cooking techniques.

This Chettinad Biryani has a complex flavor and is quite spicy. Usually, the South Indian version of biryanis are one-pot recipes and not cooked in layers or dum-cooked, like this traditional Veg Biryani. My recipe will give you a really flavorsome biryani which will keep you longing for more.

To make this particular Chettinad Biryani recipe, you will need a few key ingredients, including Coconut Milk and Curd or yogurt. You can make your coconut milk a day before or you can even use store-bought one.

The curd or yogurt can be skipped, if needed. However, I would not recommend skipping the coconut milk, as it is an essential ingredient in this recipe.

To make this Chettinad Biryani in the Instant Pot or in a stove-top pressure cooker, do read my FAQ section below or the notes section of the recipe card.

If you love different varieties of biryanis made with mushrooms, have a look at this South Indian style vegan recipe of Mushroom Biryani.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Chettinad Biryani

Soak & Prep Rice

1. First, rinse 1 heaped cup rice well in water. Then, soak it in water for 20 to 30 minutes.

You can use any kind of non-sticky white rice. I have included basmati rice but the South Indian variety of seeraga samba rice also works well.

rice soaked in water in yellow bowl.

2. After 20 to 30 minutes, drain the rice of all the water. Add 1 teaspoon ghee to the soaked rice grains.

rice with scoop of ghee on top in yellow bowl.

3. Next, coat the rice with ghee, then allow the rice to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.

Note: Instead of marinating the rice, you can also sauté the rice in ghee lightly.

rice in yellow bowl with spoon.

Prep Other Ingredients

4. While the rice soaks in water, prep your other ingredients. First, rinse or wipe dry 200 to 250 grams button mushrooms. Then, quarter them and place in a mixing bowl.

chopped mushrooms in glass mixing bowl.

5. Next, thinly slice 2 medium onions. After that, chop 1 medium to large tomato.

At this point, you can also go ahead and chop 3 to 4 green chilies, 3 to 4 medium garlic cloves and 1 inch ginger. Additionally, you can chop mint leaves and cilantro as well.

Note: If you are worried about the spice level, you can add fewer green chilies to the recipe.

chopped onions and tomatoes on white plate.

Make Green Paste & Marinate

6. Now, in a small grinder or chutney grinder, combine ¼ cup chopped mint leaves, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 2 to 3 teaspoons chopped green chilies, 1 teaspoon chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon chopped ginger.

chopped ginger, garlic, green chilies and herbs in a grinder.

7. Then, add ½ to 1 tablespoon water and grind to a fine and smooth paste.

ingredients ground to a paste in grinder.

8. Next, add the ground green paste along with 3 tablespoons curd (or yogurt) to the chopped mushrooms.

Note: Curd can be skipped in the recipe. Just marinate them with the rest of the ingredients.

ground green paste, curd and chopped mushrooms in glass bowl.

9. After that, add ¼ to ⅓ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne, ½ teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.

ground green paste, ground spices, curd and chopped mushrooms in glass bowl.

10. After that, gently mix all the ingredients with the mushrooms. Cover and set aside to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes.

mushrooms covered in green masala in mixing bowl.

11. Now, take all the whole spices and set aside.

Note: Below the spices are photographed in clockwise order:

  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • 2 kapok buds (Marathi moggu), optional
  • 1 medium to large tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
  • 6 to 7 black peppers
  • 1 inch cinnamon
  • 3 to 4 cloves
  • 1 small piece of stone flower, optional
  • 2 single strands of mace, optional
tej patta and whole spices on a round white plate.

Fry & Sauté

12. Now, heat 2 to 2½ tablespoons oil in a thick-bottomed pot or pan. Lower the heat, add the whole spices and sauté until they are fragrant.

Use any neutral oil. You can also make the biryani with coconut oil.

tej patta and spices in oil in pan.

13. Now, add about ¾ to 1 cup thinly sliced onions.

thinly sliced onions in pan.

14. Then, stir well and sauté the mixture on low to medium heat. Add a pinch of salt for quick cooking of the onions.

sautéed onions and spices in pan.

15. While you cook, stir often. Continue to sauté until the onions become golden.

browned onions and spices in pan.

16. Then, add ½ cup chopped tomatoes.

browned onions and chopped tomatoes in pan.

17. Now, stir and sauté the tomatoes on medium-low to medium heat for about 2 minutes.

sautéed onions and tomatoes in pan.

18. Next, add the marinated mushrooms.

mushrooms in green marinade in pan.

19. Then, stir well again and sauté them for 6 to 7 minutes.

sautéed mushrooms in green marinade in pan.

20. Now, in the bowl, with a little bit of the marinade left, add 1 cup water. Then, mix the marinade with the water.

Note: Add water as required depending on the quality of rice. You can add from ½ to 1 cup water. For example, I used organic basmati rice, so I added 1 cup water.

water and green spice paste mix in mixing bowl with spoon.

21. Keep an eye on the mushrooms. When they have shrunk and you can see oil specks on top of the mixture, it is time to add the water + left over marinade mixture.

chettinad biryani mixture in pan.

Make Chettinad Biryani

22. Then, add 1 cup thick coconut milk.

coconut milk in the biryani mixture in pan.

23. Now, mix and stir well.

chettinad biryani mixture in pan.

24. Then, season with salt.

teaspoon of salt being added to gravy mixture in pan.

25. Continue to stir.

Note: At this point, check the taste of the stock. It should taste a bit salty.

chettinad biryani mixture in pan.

26. Then, on medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil.

chettinad biryani mixture simmering in pan.

27. Next, add the ghee-coated rice and mix gently.

rice in yellow bowl being added into gravy mixture.

28. After that, cover the pot or pan with a lid.

lid covering pot.

29. Then, allow the biryani to simmer on a medium-low heat until the rice grains are cooked well. Make sure you check once or twice, while the rice is cooking.

Once the rice grains are cooked, cover and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving the biryani.

Cook times may vary: It took me 12 minutes for the rice to cook. Depending on the thickness and depth of the pan, quality of rice and heat level, it can take 10 to 12 minutes.

cooked chettinad biryani mixture in pan.

Serving Suggestions

So like most other biryanis, this biryani is best paired with a cooling raita. Opt to make any of your favorite raita. While I always go for Cucumber Raita or the classic Onion Tomato Raita, you can choose raitas like Boondi Raita or Mint Raita. Simple plain curd (yogurt) also tastes good.

You can also pair with some kachumber or onion and lemon salad, if you like. A bowl of plain curd also tastes good.

This biryani has a lot of spices and is really flavorful. So, I would recommend serving it without any curry or gravy. You can also enjoy the biryani as is without any sides.

chettinad biryani on a blue rimmed white plate.

Storage & Leftovers

Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 day. Keep the biryani in a covered container. While reheating, either sauté until warm or hot in a skillet or steam for 5 minutes in a pot or an Instant Pot.

About Chettinad Cuisine

The Chettinad region historically was the heart of the Chettiar community, a prosperous merchant class who traveled extensively across Southeast Asia for trade.

This extensive travel led to the assimilation of various culinary elements from countries like Burma (now Myanmar), Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The spices and techniques they encountered abroad were incorporated into their traditional recipes, creating the bold, spice-rich dishes like this Chettinad Biryani and more.

Biryani itself has Persian roots and was introduced to India by the Mughals. Over time, it evolved into numerous regional variations across the country, with each region adapting the dish to its local palate and available ingredients.

The Chettinad Biryani emerged as a response to the Tamil Nadu region’s love for strong, aromatic spices, coconut, and tangy flavors.

Unlike other biryanis that usually heavily rely on yogurt or cream, my Chettinad Biryani incorporates the region’s iconic masalas and coconut milk.

The dish typically uses seeraga samba rice, a short-grained variety unique to Tamil Nadu, prized for its ability to absorb flavors and maintain a delicate texture. As you must have seen above, I have used basmati rice in my recipe.

Expert Tips

  1. Choice of rice: This biryani tastes great with both basmati rice and seeraga samba rice. If you do not have either of these rice varieties, then use any non-sticky variety of short-grained or medium-sized rice.
  2. Adding spices: For the best taste, I would suggest to use all of the spices listed in the recipe. However, if you have trouble finding some of the ingredients, you can skip kapok buds, stone flower and mace.
  3. Use of herbs: The recipe has mint and cilantro (coriander leaves). If you do not have fresh mint leaves, use dried mint instead. For 1 tablespoon of chopped mint, use 1 teaspoon dried mint. Omit coriander leaves, if you do not have these or swap with fresh parsley. Omit curry leaves if you do not have them. In all these cases the flavor will be different.
  4. Vegan options: Use vegan yogurt in place of dairy yogurt or skip the curd (yogurt) altogether. If skipping yogurt, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the rice after adding water. Additionally, use a neutral oil in place of ghee.
  5. Add vegetables: You can make the biryani with your choice of mixed vegetables.

FAQs

Is Chettinad Biryani spicy?

Chettinad Biryani is known for being spicy. But if you cannot tolerate the heat, then you can always cut down on the number of green chilies.

How do I make this biryani in a pressure cooker on the stovetop?

Follow the sautéing instructions in a 3-liter pressure cooker. Add 1 cup coconut milk and ½ to ¾ cup water. Season with salt.

Pressure cook on medium to medium-high heat for about 1 to 2 whistles or 7 to 8 minutes. When the pressure falls naturally in the cooker, open the lid. Fluff and serve.

Can I cook this biryani in the Instant Pot?

Of course. Using the sauté function, sauté the ingredients in the steel inner pot of your Instant Pot, before adding the liquids. Add 1 cup coconut milk and ½ cup water. Season with salt and combine well.

Then, seal tightly with the Instant Pot lid and position the valve to sealing position. After that, pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.

When you hear the beep sound after the pressure cooking is complete, wait for 8 to 10 minutes and then do a quick pressure release.

More Rice Recipes to Try!

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chettinad biryani on a blue rimmed white plate.

Chettinad Biryani Recipe (Vegetarian)

This Chettinad Biryani recipe is a spicy, flavorful, vegetarian one made with fragrant basmati rice, fresh button mushrooms, flavorful spices, tangy yogurt and creamy coconut milk. The recipe requires only one pot and is made in less than forty five minutes!
4.95 from 38 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Cuisine Chettinad, South Indian
Course Main Course
Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

Marinating rice

  • 1 cup (200 grams) basmati rice (heaped) – or use seeraga samba or kaima rice
  • 1 teaspoon Ghee – for marinating rice

Green masala

  • ¼ cup mint leaves – chopped
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves – chopped (cilantro)
  • 3 to 4 green chilies
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves – small to medium-sized, peeled
  • 1 inch ginger – peeled
  • ½ to 1 tablespoon water

Marinating mushrooms

  • 200 to 250 grams white button mushrooms – quartered or sliced
  • 3 tablespoons Curd (yogurt)
  • ¼ to ⅓ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder or cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)

Other ingredients

  • 2 to 2.5 tablespoons oil – any neutral tasting oil or coconut oil
  • 1 inch cinnamon
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • 3 to 4 cloves
  • 6 to 7 black peppercorns
  • 1 tej patta – medium to large-sized (Indian bay leaf)
  • 2 thin single strands of mace – optional
  • 1 stone flower – tiny piece, (dagad phool or pathar phool) – optional
  • 2 kapok buds (marathi moggu) – optional
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • ¾ to 1 cup (100 grams) onions – thinly sliced
  • ½ cup (80 grams) tomatoes – chopped
  • ½ to 1 cup water or add as required
  • 1 cup Coconut Milk – thick, can use lite coconut milk
  • salt as required

Garnish

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons coriander leaves – chopped or 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves

Instructions
 

Soaking Rice

  • First rinse rice very well in water for a couple of times. Then soak the rice in water for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • After 20 to 30 minutes, drain the water from the rice grains. Add 1 teaspoon ghee to the soaked rice.
  • Mix and coat the rice with ghee very well and allow to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes. Instead of marinating, you can also sauté the rice in ghee lightly in a pan on low heat.

Preparing Veggies

  • When you keep the rice for soaking, prep the remaining ingredients. First rinse or wipe dry and then quarter or slice the mushrooms. Transfer them to a mixing bowl and set aside.
  • Slice thinly the onions. Chop the tomato. Also chop the green chilies, garlic cloves and ginger. Chop mint and coriander leaves as well.

Making Green Paste

  • In a small grinder or chutney grinder, take the chopped mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chilies, garlic and ginger. 
  • Add ½ to 1 tablespoon water or as required. Blend to a smooth paste.

Marinating With Green Paste

  • Add this ground green paste with the curd to the chopped mushrooms.
  • Sprinkle turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder and coriander powder.
  • Gently mix all the ingredients. Cover and set aside to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes.

Sautéing Aromatics

  • Heat 2 to 2.5 tbsp oil in a thick bottomed pot or pan. Add the whole spices and fry them for a few seconds or until they are fragrant.
  • Then add the sliced onions. Mix very well and sauté them on a low to medium heat. Add a pinch of salt for quick cooking of the onions.
  • Stir often and sauté until the onions become golden.
  • Add tomatoes. Stir and sauté the tomatoes for about 2 minutes.
  • Add the marinated mushrooms. Mix very well and sauté them for 6 to 7 minutes or until they shrink and you see oil specks on top.
  • In the bowl here will be some marinade left. Add 1 cup water and mix the marinade with the water. 
  • Add water as required depending on quality of rice. You can add from ½ to 1 cup water. I used organic basmati rice, so I added 1 cup of water.
  • Add this marinade mixed water to the mushrooms in the pan. Also add 1 cup coconut milk. Mix very well.
  • Season with salt and stir. On a medium heat bring the mixture to a boil.

Making Chettinad Biryani

  • Then add the ghee coated rice. Mix again gently.
  • Cover the pot or pan with a lid. Check once or twice when rice is cooking.
  • On a medium-low heat cook until the rice grains are tender and soft. 
  • It took me 12 minutes for the rice to cook. Depending on the thickness and depth of pan, quality of rice and flame intensity, it can take about 10 to 12 minutes to cook rice.
  • Once the rice grains are tender, cover and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving Chettinad Biryani. Then gently fluff the rice with a fork.

Serving & Storage

  • Garnish with mint or coriander leaves and serve Chettinad Biryani with a side salad or raita of your choice.
  • Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for one day. Keep the biryani in a covered container.
  • While reheating, either sauté until warm or hot in a skillet or steam for 5 minutes in a pot or an Instant Pot.

Notes

  • This Chettinad Biryani tastes good with both basmati rice and seeraga samba rice. If you do not have either of these rice varieties, then make the biryani with any non-sticky variety of short-grained or medium-sized rice.
  • For the best flavor and taste, I would suggest to use all spices. But due to non availability, skip kapok buds, stone flower and mace. 
  • Use vegan yogurt in place of dairy yogurt or skip the curd (yogurt) altogether. If skipping yogurt, then add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to the rice after adding water. Use a neutral oil in place of ghee. 
  • Cremini and shiitake mushrooms also taste great in this recipe. You can include a combination of various varieties of edible fresh mushrooms.
  • The recipe includes mint and coriander leaves (cilantro). If you do not have fresh mint leaves, use dried mint instead. For 1 tablespoon of chopped mint, use 1 teaspoon dried mint. Omit coriander leaves if you do not have these or swap with fresh parsley. Skip curry leaves if you do not have them. In all these cases the flavor will be different.
  • Depending on the quality, age of rice and the water content in coconut milk, the amount of water will vary. Usually for 1 cup of basmati rice, 2 cups of liquids work well when cooking in a pan or pot.
  • Do rinse the rice grains well so that the water is clear of starch. This will help in making the cooked rice grains non-sticky.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Chettinad Biryani Recipe (Vegetarian)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 556 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 7mg2%
Sodium 385mg17%
Potassium 703mg20%
Carbohydrates 67g22%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 605IU12%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.2mg13%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.4mg24%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 4mg20%
Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%
Vitamin B12 0.1µg2%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Vitamin D 0.2µg1%
Vitamin E 4mg27%
Vitamin K 9µg9%
Calcium 113mg11%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 46µg12%
Iron 4mg22%
Magnesium 82mg21%
Phosphorus 257mg26%
Zinc 2mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Chettinad Biryani recipe from the archives was first published on July 2015. It has been republished and updated on December 2024.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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