What is Matka Biryani? Why the sealed pot tastes different

Matka biryani is biryani cooked in a clay pot — the matka — then sealed. The seal keeps steam inside. Rice and meat cook together instead of drying on an open flame.

At Bin Qasim Kitchen in PHA Officers Residencia, Islamabad, we still do it that way. You order 1 day ahead. We layer, seal, and cook. You open the pot at home in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, or you pick it up on Kuri Road.

The taste is different from hotel degh biryani because the pot holds heat evenly and the lid is not lifted every few minutes. That is also why we cannot make a same-morning pot for a 20-person dawat.

If you are comparing chicken, beef, mutton, and prawns, start with chicken if the table is mixed. Move to mutton when guests like bone and stock. Read the comparison post on this blog, then open the menu item pages for live prices.

For catering or a custom pot, tell us the headcount. We will say how many Half KG and 1 KG matkas you need. WhatsApp is the same number as the phone on this site.