From ‘dum' to diet: Your biryani is less unhealthy now
2
K
olkata: With biryani sales zooming across Kolkata's restaurants, the latter are now scurrying to make it 'healthy' to get more people to bypass diet restrictions and savour it.
While a leading biryani chain launched a 'diabetic-friendly' biryani rustled up with help from dieticians, several others are restricting the use of oil, sugar, and spices and using special rice to make 'healthy' biryani.
Oudh 1590 on Wednesday launched a 'diabetic-friendly' biryani made with parboiled rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and soya bean chunks. Curated by dietician and nutritionist Nidhi Prakash, it is low on sugar, saturated fat, and cholesterol content, Prakash claimed.
Other than diabetics, it will also allow Kolkata's growing health-conscious population to enjoy rich Awadhi flavours with mindful nutrition, said Shiladitya Chaudhury, owner and co-founder of Oudh 1590.
"In Bengal, rice is the staple food and people love biryani. Usually, biryani is made with white rice, potato, chicken/mutton, oil, and spices. The idea of preparing diabetic biryani came to me some six months ago and I started working on it, reducing the glycemic index and load of white rice-based biryani.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
IQ Worldwide - Test your Intelligence, know your IQ Score
IQ-Worldwide.org
Try Now
Undo
I decided to use parboiled rice and replaced potato with sweet potato. Veg biryani was made using soya chunks and lots of vegetables.
With such modifications, diabetics can enjoy this biryani without significantly impacting their blood sugar level," said Prakash.
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
Aminia has launched a 'diet biryani' that uses fewer spices and sugar. "We started customizing biryani for those who have diet restrictions. We deliver bulk orders with this specially made biryani that also has less rice and more vegetables.
At all our outlets, we customize biryani for those who want it made in a special way. It takes a little longer to prepare though," said Kabir Azhar of Aminia.
At Riyasat, the Mughlai outlet of Specialty Restaurants, biryani is made using the 'sous vide' method in which ingredients are vacuum-sealed in a bag and cooked in a controlled, low-temperature water bath. "We use pure ghee which has low-fat content, mild spices including real jafran, and ensure minimalistic use of oil with good LDL that cuts out the unhealthy aspect of biryani.
Then, we cook our meat in the sous vide method using very little oil so that we don't have to fry it," said Anjan Chatterjee, founder & MD, Specialty Restaurants.
Easy availability and the fact that it's a rice-based dish have led Kolkatans to fall for biryani in a big way, said Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) president Sudesh Poddar. "We started keeping a watch on ingredients since more elderly people now have it and often want it to be less oily," said Poddar, also the owner of Songhai and Manthan.
"At Oudh 1590, we believe fine dining should be inclusive and conscious. There are many who crave biryani but have health issues. Now, they can savour our authentic Awadhi cuisine with a healthy twist to our much-loved biryanis," said Chaudhury.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Third-party agency to conduct quality, safety checks at Karnataka pharmacies
Bengaluru: With over 45,000 pharmacies operating across the state and limited manpower to ensure they meet safety standards, the govt has decided to seek help from third-party agencies to monitor medicine quality and regulatory compliance. The model is expected to mirror systems already in place in sectors such as construction and finance, where third-party quality certification is widely accepted. Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told TOI that the govt plans to bring the Quality Council of India (QCI) — a central govt-backed public-private partnership — on board to conduct independent inspections of pharmacies. The move is aimed at curbing the supply of spurious and expired drugs and ensuring better compliance with safety regulations. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "We plan to rope in QCI on a trial basis and proceed from there," Gundu Rao said. "If it's successful, then we will expand operations to the entire state. The move will help bring transparency in quality control and compliance checks." The health department intends to pilot the initiative in a single district. However, a regulatory hurdle remains. Harsh Gupta, health secretary, said: "The state govt will move a proposal to the Centre to introduce third-party inspection of compliance to regulations and seek amendment to the Drugs Rules of 1945." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo If approved, Karnataka would become one of the first states to open pharmaceutical inspections to independent assessors — a move officials believe is necessary to keep pace with rapid growth of the sector. Officials say relying solely on govt drug inspectors has proven ineffective due to the sheer volume of pharmacies in the system. "The biggest challenge is to get our drug inspectors to go to the field and conduct compliance and regulation checks. It is humanly impossible to do so," said a senior health department official. "If third-party inspections by private parties are allowed, this will ease the burden on our resources and also make it that much more hassle-free for pharmacies to secure and re-apply for licences. "
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Differently abled students in govt schools to get regular physiotherapy
Prayagraj: Children with disabilities enrolled in govt schools in Prayagraj will now receive regular physiotherapy sessions aimed at enhancing their quality of life and learning capabilities. The initiative is part of Samagra Shiksha programme under its Integrated Education component. The programme specifically targets children aged 6 to 14 who are affected by various types of disabilities and are already enrolled in schools. Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Devvrat Singh said a physiotherapist, Rajendra Kumar Yadav, was temporarily appointed for the academic session 2025-26, up to May 31, 2026. "He is instructed to visit at least 50 schools every 20 working days in a month and provide therapy to each identified child at least twice a month. The services will be extended to children who require physical rehabilitation in accordance with medical advice." The visits will be confined to schools that have students with special needs. In Prayagraj district, 7,200 differently abled children are currently registered, with the highest number—476—in Bahiriya Block. Bahadurpur and Chaka blocks follow with 324 and 354 children respectively. Among these, 60 were identified as requiring physiotherapy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo To further support these children, medical assessment camps will be held at block resource centres (BRCs) starting Aug 1. The first camp will be organised at Manda, followed by camps in Meja on Aug 2, Uruwa on Aug 4, Jasra on Aug 5, Shankargarh on Aug 6, Kidhiara on Aug 7, and Karchhana on Aug 8. These camps will include medical examinations, disability certification and distribution of assistive devices. District coordinator for inclusive education Vikas Pandey said under the PM SHRI scheme, additional camps will be organised from Aug 5 onwards. These will begin with a camp at BRC Jasra for students of Composite School Bikar. Subsequent camps will be held at various locations including BRC India (Aug 13), BRC Saidabad (Aug 18), BRC Holagarh (Aug 20), BRC Phulpur (Aug 26), and BRC Koraon (Aug 30).
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Josh Hines Allen opens up about his son Wesley's brave cancer battle and inspiring recovery
Josh Hines Allen opens up about his son Wesley's brave cancer battle and inspiring recovery (Image Via X) It all started with a phone call. Josh Hines‑Allen, a star defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, found out early in 2025 that his seven‑year‑old son, Wesley, had acute promyelocytic leukemia. For months they fought in hospital rooms, holding onto hope. The family stayed quiet at first, sharing little public detail. Now the prayers are working. Wesley is back to being a kid; playing, laughing, and even heading back to school. The NFL world is watching, hoping, and lifting him up every day. Josh Hines‑Allen's son Wesley fought Leukemia with strength beyond his years Wesley was diagnosed in January 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida, after he had a high fever and began bleeding from a tooth, which led his parents to seek medical help at Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville. His dad, Josh Hines‑Allen, missed the last game of the 2024 season due to this crisis. Over the next six to seven months, Wesley underwent chemotherapy at Nemours, a rigorous period that his parents described as the hardest time of their lives. In July 2025, Josh announced via social media that Wesley is now in full remission and nearing the end of his treatment, with the final chemotherapy phase planned to wrap up by the end of August in Jacksonville. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World! Learn More Undo Josh shared, 'We recently received the good news that Wesley is on his way to a full recovery,' and Kaitlyn, his wife, added, 'He's swimming every day … running around … playing sports' like any seven‑year‑old. Josh added, 'He's got back to being the big brother that he is'. Josh and Kaitlyn Hines‑Allen turned their son's battle into a mission to help others Inspired by their son's courage, Josh and Kaitlyn have started a charity effort through their nonprofit foundation, Four One For All. In 2025 they created a campaign called Four One For Hope. Each month of the NFL season, they will support a different childhood cancer nonprofit: Nemours Children's Health in September, the American Cancer Society in October, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville in November, and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation in December. Josh has said their goal is to help other families feel the same love and support they received. He praised his team's coaches and staff for checking in with him by asking, 'How's Wesley?' rather than just, 'How are you?' —showing real care for his family. With Wesley winning his battle and the Hines‑Allen family giving back, the NFL world continues to stand behind them—with hope, with prayers, and with respect for a brave young boy's strength. Also Read: Josh and Kaitlyn Hines Allen launched the 'Four One For Hope' campaign to support childhood cancer nonprofits. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
