Haleem is such a favorite delicacy to us Hyderabadis that it's almost second nature to us to long for a helping once in a while. So wouldn't it be a crying shame if we didn't know its history??
1. Haleem was called as Harisah, Harissa or Harees.
2. Originally an Arabic dish, made of meat, wheat flour, spices and ghee, it is said to have come to Hyderabad during the Mughal period via Iran and Afghanistan.
3. It was a dish that was originally consumed during Muharram. It was a dish created to serve the energy needs of the soldier-like fiery mourners.
4. It is cooked for hours, often for seven to eight, and hence the dish took the name of Haleem – Persian for patience!
5. In Hyderabad’s Arab quarters of Barkas, where the descendants of the African-Arabian tribes live, it is consumed with beef and retains the original name of harissa or harees.
6. It is a high calorie dish which gives instant energy as it contains slow-digesting and fast-burning ingredients. It also contains dry fruits rich in anti-oxidants. The meat and dry fruits make it a high protein food.
7. Pista House was the first to create a vegetarian option, and it now boasts of a Jain version too!
8. It is estimated that during Ramadan, the eateries in Hyderabad sell Haleem worth Rs. one billion.
