In the Middle Eastern region, particularly in the UAE, people are obsessed with rice dishes. Mandi, Biryani, etc. The Emiratis love mandi, whereas the Pakistani and Indian expats are head over heels for Biryani.
Which means that Mandi vs. Biryani is a battle that never quite ends.
Biryani has a history deeply rooted in South Asian cuisine, but Mandi has gained popularity in recent years. In places like Hyderabad and Dubai, Mandi has made its mark in Middle Eastern cuisine. But what exactly is Mandi? Is it better than Biryani?
Let’s find out by comparing the iconic dishes.
What Exactly Is Mandi?
Mandi is a rice and meat dish, a traditional Arabian speciality that originated in Yemen. However, soon its magic spread to the Middle East and South Asia as well.
Mandi’s rice and meat are cooked in a tandoor-like clay oven, which is usually underground. Marinated chicken or lamb is slow-cooked until it is tender, and then it is placed over basmati rice. If you ever wonder why Mandi rice is so delicious, it is because the rice absorbs the fat and smoky flavors from the meat as it cooks.
Mandi is served with a spicy tomato sauce. It is called Zhoug. And the best way to eat mandi is to eat it with your hands while seated on the floor. That’s how you actually respect its Bedouin roots.
Mandi has many different versions, such as;
- Madhbi/Mazbi – This type of mandi has meat that is grilled over charcoal. Hence, it has a crispy texture and smoky taste.
- Madfoon – Madfoon’s meat is wrapped in foil and buried in hot coals for many hours, until it is tender and practically melts off the bone.
- Makboos/Machboos – Makboos is cooked differently across different parts of the Gulf, especially in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- Kabsa, Mansaf, Zurbiyan – These are unique in their own twists in cooking methods and spice variations.
To sum it up, you can say that they’re all just rice and lamb or chicken dishes for an ordinary person. But for mandi connoisseurs, every different mandi dish has its own/special place in their hearts.
So, How Is Mandi Different From Biryani?
Yes, they both are technically rice and meat dishes, but Mandi and Biryani are very different from each other. Let us break down their differences.
Cooking Technique:
Mandi is cooked underground, and very slowly. It also has minimal spices and relies on the smoke and coal to gain its distinctive flavor.
Biryani is cooked in a Dutch oven or wide pot with a dum (breathe) cooking technique, in which you keep the rice and meat on low fire and let it cook along with a wide variety of spices.
Flavor:
Mandi uses whole spices like cardamom and cloves to offer a straightforward and subtle taste.
Biryani has a bold blend of spices that somehow merge together to offer a distinctive taste.
Texture:
Some people find Mandi “bland” or “dry.” Those who try it for the first time are often overwhelmed by its distinct flavors.
Biryani doesn’t have one dominant or overpowering taste. It is also quite oily and smooth in texture as compared to Mandi, because a decent amount of ghee/oil goes into the making of Biryani.
And Which One Is Better? Mandi or Biryani?
You can be either a Mandi person or a Biryani person. No one can love both the rice dishes equally. Many tourists in Dubai believe that Mandi is superhyped. There are lots of places that serve it, but only a few get it right.
Some even say that all Mandi tastes the same, unless you’re trying out different types of meat in Dubai, and get yourself a Hashi Madghoot, which is tender camel meat served on flavorful rice.
However, the surge of Mandi restaurants in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi is often linked to tourists who want to try out authentic Emirati food. There are even many Yemeni restaurants, run by chefs from Yemen, so if you want to try out a great Mandi, try Al Yemen Mandi, Seiyun Mandi, and Zam Zam Mandi.
So, we guess, if you want to know whether Biryani is better than Mandi or vice versa, it all comes down to where you’re trying it from.
Biryani, on the other hand, is masala-filled. Very aromatic, very flavorful, and liked by almost every person in the world (unless they cannot handle its spice level.) Mandi, on the other hand, appeals to a very specific group of foodies.
Biryani also has many variants, like Hyderabadi, Lucknowi, Kolkata, and more. Every variety of Biryani is created with different styles of layering and spices, which leads many to believe that Biryani is an evergreen dish, whereas Mandi is just a trend, especially among tourists and Pakistani and Indian expats.
However, as seasonal foodies, we believe that both dishes are masterpieces.
If you are new to rice and meat dishes, you should try Biryani first. It is more likely to appeal to you. However, if you are already familiar with Emirati and South Asian food, then you must try out Mandi to appreciate its unique, earthy flavor.
So, which side are you on?
Mandi or Biryani?
Let us know in the comments below!
