Hyderabadi Haleem

I didn't know if i missed Hyderabad after staying there for a couple of years or rather i was wondering what was i missing the most in Hyderabad. But recently when i saw my online friends sending out Ramadan greetings to fellow brethren did i remember my days when i lived in Hyderabad. Ramadan/Ramazan was a month which fellow hyderabadi's not only spent in fasting and prayers, but also it was a food lovers paradise for feasting.

When we take the name of Hyderabad to anyone in India, immediately Hyderabadi Biryani comes to their mind. Hyderabadi Biryani is a popular delicacy throughout the world now. But personally i wouldnt say its my favorite Hyderabadi dish. Being an ardent Biryani lover, i know my tastes buds too well when it comes to my favorite food. But i rate this rare Hyderabadi delicacy even higher than the Biryani and its none other than the Hyderabadi Haleem. I state it rare as its  largely found during the holy month of Ramadan. Although some eateries claim to be providing Haleem all round the year, the charm of this delicacy is in that it is available only for a few days a year.

Haleem originally an Arabic dish brought to our country by the Nizam's has evolved over the years and now Hyderabadi Haleem is indigenous and one of a kind dish. I have heard that the Arab version of the haleem is sweet and it is still consumed by the arab diaspora in Hyderabad. But this delicacy is no where near sweet, it is savory, spiced and highly flavorful. Haleem is like a porridge made with goat meat, broken wheat, pulses, spices, mint, ghee (calorified butter) cooked over low flame for over 12 hours. The meat pulses and wheat is totally mashed and all you get to taste is the flavour of spices and ghee. Garnished with fried onions, cashews, mint and coriander leaves and with a dash of lemon juice sprinkled on top and having it takes you right to heaven. Its such a exotic food rich in taste and in calories as well. It is mainly to be consumed at the time of breaking the day long fast so as to give the body the deserving rise in energy.

In the first year of my stay in Hyderabad, my husband a die hard meat lover was the first to introduce me to this dish. I was first reluctant to taste this delicacy as personally i dislike mutton and the gooey texture and dull color didn't quite appeal to my senses. But anyhow i thought i will take a try after all people are standing in long serpentine ques to get this small bowl of mashed meat. And only after i ate the first morsel did i realize that appearances can be deceptive, this thing is nothing like it seems. After the second and third mouthful i was hooked to it. But i never could finish one small bowl full as its too heavy on the tummy, but very satiating. Its a one of a kind of the ultimate comfort food, just like i would say Mac and cheese for the Americans. You never realize it actually melted through your mouth to your stomach. After that most friday's during the Ramadan month we used to make it a ritual to eat haleem. There are several eateries claiming to provide the best haleem and every year there are competition as to which eatery takes the top spot in the haleem contest.  I have had opportunity to taste from some of these top eateries such as Shah ghouse, Pista house, Paradise and i used to be in a position to almost judge whose haleem tastes best. The last day of Ramadan is when the mad haleem rush takes place. People do anything to get that one bowl of haleem,becuase they know that tommorow is Eid and they have to bid adieu for another year. There is traffic congestion nearby these eateries and few people act as server's and get these haleem to our car without us actually have to face the line and buy one. This year i am missing all that mad haleem rush. And maybe after all i am missing all the good times that i have had in Hyderabad.