Nihari

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Nihari is a popular meat-based dish originating from Old Delhi. When Pakistan gained independence in 1947, numerous immigrants from Delhi settled in Karachi, where they established their own restaurants, so nihar is also associated with Pakistani cuisine. The dish consists of slowly cooked meat such as beef shanks, mutton, or chicken. The meat is cooked together with stock and numerous spices such as cumin, cloves, garam masala, and cardamom in big vessels which are sealed with dough. It takes anywhere from six to eight hours for nihari to be cooked properly, and it is traditionally consumed for breakfast, since the name of the dish is derived from the Arabic word nahar , meaning morning . Originally, nihari was consumed by the Nawabs in the Mughal Empire as a breakfast dish, before the usual morning prayers, although some people believe that the dish was invented in the royal kitchens of Awadh. It is usually served with tandoori rotis or khameeri rotis , and some like to garnish nihari with green chilis on top. Nihari's texture, spiciness, and tenderness of the meat make it a favorite among many Indian and Pakistani people.