On Biryani

The story goes that Asaf-ud-Dowlah (Nawab of Awadh, and considered the architect of Lucknow) once caught a whiff of a wonderful aroma emanating from his workers’ quarters. The cooks were stewing rice and meat in large pots to feed the army of labourers who were working on the construction of the Asafi Imambara. The Nawab then demanded that his cook prepare him this delicious dish to try for himself. The royal cook obliged, adding more fancy ingredients like saffron, pepper and cardamom, alo