Difference between biryani and pulao

It was festive time in University, date was 20 12 2012. Two women had brought Biryani packets & were selling it. A female friend found of eating Biryani thought of having Biryani instead of having lunch in dining hall.

Although I wasn’t interested in having lunch she some how managed to persuade me to have Biryani with her.

We bought 3 Biryani packets. 2 were non-vegetarian 1 for my female & 1 for my male friend & 1 vegetarian Biryani that I was supposed to have with them.

When I opened the packet I found that it wasn’t Biryani but Pulao. Not only the two women who sold it told that it’s Biryani but also the students who ate it told the same.

Thus I’m sharing the difference between Biryani & Pulao as many don’t know the difference between them.

For making Biryani rice & other ingredients i.e. vegetables (if it’s a vegetable Biryani) are cooked separately. Then rice & other ingredients are cooked together on a low flame again by keeping them in layers. A layer of rice is covered with a layer of vegetables then rice is put on it then layer of vegetables & so on.

Unlike Biryani Pulao doesn’t have layers. For Pulao rice is mixed with vegetables (if it’s a vegetable Pulao).

Biryani is a complete meal by itself whereas Pulao is eaten with something liquid like curd, salan, etc.

Biryani is cooked by draining method whereas Pulao is cooked by absorption method.

It is a bit difficult to prepare Biryani & it takes more time to prepare whereas Pulao takes less time to prepare.