A short guide to ordering biryani for your South Delhi gathering

Ordering biryani for a room full of people is one of those tasks that looks simple until you have to do it. How many handis? Chicken or veg? What if half the table does not eat meat? When does it need to arrive so it is still hot but not sitting on the counter for two hours? This is the short version of what we have learned from six years of cooking for gatherings in South Delhi.

First — how much to order

Almost everyone gets this wrong the first time, because our handis are sized by raw rice, not by the weight of the finished dish.

A quick rule: 1 kg of raw rice dums down to roughly 4.5 kg of biryani, which comfortably feeds about 8 hearty plates or 12 lighter ones alongside a starter or two. So:

• 10–15 guests → 1 kg handi
• 16–24 guests → 2 kg handi
• 32–48 guests → 4 kg handi, or a 2 kg + 2 kg split by flavour
• 50+ guests → multiple handis, mixed flavours

If starters are light and biryani is the main event, round up. If you have a heavy appetiser spread, round down.

Mixed dietary tables — the two-handi rule

For any group with a vegetarian or two, do not order a single chicken handi and spoon out the rice. Order a separate veg handi. The vegetarians get a proper sealed vegetarian pot, and the chicken guests are not policing their portions.

We cook three flavours and they mix well on the same table:

• Chicken — the classic Awadhi handi. Bone-in, marinated overnight.
• Veg — paneer and seasonal vegetables in the same sealed-dum treatment.
• Kathal (jackfruit) — unusual and worth trying. Kathal takes on the aromatics like mutton does; it is the pot the meat-eaters keep asking about.

A chicken handi, freshly opened

Timing, delivery and the four-hour rule

Sealed-handi biryani cannot be rushed. The rice needs its full stretch of dum, which is why we ask for at least four hours’ notice on any order. For 4 kg handis or three-plus pots, a day in advance is kinder to both of us.

Delivery is free within a 10 km radius of Sangam Vihar. Beyond that we can still deliver — the fee is quoted on WhatsApp. Because the handi is sealed until you open it, you have a comfortable window either side of the arrival time. Aim for delivery about 15 minutes before you want to eat; the dough seal handles the rest.

Weddings, office parties, quiet family lunches

The handi is designed for exactly this — a pot that opens once, at the table, in front of the people who ordered it. We have cooked for engagements, wedding side-lunches, office Diwali spreads and quiet Sunday family gatherings. The order form is the same:

• Biryani and handi size (e.g. Chicken 4 kg + Veg 2 kg)
• Number of guests
• Delivery date, time and address
• Any allergens we should know about

Send that on WhatsApp and we will confirm within the hour.

Frequently asked

How much biryani do I order for a party?

Our handis are sized by raw rice, not finished dish. A 1 kg handi cooks down to about 4.5 kg of biryani, which comfortably feeds 8 hearty plates or 12 lighter ones. So for 20 guests plan on about a 2 kg handi; for 40 guests, a 4 kg handi or a 2 kg + 2 kg split by flavour.

What biryani options does Baab E Biryani offer?

We cook three: chicken, veg and kathal (jackfruit). All three are cooked in the same sealed-handi Awadhi style, in 1 kg, 2 kg and 4 kg handi sizes.

Can I mix chicken and vegetarian in the same order?

Yes. For a mixed table, order two handis — e.g. a chicken 2 kg + a veg 1 kg. They arrive in separate sealed pots so the veg guests get a proper vegetarian handi, not a spoon-out from a chicken pot.

What is the delivery area and cost?

Free delivery within a 10 km radius of Sangam Vihar, South Delhi. Beyond that we can still deliver — the fee is quoted on WhatsApp based on distance.

How much notice do you need?

Four hours is the honest minimum for a good handi. For large orders — 4 kg and above, or three-plus handis — book a day in advance so we can plan the kitchen.

Do you cater weddings and office parties?

Yes. Weddings, engagement lunches, office parties and family gatherings are what the handi was built for. Tell us the guest count and the date on WhatsApp and we will work back to the right handi mix.