Biryani (/bɜːrˈjɑːni/) is a mixed rice dish with its origins among the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. It is made with Indian spices, rice, and meat (chicken, beef, goat, pork, lamb, prawn, or fish), and sometimes, in addition, eggs and/or vegetables such as potatoes in certain regional varieties. Biryani is popular throughout the Indian subcontinent, as well as among its diaspora. It is also prepared in other regions such as parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq
Biryani is an Indo-Aryan word derived from the Persian language, which was used as an official language in different parts of medieval India by various Islamic dynasties. One theory states that it originated from birinj (Persian: برنج), the Persian word for rice. The word birinj, a middle Persian word was ultimately derived from vrihi (Sanskrit: व्रीहि) one of the Sanskrit words for rice. Another theory states that it is derived from biryan or beriyan (Persian: بریان), which means "to fry" or "to roast"