Why my Biriyani gets mushy when I cook for 30/35 mins (suggested by lot of chefs)
I am trying to make some Kachhe Biriyani (Cooked with raw meat and half cooked rice).
For that I am using following ingredients.
600 gm, Lamb
4 tbsp, Ghee
160 gm, Onion
70.00 gm, Raw Papaya
50 gm, Natural Yoghurt
300 gm, Basmati Rice
Now I cook my rice:
- For 5 mins to cook it to 50%.
- Then I mix it with meat marinade (above) and cook it for 35 mins on low flame (33% of high flame).
This is the way it has been described by a lot of cooks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLaLwAeAxBw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMuedBOODTs
But following this, my Biriyani rice always gets soft and mushy.
What is wrong? Am I using too much heat? Is my meat releasing too much water?
What is different compared to other chefs using this method?
Best Answer
As with many dishes of this type, there are as many ways to cook it as there are cooks - but overall I think you have three things combining to make your rice mushy.
You are over-cooking your rice at the start.
Your burner temperature is too high
Your simmer time is too short.
Basically you're driving off water but not at a pace the rice can settle to its final state, absorbing some of the oil too - or being nicely coated at least.
As a 'first fix' method, I'd start with only 2 mins boil of the rice - some chefs even kill the heat as soon as it boils.
If you have an oven, I'd switch the cook to the oven, in a pot with a well-fitting lid, 170-180° for anything from 1 to 3 hours, depending on how cooked down you want the meat. Personally, I'd go for 3 hours - that means you either need enough practise to get your water level right at the start or check it half way & add more if necessary. Don't stir it during cooking, you'll risk breaking up the rice too much.
If you still want to go with stove top, then I'd invest in a simmer ring [$£€ 5 on eBay etc] so you can spread & reduce the heat getting to the bottom of your pan. This will mean you can leave it longer without risk of it burning.
Lengthening your cook time will improve both the meat & the rice.
After comments:-
It may be worthwhile investigating different rice brands, of course, not all rice is equal.
Another option [you don't mention in the question whether you already do this] is to pre-soak the rice in cold water for 30 mins, then rinse well, before cooking.
Overall, the biryani method relies on the rice first absorbing water as it cooks, but then being infused with the oils from the meat & marinade in the later stages; through this period it will go through a slight drying stage & tend to separate better at the end of cooking.
Pictures about "Why my Biriyani gets mushy when I cook for 30/35 mins (suggested by lot of chefs)"
Why is my biryani mushy?
The quantity of yogurt used in the marination shouldn't be too much, it could make the biryani mushy. Even the cooking utensil you choose should be big enough so that it gives enough room to rice for cooking.How do I fix soft biryani?
If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency. One way to fix that? Add even more liquid. Pour in some milk, a dash of vanilla, and spoonful of sugar, and suddenly your mushy rice is a rich rice pudding.What should I do if my biryani is too wet?
Problem: The rice is cooked but too wet. Solution: Uncover the pot and cook over low heat to evaporate the water. Or gently turn the rice out onto a baking sheet and dry it in a low oven.How do you dry wet biryani?
Other times is too moist and occasionally just too soggy. as i understand the whole point of the last a or b is to get the rice completely boiled and steamed dry. Step b comes closest to when i make just white rice, which i (after boiling) put on max fire for 30-60 seconds and then leave it stand for half an hour.Cooking chicken biryani for 30-40 people - For when you are really REALLY hungry!
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