String Hopper Biryani in Scarborough

String hopper biryani with chicken korma, eggplant moju, pineapple curry and two sambols. For groups of 20 or more.

String hopper biryani is what happens when two Sri Lankan favourites meet. Instead of rice, the biryani is built on string hoppers, the thin steamed rice noodle nests, broken up and tossed with the biryani spices. It is lighter than a rice biryani and holds its texture well on a buffet table.

It is one of the dishes people ask about most at events, and at Blessed Kitchen it comes as a full combo for catering.

What comes in the combo

• String hopper biryani
• Chicken korma
• Eggplant moju, the sweet and sour eggplant pickle
• Pineapple curry
• Yogurt sambal
• Maasi sambal, made with dried fish

The combo is roughly $20 to $30 per person (quoted on menu and headcount) with a minimum order for 20 people.

Why it works for events

Rice biryani is the safe choice for a crowd. String hopper biryani is the one that makes guests ask where the food came from. The korma keeps it mild enough for everyone, the moju and pineapple curry add sweet and sour contrast, and the sambals let people add heat themselves.

To compare it with our other biryanis, see chicken biryani, beef biryani and vegetable biryani. A lot of hosts order one of each so guests can try both styles.

How to order

Call (647) 449-2924 with your date and headcount. Because the string hoppers are made fresh, give us a few days of notice. Everything is halal and cooked in our Scarborough kitchen. See the full catering menu for the rest of what we make for events.

Why string hopper biryani is special

Most caterers make rice biryani. String hopper biryani uses steamed rice-flour noodle nests instead, cooked biryani style, so it is lighter and picks up the spices in every strand. The combo is roughly $20 to $30 per person (quoted on menu and headcount) for 20 or more, with chicken korma, eggplant moju, pineapple curry, yogurt sambal and maasi sambal.

It is a favourite for nikahs, Eid and weddings because guests rarely see it elsewhere. Our chicken, beef and lamb are HMA-certified halal.

Allergy notes

Some of our dishes contain egg (kottu, egg masala, watalappan), dairy (yogurt sambal), fish (maasi sambal is made with dried Maldives fish) and nuts (green pea cashew curry). If anyone has an allergy, tell us when you order and we will tell you what to avoid.

What string hoppers are, and what we do not make

String hoppers, called idiyappam in Tamil and indiappa in Sinhala, are rice flour dough pressed into thin strands and steamed in small nests. In most Sri Lankan homes they are eaten fresh for breakfast or dinner with a curry and sambol. We do not make plain string hoppers, and we do not make hoppers (appa). The only string hopper dish on our menu is this combo. If you want something similar for a smaller meal, try our puttu or Coconut Roti ($12).

Planning a mixed event with string hopper biryani

Some guests will always want rice biryani, so many hosts set out both. For 60 guests, 20 x String Hopper Biryani Combo (quoted for your event) plus 40 x Chicken Biryani Combo 2 (quoted for your event) is $580 + $1,000 = confirmed in your event quote before tax and delivery. Each combo has its own 20 person minimum.

Serving it so it stays light

String hoppers break if you stir them hard. Lift portions with tongs or a flat spatula rather than scooping, and keep the tray covered between rounds so the strands stay soft. Put the maasi sambal at the end of the line so guests add their own heat.

Leftovers

Steam leftovers briefly or warm them covered with a little water. Refrigerate within two hours and eat within a day or two, because the strands dry out faster than rice.

Read more on string hoppers in Scarborough and our puttu, or call (647) 449-2924.