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Close‑up of fluffy Instant Pot biriyani in a pot with tender meat, potatoes, and aromatic rice

Instant Pot Biryani Recipe

Instant Pot Biryani: Everything cooks in one pot—meat, potatoes, rice, spices—giving you a biryani that tastes like it simmered for hours.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 38 minutes
Servings: 6 portions
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, South Asian, Sri Lankan, Sri Lankan-Canadian
Calories: 476
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups basmati rice rinsed + soaked 15–20 minutes
  • 2 tbsp ghee or 1/4 stick of butter
  • few curry leaves optional
  • 2 medium onions diced small
  • 1 tbsp ginger minced
  • 2 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1 lb meat with bones chicken, beef, or mutton
  • 1 pack Shan or National biryani seasoning mix
  • 2 tbsp Tooba biryani seasoning mix optional
  • 1 medium tomato diced
  • 2 medium potatoes peeled + cut into 4 pieces each
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 tbsp coconut powder or yogurt
  • 1 tsp rose water or kewra water
  • ¼ cup cilantro chopped
  • few mint sprigs
  • Salt to taste
For topping:
  • Fried onions
  • Roasted cashews
  • Extra cilantro chopped
  • Lemon sliced

Method
 

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté (30 minutes). Add ghee, curry leaves, and diced onions. Cook until the onions turn golden. Add ginger + garlic. Sauté until fragrant.
  2. Add meat with bones. Add the biriyani seasoning mix. Cook for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes + potatoes. Pour in 2 cups water and mix well. Cook until it boils and the oil begins to separate or until the sauté timer ends. Turn off the Instant Pot.
  3. Drain the soaked basmati rice. Add only the rice to the pot. Add coconut powder or yogurt and combine gently on top. Close the lid. Set vent to Sealing. Click Rice setting (8 minutes on high pressure). When done: Cancel. Vent manually and open when safe.
  4. Add rose water. Top with cilantro + mint. Then gently fluff from the edges without breaking the rice. Cover and let it rest 5–10 minutes.
  5. Fluff the rice first, scoop biriyani onto a platter. Top with fried onions, roasted cashews, cilantro, and lime slices. Serve warm and enjoy.