Healing Through Food: My Childhood-Inspired Chicken Biryani with Leftover Curry
It’s the end of my 5th week on my weight loss journey, and today I cooked something that didn’t just fill my stomach—it healed my heart. I recreated a version of Chicken Biryani that reminded me of my childhood. This wasn’t the traditional Sindhi Biryani we all know where rice and curry are cooked separately. This was different—something my mother used to make in our home, and today, I brought it back to life using leftover chicken from a day-old Chicken Karahi curry.
And trust me, it turned out magical.
Why This Chicken Biryani Means So Much to Me
For the past two years, I was eating almost 21 fast food meals a week. That’s three times a day, seven days straight, drowning in processed food. I had lost touch with my roots, with the food that once brought me comfort, love, and family memories.
But since I started cooking at home, every meal feels like I’m reintroducing myself to life again. Today’s biryani was exactly that—healing, nostalgic, and wholesome.
When I took the first bite, I was instantly transported back to my childhood kitchen, where my mother cooked this biryani not from leftovers but from raw chicken. To me, this wasn’t just biryani—it was love on a plate.
The Recipe: Leftover Curry Chicken Biryani
This is not a repeated recipe—even if the name sounds familiar. It’s unique because of the leftover curry base. And let me tell you: it’s quick, simple, and done in just 30 minutes.
Kitchen Tools I Used (Amazon Affiliate Links Placeholder)
Ingredients
Leftover chicken pieces from one-day-old Chicken Karahi curry (discard the curry masala, keep the chicken)
3 onions, chopped
3 cups basmati rice
1 packet Shan Biryani Masala (Buy Shan on Amazon)
(Alternative: National Biryani Masala or Aziza Biryani Masala)
2 green chilies
2 tomatoes
Fresh coriander and mint leaves
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp ghee
2 tbsp salt
Method
Prepare the masala paste: Blend tomatoes, green chilies, coriander, mint, and ginger-garlic paste into a smooth mix. Keep aside.
(Blender I used: Click here on Amazon)Fry the onions: In ghee, fry chopped onions until golden brown.
(I recommend this Nonstick Frying Pan for perfect browning.)Cook the masala: Add the blended paste into the onions. Stir until the oil separates.
Spice it up: Add 1 packet Shan (or National / Aziza) Biryani Masala.
Cook the rice: Boil 3 cups of rice with 2 tbsp salt and 1 Knorr chicken cube until 90% done.
(Best Stainless Steel Pot for rice: Click here )Assemble: Add the leftover chicken pieces into the masala, then layer with rice.
Dum (steam): Cover and leave on dum for 20 minutes.
Serve: Fluff the rice gently and enjoy the aroma of childhood.
Done in 30 minutes.
The Emotional Side of Cooking This
When I lifted the lid after dum, the fragrance hit me, and I was close to tears. This wasn’t just food. This was my mother’s love, my family’s comfort, my Sindhi kitchen in one pot.
It reminded me how food is not just about calories or carbs—it’s about memory, healing, and connection.
On my weight loss journey, I’m not eating bland food. I’m eating food that heals my gut, strengthens my body, and makes me feel human again.
A Quick Life Update
Weight: Still stuck at 79kg this week (being honest—my workout routine wasn’t right).
Food: Cooking at home is saving me, and I’ve never felt more connected to my meals.
Life: I just got a new job today (yay me!), so my focus is shifting slightly, but I promise to stay consistent with both my blog and my gym.
Final Thoughts
This Chicken Biryani with leftover curry has earned a permanent spot in my kitchen. From now on, this is how I’ll be making biryani—simple, soulful, and healing.
If you’re on a weight loss journey, remember this: you don’t have to give up on food that makes you happy. You just need to cook it with love, balance, and intention.
Food is not just fuel—it’s healing.
And today, my heart (and gut) is healing.
Your Turn:
Have you ever recreated a childhood recipe that made you emotional? Tell me in the comments below!
If you try this recipe, let me know how it turned out.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more recipes, weight loss updates, and food inspiration.
You can also check out my other post: Dark Romance Post click on it
Follow me on Pinterest for recipe pins My Pinterest
Follow me on Tumblr for more amazing posts My Tumblr
Want to chat with me directly? My Vizio link is here Click Here to Connect
Comments
Post a Comment