Hyderabad, Telangana · Main meal
Hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)
Also called Hyderabadi chicken biryani, chicken dum biryani, murgh biryani, biriyani
Basmati rice boiled with whole spices and layered over chicken cooked in curd, fried onions and biryani masala, then sealed and steamed on low heat (dum) in the Hyderabadi way. Usually eaten with raita or mirchi ka salan.
The short answer
Hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken) has about 831 kcal in a regular serving (1 plate, about 520 g), with 35.4 g of protein and 5.2 g of fibre. It rates 2.0/5 (limited fit) for weight management: it is low in calories for its weight, but a regular serving is a large portion and it has little fibre for its calories.
Reviewed by Deepu Oommen on 6 Nov 2026 · How we review
- Calories per serving
- 831 kcal
- 1 plate (about 520 g)
- For weight management
- 2.0 / 5Rated 2 out of 5. Limited fit for weight management
- Protein and fibre
- 35.4 g · 5.2 g
- per serving
- Brisk walking
- About 2 hr 40 min
- uses similar energy (70 kg adult)
What's in hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)?
Raw weights for one serving (1 plate, about 520 g), from the standard recipe
- Basmati rice, 109 g
- Oil, 12 g
- Onion, 63 g
- Ginger, 2 g
- Garlic, 2 g
- Chicken, 118 g
- Green chillies, 2 g
- Curd, 69 g
- Mint leaves, 2 g
- Coriander leaves, 2 g
- Milk, 9 g
- Ghee, 4 g
How is hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken) made?
Preparation 45 min · Cooking 45 min
- 1Soak the rice for 30 minutes. Boil it in plenty of water with whole spices until it is nearly done, then drain it.
- 2Fry the sliced onions in the oil until golden and keep a quarter of them aside for the top.
- 3In the same oil, fry the whole spices and ginger-garlic paste, add the chicken and cook until it turns pale.
- 4Add the spice powders, green chillies and curd, cover and cook until the chicken is tender and the gravy is thick.
- 5Scatter mint and coriander over the chicken, spread the rice on top and finish with the kept onions, saffron milk and ghee.
- 6Seal the pot and cook on a hot tawa over low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, then rest it for 20 minutes before serving.
Hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken) nutrition
| Nutrient | Per serving (1 plate, about 520 g) | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 831 kcal | 160 kcal |
| Protein | 35.4 g | 6.8 g |
| Carbohydrate | 95.7 g | 18.4 g |
| Fat | 33.8 g | 6.5 g |
| Fibre | 5.2 g | 1 g |
Calculated from a standard recipe (based on a recipe by Swasthi's Recipes: Chicken Dum Biryani, serves 4) using IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN) and USDA FoodData Central values for the raw ingredients, divided by the weight of the cooked dish (1820 g for the whole recipe). Salt and dry spices are left out. The regular serving is the average portion in three chefs' recipes: Swasthi's Recipes, Chicken Dum Biryani 455 g, Ranveer Brar, Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani 613 g and Kunal Kapur, Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani 482 g. Food composition: Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K, Venkaiah K. Indian Food Composition Tables 2017, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad. How we calculate nutrition facts. Home and restaurant versions vary with the oil, rice and portion used.
Is hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken) good for weight management?
It rates 2.0/5, a limited fit, because it is low in calories for its weight, but a regular serving is a large portion and it has little fibre for its calories.
- Calories per gram (35% of the rating)1.60 kcal · 71/100
- Protein per 100 kcal (25% of the rating)4.3 g · 43/100
- Fibre per 100 kcal (20% of the rating)0.6 g · 21/100
- Portion (20% of the rating)831 of 550 kcal (main meal) · 0/100
Each part is scored against fixed limits, then weighted. A higher rating does not mean a food causes weight loss. How the rating works
Lighter ways to have hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)
- Ask for a half plate and add a big bowl of salad or plain raita
- Leave the oily layer at the bottom of the pot and the fried onion topping
- Pick the leg or breast pieces and fill up on chicken rather than rice
- Skip fried sides such as chicken 65 or papad with it
- At home, halve the oil and ghee and fry fewer onions
Common questions about hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)
How many calories are in hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)?
About 831 kcal in 1 plate, about 520 g, or 160 kcal per 100 g. A half plate has about 416 kcal.
Is hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken) good for weight management?
It rates 2.0/5, a limited fit: it is low in calories for its weight, but a regular serving is a large portion and it has little fibre for its calories. See the lighter ways to have it on this page.
How much protein is in hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)?
About 35.4 g in 1 plate, about 520 g, which is 4.3 g for every 100 kcal.
How much walking uses the energy in hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken)?
About 2 hr 40 min of brisk walking for a 70 kg adult uses similar energy to one regular serving.
Is chicken biryani good for weight management?
One full plate is about a whole meal's energy on its own. A half plate with raita and salad fits a weight-management day far better.
Is Hyderabadi biryani higher in calories than other biryanis?
It is in the same range. The oil, ghee, fried onions and the size of the plate matter more than the style.
Find hyderabadi dum biryani (chicken) near you
Opens Google Maps. NutriPedia does not see your location.
Compare it in:BiryaniChicken dishes
Information, not medical advice. Values are estimates for a typical recipe. Found an error? Tell us.