Coastal India · Main meal
Prawn biryani
Also called prawns biryani, prawns biriyani, prawn biriyani, shrimp biryani, jhinga biryani, chemmeen biriyani, royyala biryani
Basmati rice layered with prawns cooked in an onion, tomato, mint and biryani-masala gravy, then finished on low heat. Prawns are leaner than mutton, but much of a plate is still rice and ghee.
The short answer
Prawn biryani has about 734 kcal in a regular serving (1 plate, about 610 g), with 26.8 g of protein and 9.1 g of fibre. It rates 2.5/5 (moderate fit) for weight management: it is low in calories for its weight, but a regular serving is a large portion and it is low in protein for its calories.
Reviewed by Deepu Oommen on 7 Nov 2026 · How we review
- Calories per serving
- 734 kcal
- 1 plate (about 610 g)
- For weight management
- 2.5 / 5Rated 2.5 out of 5. Moderate fit for weight management
- Protein and fibre
- 26.8 g · 9.1 g
- per serving
- Brisk walking
- About 2 hr 20 min
- uses similar energy (70 kg adult)
What's in prawn biryani?
Raw weights for one serving (1 plate, about 610 g), from the standard recipe
- Prawns, 111 g
- Basmati rice, 105 g
- Ghee, 19 g
- Garlic, 4 g
- Ginger, 2 g
- Lemon juice, 3 g
- Green chillies, 2 g
- Onion, 81 g
- Tomato, 55 g
- Tomato puree, 90 g
- Fried onion, 34 g
- Oil in fried onion, 3 g
- Coriander leaves, 3 g
- Mint leaves, 3 g
- Milk, 8 g
- Green chillies (garnish), 1 g
- Ginger (garnish), 2 g
How is prawn biryani made?
Preparation 75 min · Cooking 45 min
- 1Marinate the prawns with salt, garlic paste, turmeric and lemon juice for 30 minutes.
- 2Heat part of the ghee, fry the whole spices, then add the chillies, ginger and garlic pastes and brown the onions.
- 3Cook the tomatoes until soft, stir in the puree, spice powders, fried onions and herbs.
- 4Add the prawns and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- 5Layer the rice and the prawn mixture in the pan, ending with rice.
- 6Top with the remaining ghee, saffron milk, herbs and fried onions, seal and cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes.
Prawn biryani nutrition
| Nutrient | Per serving (1 plate, about 610 g) | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 734 kcal | 120 kcal |
| Protein | 26.8 g | 4.4 g |
| Carbohydrate | 100 g | 16.4 g |
| Fat | 24.4 g | 4 g |
| Fibre | 9.1 g | 1.5 g |
Calculated from a standard recipe (based on a recipe by Sanjeev Kapoor: Prawn Biryani (SK Khazana), serves 4) using IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN) and USDA FoodData Central values for the raw ingredients, divided by the weight of the cooked dish (3304 g for the whole recipe). Salt and dry spices are left out. The regular serving is the average portion in three chefs' recipes: Sanjeev Kapoor, Prawn Biryani (SK Khazana) 826 g, Swasthi's Recipes, Prawn Biryani 562 g and Archana's Kitchen, Prawns Biryani Recipe 439 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 prawn biryani good for weight management?
It rates 2.5/5, a moderate fit, because it is low in calories for its weight, but a regular serving is a large portion and it is low in protein for its calories.
- Calories per gram (35% of the rating)1.20 kcal · 82/100
- Protein per 100 kcal (25% of the rating)3.6 g · 37/100
- Fibre per 100 kcal (20% of the rating)1.3 g · 42/100
- Portion (20% of the rating)734 of 550 kcal (main meal) · 16/100
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 prawn biryani
- Have a half plate with a big bowl of raita or salad
- Ask for extra prawns and less rice
- Use half the ghee at home
- Skip the fried onion topping
- Avoid a fried starter or papad on the side
Common questions about prawn biryani
How many calories are in prawn biryani?
About 734 kcal in 1 plate, about 610 g, or 120 kcal per 100 g. A half plate has about 367 kcal.
Is prawn biryani good for weight management?
It rates 2.5/5, a moderate fit: it is low in calories for its weight, but a regular serving is a large portion and it is low in protein for its calories. See the lighter ways to have it on this page.
How much protein is in prawn biryani?
About 26.8 g in 1 plate, about 610 g, which is 3.6 g for every 100 kcal.
How much walking uses the energy in prawn biryani?
About 2 hr 20 min of brisk walking for a 70 kg adult uses similar energy to one regular serving.
Is prawn biryani lighter than mutton biryani?
Prawns are leaner than mutton, but the ghee and the size of the plate matter just as much. A half plate with salad is the easier way to keep the calories down.
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Information, not medical advice. Values are estimates for a typical recipe. Found an error? Tell us.