Shravan is here, and for many Punekars, that means putting meat aside for a few weeks and exploring vegetarian food. But giving up meat doesn’t necessarily mean giving up biryani. At Bhoomi by Seeta Ki Rasoi in Kothrud, raw jackfruit—or fanas— replaces meat in Biryani!
Their Raw Jackfruit Biryani is a thoughtful vegetarian take on the dish, served traditionally on a banana leaf with raita on the side. Instead of trying to imitate a meat-heavy biryani, this preparation lets the jackfruit and homemade masala do the talking.
This biryani uses long-grain basmati rice, cooked fluffy and moist, along with a homemade aromatic masala. What immediately stands out is how controlled the preparation is. There’s very little oil and spice, but that doesn’t mean it’s less on flavour. The focus here is clearly on aroma, with fragrant spices and fried onions giving the biryani its character.
And then comes the fanas.
Rice Verdict: 8/10
The basmati rice is cooked beautifully. Each grain is fluffy and moist, while carrying the aromas and flavours of the masala without becoming greasy or overly spicy. It’s a light and pleasant biryani that doesn’t leave you feeling weighed down.
Fanas & Masala Verdict: 9/10
This time, there is no meat. Instead, well-cooked chunks of raw jackfruit take its place. The jackfruit has the right texture—soft enough to bite through but still retaining some structure—and, more importantly, it absorbs the masala remarkably well. The masala itself relies more on aromatic spices and fried onions than on heat.
Fanas to Rice Ratio: 10/10
You get around eight good-sized pieces of jackfruit in a portion, which is just about perfect. There’s enough fanas to keep you company right until the last spoonful of rice. You don’t end up with a plate of plain rice towards the end, which is a surprisingly common problem with biryanis.
For those observing Shravan or simply looking to try something different, this is a vegetarian biryani that doesn’t feel like a compromise. The raw jackfruit works well as the star ingredient, while the aromatic masala keeps the dish interesting without relying on excess oil or spice.
