Hyderabad's cuisine
Hyderabad's cuisine is one of the finest examples of the fusion of cultures. It's influenced by Turkish cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Arabic cuisine and Tandoor. It also incorporates the herbs and spices of the local Andhra Pradesh and Marathwada cuisine. It is indeed one of the finest legacies left behind by the Nizams. This delightful cuisine has a history of 4 centuries!
The birthplace of this unique cuisine is the Nizam's kitchen. Legend has it that the Nizam had 49 types of Biryani cooked which was a mixture of the Turkish, Mughlai and Arabic flavours along with a dash of the local Andhra and Maratha culinary traditions. And what emerged from the kitchen is the popular Hyderabadi cuisine. Some of the most characteristic features of the Hyderabadi cuisine include the right use of herbs, spices and condiments in the right manner as well as the key flavours of coconut, tamarind, peanuts and sesame seeds. And not to forget, the most prominent spice- chilli. So let's start our meal and discover the mouth-watering and scrumptious Hyderabadi cuisine! |
The Meal
For Starters we have..
To savour Hyderabadi cuisine, let's get authentic and traditional. We are in the dining hall- the Shahi Dastrakhan. For seating arrangements- a chowki, a low table and cotton mattresses are laid. Bolsters are placed for the back rest.
Right now we have the aromatic and delicious Kebabs as the starters. Their origin is in Turkey and Cental Asia. The Kebab which is so familiar to us has evolved in the Kitchens of Avadh. They are usually prepared from mince meat. Kebabs are available in many varieties and can be grilled, roasted, skewered or fried. Kebabs are of many varieties: Shami Kebab, Shikampuri Kebabs, Boti Kebab, Sheekh Kebab, Malai Kebab and many more. Scrumptious aren't they? |
The Main Course
And now... the most famous item of Hyderabadi Cuisine... Biriyani! The Hyderabadi Biryani is famous all over the world as being a dish which showcases the exotic flavours of Hyderabad. It is a beautiful dish and perhaps one of the most prominent examples of 'culture fusion'.
Hyderabadi Biryani is made from Basmati rice, goat meat, yogurt, onion, spices, lemon, saffaron, coriander leaves along with fried onions as garnish. It is available in many varieties and is a wonderful dish! Equally tasty is the Haleem of Hyderabad. It is a type of stew made of lentils and pounded wheat along with meat. It is usually consumed during Ramzan since it provides instant energy and has a lot of calories. |
And Finally- Dessert!
One of the most awaited parts of any meal is the dessert. And the Hyderabadi Cuisine won't disappoint you with the wide range of desserts it offers. The most famous one is double ka meetha- a pudding made from bread topped with dry fruits. Faluda is also popular- a cooling drink. Sheer Korma is a pudding usually made on Ramzan day.
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