Mirchi Ka Salan (Biryani Salan) is a Hyderabadi-style nutty and spicy curry made using large green chilies. Serve it with biryani or any Indian bread (vegan, gluten-free).
Here are some more Hyderabadi recipes which you may like – Hyderabadi Spot Idli, Hyderabadi Baingan Ka Khatta, Hyderabadi Bhindi Ka Salan, Hyderabadi Zafrani Pulao, and Hyderabadi Bagara Rice.

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What Is A Salan
Salan is a Hyderabadi curry made using peanuts, sesame seeds, fresh coconut, and a few spices. It is popularly served with biryanis.
There can be of a variety vegetables added to this creamy, spicy, and tangy curry. Bhindi ka Salan, Baigan Ka Salan, and Tomato Salan, however, the most popular one is Mirchi Ka Salan.
About Mirchi Ka Salan
Mirch means “green chilies” and Salan means “curry” in Urdu.
Mirchi Ka Salan translates to a delicious curry where fried green chilies are added to a creamy, nutty, and spicy peanut coconut gravy.
Also known as Biryani Salan or Plain Salan, it is quite popular in Hyderabadi households and restaurants and is traditionally served with Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani and Mutton Biryani.
It is also quite popular during festivals, weddings, or other celebrations and special occasions.
My Hyderabadi mirchi ka salan recipe is vegan and gluten-free. It serves 4 but can be easily doubled or tripled.
Ingredients




All the ingredients to make this curry are easily available at any Indian grocery store.
Green Chillies – This curry is made using long non-spicy chillis. Use any variety of mild peppers that are easily available to you. I used Bhavangiri chilies. Shishito peppers, banana peppers etc, are also a godo substitute.
For The Salan Paste – To make the paste, you will need peanuts, white sesame seeds, cumin seeds, fresh coconut, whole dry red chillies, fresh ginger, and garlic.
Fresh coconut is the star of this dish and makes the curry nutty and delicious. To save time, you can buy already grated fresh coconut. It is available in the freezer section of any Indian grocery store.
You can replace fresh coconut with dry coconut if it’s not available.
Peanuts also make the base of this dish and make the curry a little thick.
You can adjust the quantity of dry red chilies, depending on your taste.
Spice Powders – This curry uses basic everyday spice powders such as coriander powder, turmeric powder, and Kashmiri red chilli powder.
Tamarind Pulp – Tamarind adds tanginess to the curry and balances out the heat from the chilies.
Jaggery (Gud) – Jaggery adds a hint of sweetness and balances out the spiciness of chilies and various other spices used.
Others – You will also need onions, vegetable oil, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds (methi dana), curry leaves, salt, and cilantro (fresh coriander leaves).
How To Make Mirchi Ka Salan
Fry The Chilies
Wash 6-8 large non-spicy chilies and wipe them well with a kitchen cloth.
Discard the ends or keep them. Make a slit in the center of the chilies and remove the seeds and the pith.

Heat 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large shallow frying pan over medium-high heat.

Arrange the chilies in the pan in a single layer and fry them from all sides until blisters appear on their surface.
Cover the pan with a lid if the chilies are spluttering too much.

Remove the fried chilies to a plate and keep them aside.

Make The Salan Paste
Dry roast
- 2 tablespoon peanuts
- 2 tablespoon white sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoon grated fresh coconut
- 3-4 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed)
over medium heat until lightly browned and fragrant (3-4 minutes), stirring frequently.

Remove the pan from heat and let the ingredients cool down for 10 minutes.

Add the cooled ingredients to a blender along with 2 teaspoon chopped ginger, 3-4 cloves peeled garlic, and ½ cup water, and blend to make a fine paste.
Scrape the sides of the blender a few times while blending.


Make The Curry
Heat 3 tablespoon oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds, and 15-20 curry leaves, and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.

Add 1 cup of thinly sliced onions and fry until they turn golden brown (6-8 minutes), stirring frequently.

Add
- salan paste
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
and saute for 1-2 minutes.

Add 2 cups of water and bring the curry to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid.

Cook the curry for 15-20 minutes.
Now remove the lid and add the fried chilies to the pan and stir well.
Cover and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

Stir in 2 teaspoon tamarind paste and 1 teaspoon crushed jaggery and cook for a minute.

Check for salt and add more if needed.
Mirchi Salan is ready. Garnish with 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro and serve it with biryani, rice, or roti.

Serving Suggestions
Hyderabadi Salan tastes best with biryani. You can serve it with mutton biryani, chicken biryani, fish biryani, mushroom biryani, veg biryani, kathal biryani, or egg dum biryani.
It also goes great with plain rice and other rice dishes like ghee rice, veg pulao, bagara chawal, etc.
You can also serve it with Indian flatbread such as phulka, tawa paratha, lachha paratha, or naan.
Storage Suggestions
Biryani Salan can be stored in an air-tight container for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in a pan or microwave before serving.
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Recipe Card

Hyderabadi Mirchi Ka Salan Recipe (Biryani Salan)
Ingredients
To Fry The Chilies
- 6-8 large non-spicy chilies (rinsed and wiped)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
For The Salan Paste
- 2 tablespoons peanuts
- 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons grated fresh coconut
- 3-4 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed)
- 2 teaspoon chopped ginger
- 3-4 cloves peeled garlic
For The Curry
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (sarson)
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
- 15-20 curry leaves
- 1 cup thinly sliced onions
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 2 teaspoons tamarind paste
- 1 teaspoon crushed jaggery
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
Instructions
Fry The Chilies
- Wash the chilies and wipe them well with a kitchen cloth.
- Discard the ends or keep them. Make a slit in the center of the chilies and remove the seeds and the pith.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large shallow frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Arrange the chilies in the pan in a single layer and fry them from all sides until blisters appear on their surface.
- Cover the pan with a lid if the chilies are spluttering too much.
- Remove the fried chilies to a plate and keep them aside.
Make The Salan Paste
- Dry roast peanuts, sesame seeds, cumin seeds, coconut, and dry red chilies over medium heat until lightly browned and fragrant (3-4 minutes), stirring frequently.
- Remove the pan from heat and let the ingredients cool down for 10 minutes.
- Add the cooled ingredients to a blender along with ginger, garlic, and ½ cup water, and blend to make a fine paste.
- Scrape the sides of the blender a few times while blending.
Make The Curry
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and curry leaves, and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.
- Add onions and fry until they turn golden brown (6-8 minutes), stirring frequently.
- Add the salan paste, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt, and saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 2 cups of water and bring the curry to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid.
- Cook the curry for 15-20 minutes.
- Now remove the lid and add the fried chilies to the pan and stir well.
- Cover and cook for another 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in tamarind paste and jaggery and cook for a minute.
- Check for salt and add more if needed.
- Mirchi salan is ready. Garnish with cilantro and serve it with biryani, rice, or roti.
S. Ahmed
Easy and delicious,
Neha Mathur
Thnx a lot 🙂
Serena
This is the first of your recipes we have tried and it is delicious!
We have added quite a bit of water during the cooking processes to adjust the consistency and have settled for a creamy soup – we just wonder what the final consistency should be like?
You will be pleased to hear that we feel spoilt for choice with such an extensive catalogue to choose from, We look forward to making many more of your exciting recipes in the knowledge that we are preparing dishes in a very authentic style.
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and expertise – much appreciated – will send some pics 🙂
Neha Mathur
Thnx a lot for trying Serena. the consistency of the gravy should be like a thick creamy soup.
Megha
I like the way how the recipe is made.
Thanks
Neha Mathur
Thanks a lot 🙂
GAYATHRI KRISHNAN
HI!
I’m an editor & I would like to use the image of mirchi ka salan from your blog in a school book I’m editing. Please let me know if I have your permission to use it. I will, of course, acknowledge all sources as required by you.
Regards,
Gayathri
[email protected]
Neha Mathur
Sure Gayathri. Thanks
Nipoon
Hi, tried this today, turned out awesome…. Thanks.
Paul
Fantastic recipe!