South Asian Fish Biryani Recipe | Desi~licious RD

Desi-liciously spiced with layers of fragrant basmati rice, grilled peppers and flaky masala haddock fillets, cooked in a tomatoey sauce infused with cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, and saffron to create a biryani recipe that’ll knock your socks off!

Indeed, it’s royal-looking yet easy to pull off. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super excited to share my desi-licious South Asian fish biryani. 

Isn’t it perfect to start holiday celebrations? 

This biryani recipe is such an elegant (and tasty!) creation – perfect for a large party or special, cozy family dinner. It also doesn’t require overnight soaking of any kind and is exquisitely seasoned! Just over an hour, and your sumptuous fish biryani is set to make its debut.

What Does Biryani Taste Like?

In short, it tastes heavenly. Biryani is a vibrant and flavourful Indian recipe. Typically Basmati rice is flavoured with exotic spices and then layered with either meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables – cooked in and a thick masala sauce. The dish is covered, and the biryani is either cooked over a low flame on in the oven. 

There are many variations of the recipe, from ingredients used to the style of preparation. For instance, depending on the South Asian region, a biryani recipe may call for the lid to be secured with dough to help seal in the flavours.

How To Make Fish Biryani Recipe – Step By Step

1. Start by thoroughly rinsing the rice and sending it to parboil for 7 minutes (Image 1).
2. You want to drizzle a dash of olive oil on your peppers and grill them for a few minutes until charred (Image 2).
3. Pat dry the defrosted haddock fillets and coat them in a spicy, gluten-free flour mix (Image 3). 
4. Heat the oil in a medium pan and fry four fillets at a time for a couple of minutes (Image 4). The intention is not to cook these through. Remove and place on a plate with kitchen towels.
5. Now on to preparing the spicy biryani sauce. Heat the oil in a large pot and fry all the whole spices (Image 5).
6. Add the onions and plums and cook until the onions turn lightly brown (Image 6).
7. Add in the cubes of fresh tomatoes and remaining spices and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes (Image 7).
8. Place the fish fillets in the sauce and gently coat the pieces with sauce (Image 8). 
9. Cover and cook for 8 minutes or until the sauce thickens. It should not be watery.

Now you’re going to layer the fish biryani

1. Once the rice is cooked, drain and splash with cold water and set aside (Image 9). In a small ramekin, warm the milk and saffron in the microwave for 20 seconds (Image 10).
2. Transfer your fish curry into a large dish. To create the first layer, add four fillets and enough sauce to cover the pot. Don’t forget to add a handful of grilled peppers. Follow with half of the rice (Image 11).
3. Repeat this step and end with any leftover sauce and peppers. Make sure you add most of the sauce to the bottom layers – with a bit saved for the top (Image 12).
4. Pour the saffron milk on top.
5. Then send in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit.

This Fish Biryani Recipe has:

• Less oil – no fried onions used for garnish and less oil used in cooking
• An aromatic blend of spices to reduce the amount of salt used. Typically, it’s even higher than what’s in this recipe!
• Lots of fresh tomatoes and peppers to give it an added nutrition boost
• Vegetable sources of fat. It uses sunflower and olive oil instead of butter or ghee
• Haddock fillets that are certified sustainable – so you’re taking care of our oceans!

Top Tips For Making The Best Fish Biryani Recipe

1. Opt for Basmati rice; the grains are nice and long and become fluffy once cooked
2. Don’t forget to dry the fish before coating with the flour-spice mix
3. Make sure your oil is well heated before adding the fillets to the pan – otherwise they will stick
4. Be mindful not to undercook/overcook the fish or rice. This will make or break your biryani recipe
5. If you don’t have access to Piments Shishito peppers, opt for your favourite bell peppers (2 should do the trick)
6. Once cooked, refrigerate and store for up to 3 days

Here’s More Desi-licious South Asian Recipes You May Like:

• Egg Curry Recipe With Turnips
• Baingan Bharta
• Daal Makhani
• Vegetarian Quinoa Pilau

What’s your favourite holiday recipe? Have you tried my Fish Biryani Recipe before? 

If you do try this recipe, would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate it, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Can’t wait to see your photos.

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South Asian Fish Biryani Recipe | Desi~licious RD

Gluten FreeDiary Free

5 from 1 vote

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Desi-liciously spiced with layers of fragrant basmati rice, grilled peppers and flaky masala haddock fillets, cooked in a tomatoey sauce infused with cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, and saffron to create a biryani recipe that'll knock your socks off!

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course: Main, Main Course

Servings: 9 people

Author: Shahzadi Devje

Ingredients

Rice

• 2 cups basmati rice washed thoroughly2 cups basmati rice washed thoroughly
• 6 cups water for boiling rice6 cups water for boiling rice

Peppers

• 12 shishito peppers you can also use bell peppers 12 shishito peppers you can also use bell peppers
• 1 tsp olive oil extra virgin1 tsp olive oil extra virgin

Fish

• 8 haddock fillets (908 g) medium pieces, frozen, defrosted and dried with paper towels. 8 haddock fillets (908 g) medium pieces, frozen, defrosted and dried with paper towels.
• ½ cup gluten free flour½ cup gluten free flour
• 2 tsp garam masala2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp salt sea salt1 tsp salt sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil frying all the fillets - divide into two batches if needed2 tbsp sunflower oil frying all the fillets - divide into two batches if needed

Biryani sauce & layering

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 10 green cardamom seeds removed and crushed10 green cardamom seeds removed and crushed
• 2 black cardamom seeds removed and crushed2 black cardamom seeds removed and crushed
• 1 cinnamon 3-inch stick1 cinnamon 3-inch stick
• 2 bay leaves large2 bay leaves large
• 4 onions medium, finely chopped4 onions medium, finely chopped
• 5 garlic cloves finely chopped5 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger finely chopped1 tbsp ginger finely chopped
• 8 prunes dried. You can use plums as well8 prunes dried. You can use plums as well
• 12 tomatoes medium, chopped into small cubes12 tomatoes medium, chopped into small cubes
• 2 tsp salt sea salt2 tsp salt sea salt
• 1 tsp turmeric1 tsp turmeric
• ½ tsp chilli powder red½ tsp chilli powder red
• ⅛ tsp saffron⅛ tsp saffron
• 2 tbsp milk any type2 tbsp milk any type

Instructions

Rice

• Start by thoroughly rinsing the rice. You will need to do this at least three times.
• In a medium pot, add the drained rice along with 6 cups of water. Bring to boil, reduce the heat to medium/high and continue to boil for 7 minutes.
• Drain and spray with cold water and set aside.

Peppers

• Drizzle olive oil on the peppers and grill for a few minutes until charred. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Fish

• Defrost the haddock fillets and pat dry using paper towels.
• In a medium plate, add the flour, garam masala, salt and pepper and mix.
• Coat each fillet with the flour-spice mix.
• Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large pan and pan-fry four fillets at a time for a couple of minutes. The intention is not to cook these through. Remove from pan and place on a plate with kitchen towels to absorb any excess oil. Repeat this step with the remaining defrosted fillets.

Biryani & layering

• Heat the oil in a large pot and fry the cumin, cardamoms, cinnamon and bay leaves.
• Add the onions and plums and cook until the onions turn light brown.
• Add in the cubes of fresh tomatoes along with turmeric and chilli. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Place the fish fillets in the sauce and gently coat the pieces with sauce. Cover and cook on medium heat for 8 minutes or until the sauce thickens. It should not be watery.
• Preheat the oven at 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a small ramekin, warm the milk and saffron in the microwave for 20 seconds.
• Transfer your fish curry into a large dish. To create the first layer, add four fillets and enough sauce to cover the bottom of the pot. Add a handful of grilled peppers - spread all around. Follow with half of the rice. Repeat this step and end with any leftover sauce and peppers. Make sure you add most of the sauce to the bottom layers - with a bit saved for the top.
• Pour the saffron milk on top.
• Send in the preheated oven for 15 minutes (middle shelf).

Notes

1. Opt for Basmati rice; the grains are nice and long and become fluffy once cooked
2. Don't forget to dry the fish before coating with the flour-spice mix
3. Make sure your oil is well heated before adding the fillets to the pan - otherwise they will stick
4. Be mindful not to undercook/overcook the fish or rice. This will make or break your biryani recipe
5. If you don't have access to Piments Shishito peppers, opt for your favourite bell peppers (2 should do the trick)
6. Once cooked, refrigerate and store for up to 3 days

Nutrition Facts

South Asian Fish Biryani Recipe | Desi~licious RD

Amount Per Serving

Calories 436 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 76mg25%

Sodium 1148mg48%

Potassium 1165mg33%

Carbohydrates 63g21%

Fiber 9g36%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 1488IU30%

Vitamin C 36mg44%

Calcium 88mg9%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note the nutritional analysis values are estimates and suggestions. This nutrition facts table does not know your life - your body, including your hunger and satiety cues, change daily. It's okay to eat more or less. Say no to food guilt and instead embrace mindful eating.

Shahzadi Devje

Shahzadi is an award-winning registered dietitian (RD) regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario and certified diabetes educator (CDE), approved by the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board. A YouTuber and notorious foodie, she’s dedicated to helping you end your cooking wars, transform your health, and be the best version of yourself! Shahzadi is an on-air nutrition expert for CTV Your Morning and a regular contributor for Global News and other national media outlets.