Hyderabadi Haleem: A Traditional Dish Made During Ramadan

Most Islamic nations and numerous locations in India make haleem. However, Hyderabadi Haleem is truly unique. Hyderabadi Haleem is rich in ghee and spicier than other haleem. Because of this, Haleem devotees attest that this is in fact the best haleem. In actuality, Haleem is a recipe created with mutton. Haleem requires much tolerance. We can only create authentically delicious haleem at home with patience. People throughout the month of Ramadan must break their fast with high-protein foods. For this reason, they alter Haleem's ingredients.

Sultan Saif Nawaz Jung, a nobleman in the Nizami court, popularised haleem in Hyderabad, where it first emerged as a filling dish for soldiers in the cantonment region close to Charminar. It wasn't until much later that it gained popularity as a Ramzan dish. It is a significantly hotter variation than its Lucknowi relative because of the garam masala. Haleem is a well-known Iftaar delicacy that has Middle Eastern and Indian subcontinent roots. Haleem is a sumptuous street snack found in the markets that has a mushy texture and is dripping with ghee. The meat, pulses, and Ghee are cooked with the spices in a thick soup-like meal. Equally well-liked in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.

Ingredients:

  •      750 gms tender goat meat on bone
  •        100 gms desi ghee
  •        2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  •        2 nos green chilies
  •        1/2 cup fried onions
  •      10 nos whole cashew fried
  •       1/2 tsp turmeric
  •        Salt as required
  •      1-litre water

Spices

       2 inch Cinnamon

      8 nos Green cardamom

       1 tsp Cloves

       1 tsp Kabab chini

       1 tsp Royal cumin

Rice, Lentils

  •      2 tbsp Chana dal
  •       2 tbsp Urad dal
  •       2 tbsp Barley
  •        2 tbsp Basmati rice
  •        2 tbsp split green gram
  •        2 tbsp split red lentils
  •      100 grams broken wheat

Optional Add-ons

  •       1/8 cup dried/fresh rose petals
  •        1/8 tsp meetha attar

Garnish

  •       Mint leaves
  •       Lemon wedges
  •       Fried onions

 Method of preparation: 

  •   Add tender goat meat, ginger-garlic paste, fried onions, green chilies, turmeric powder, royal cumin, cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves, kebab chini, water, and salt to a pressure cooker
  •   Stir the ingredients, cover the pan, and simmer until the meat is well soft
  •  Put the broken wheat, barley, chana dal, split green gramme, basmati rice, split red lentils, and urad dal in a dish and give them a good wash
  • After washing it, place it in the wok heated by gas
  • Cook it with a little water until it is nice and soft and delicate
  •  The lentil mash is prepared
  •   After separating the water, spices, and bones from the mutton, transfer it to a sieve
  •   Add the boneless meat and bone marrow into the lentil mixture
  •   Using a masher, crush the mixture before adding ghee
  •  Maintain mashing while adding the fried onions
  •  Continuously mix in the mutton stock
  •   Once again, mix it before adding the meetha attar
  •   Haleem is ready to be served now
  • The meal is a variation of the Arabic mash dish called Harees, which is made with meat and lentils. In a cookbook from the 10th century called Kitab Al Tabikh, Al Harees is mentioned. It has been believed that the Prophet Muhammad himself consumed haleem.