Let's Fire Up Those Neurons!

Answer to #1422

I don't think this puzzle posed much of a challenge to the neurites. The answer is arguably India's favorite rice dish, BIRYANI.

The images linked the four most important names associated with the origin and advent of biryani. Considered to have originated in Persia (Image 1: Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia), biryani was brought to India by the Mughals (Image 2: Taj Mahal). There are other competing stories of its origin, however this one seems to have the most compelling evidence, and is most widely accepted. The Indian tradition of 'Dum Pukht' or slow-oven cooking evolved in the kitchens of the Nawabs of Awadh (Image 3: Bada Imambara at Lucknow, Clue 3: Dum Laga Ke Haisha). When Aurangzeb appointed Nizam-ul-mulk as the Asfa Jahi ruler of Hyderabad, and the ‘Nawab of Arcot’ south of Hyderabad, the tradition of 'Dum Biryani' was brought to Southern India. Here it has since become intricately linked with Hyderabadi cuisine in the form of the much-loved Hyderabadi Biryani (Image 4: Charminar at Hyderabad).

The word biryani is considered to have its origins in the Persian: beryā (to fry). The act of frying the rice prior to cooking was said to impart a toasty flavor to the dish.

Irrespective of the actual origins of this delectable dish, it has since spread all over India and every regional cuisine has a version all its own. While I enjoy Hyderabadi biryani immensely, my favorites would have to be the Awadhi Biryani, and its vegetarian cousin, the tehri!

 

Image 3 makes me think this person's works were the subjects of many a Ravi Varma painting. Image 1 fits but image 2 is making me second guess myself. Hmm...

 

Didn't forget; Just got lazy to type all that out. :hide: Your biryani looks perfect and I'm sure it tasted that way too! Now you owe me a step by step recipe (with pictures) of the Thalassery biryani. :biggrin2: Chop chop girl!