Biryani is one of the most popular dishes in the country and is prepared on special occasions. Juicy and tender meat (chicken or whatever you prefer) with aromatic spices and fragrant long grain basmati rice is hard to resist. But have you ever wondered how many calories a single serving of Biryani contains?
As always, we will scrutinize the ingredients and help you get a fair idea of the calories that you get in every serving of this classic dish.
The ingredients:
Regardless of whether you opt for a vegetarian or a meat variant, the primary ingredient is basmati rice. Besides the meat, spices and condiments are used to add flavour and fragrance to the dish. The problem with basmati rice is that since it is stripped of its bran, it's nothing but pure simple carbohydrates that spike insulin. Another problem with the dish is that a lot of oil goes into making the dish, which adds flavour, no doubt, but also makes it high in calories.
Carbohydrates:
Every serving of Biryani contains 59 grams of carbohydrates or 236 calories, all of which come from basmati rice. These simple carbohydrates, in the absence of dietary fiber, spike your blood sugar and cause weight gain and in the long term can lead to insulin resistance.
Fats:
Every serving of Biryani contains a whopping 28 grams of fats or 252 calories. Most of this fat comes from refined oil that is used to fry the onion till golden brown and often, the oil is heated way beyond its smoking point, thus releasing harmful carcinogens as well.
Protein:
The most essential macronutrient here is available in the least amount with a mere 19 grams of protein or 76 calories. If you opt for the non-vegetarian variant of this dish then the only saving grace is the fact that at least the protein source is a complete one i.e. containing all the 9 essential amino acids.
While Biryani is may not be the unhealthiest meal that we have covered in our know-your-calories series, it is, by no stretch of the imagination a lean and light meal. As usual, if you must indulge in it, then it's best saved for occasions.
Questions?