Biryani is a sophisticated layered rice dish that uses a completely different cooking technique called 'dum' cooking. Unlike fried rice where ingredients are stir-fried together, biryani involves partially cooking the rice and vegetables separately, then layering them with yoghurt, saffron, and spices before slow-cooking in a sealed pot. This creates distinct layers of flavour and the characteristic fluffy, separate grains that biryani is famous for. The saffron gives it that distinctive golden colour and aromatic fragrance you can't get from regular rice dishes.
