Nihari

Nihari

Nihari

The slow-cooked sunrise stew of old Lucknow — lamb shanks or beef simmered overnight in a rich, spiced broth thickened with wheat flour, topped with ginger julienne, fried onion, and lime. Eaten for breakfast by Nawabs after Fajr prayer.

Cuisines

Hyderabadi Awadhi Bohri Mughlai Delhi

Best for

Breakfast Lunch

Build a full meal around Nihari

Get a matched combo of sides and accents

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 180 min Total: 200 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Beef 500 grams Beef , shank or mutton
ghee 3 tablespoons Ghee
Flour 2 tablespoons Flour
Onion 1 large Onion , thinly sliced
ginger-garlic paste 2 tablespoons Ginger-garlic paste
red chili powder 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
turmeric powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
coriander powder 1 tablespoon Coriander powder
Cumin 1 teaspoon Cumin , powder
garam masala 1 teaspoon Garam masala
cinnamon stick 2 inches Cinnamon stick
cardamom 4 Cardamom , green pods
Clove 4 Clove
Fennel Seed 1 teaspoon Fennel Seed
Black Peppercorn 1 teaspoon Black Peppercorn
salt 1 teaspoon Salt
water 1 liter Water
lemon juice 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
Cilantro 2 tablespoons Cilantro , chopped
Ginger 2 tablespoons Ginger , fresh, julienned

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
  2. 2 Add sliced onions and sauté until golden brown.
  3. 3 Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for another 2 minutes.
  4. 4 Mix in red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder.
  5. 5 Add the beef shank or mutton pieces and cook until they are browned on all sides.
  6. 6 Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, fennel seeds, and black peppercorns.
  7. 7 Pour in water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover the pot.
  8. 8 Simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender and the broth is rich.
  9. 9 In a small bowl, mix wheat flour with a little water to make a smooth paste.
  10. 10 Add the flour paste to the pot and stir well to thicken the gravy.
  11. 11 Season with salt and garam masala, and cook for another 10 minutes.
  12. 12 Stir in lemon juice and garnish with fresh coriander leaves and ginger juliennes before serving.

Tips

For an authentic taste, cook on low heat for a longer duration to enhance the flavors.