Muslim across the world will observe the beginning of the holy month of Islamic calendar, ‘Ramazan’ from today. ‘Ramazan’ is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims across the globe as the month of fasting.
Hyderabadi haleem synonymous with Ramazan is a stew composed of meat, lentils and pounded wheat made into a thick paste. Originally an Arabic dish, this cuisine was introduced to the Hyderabad State by the Chaush people during the Nizam rule. Local traditional spices helped in evolving a unique Hyderabadi haleem that became popular among the native Hyderabadi's by the 19th-century.
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It is particularly consumed in the Islamic month of Ramadan during Iftar, the evening meal that breaks the day-long fast. Haleem is known to provide instant energy and is high in calories.
In recognition of its cultural significance and popularity, in 2010, Haleem was granted Geographical Indication status (GIS) by the Indian GIS registry office, making it the first non-vegetarian dish in the country to get this status.