A kulhar, also called kulhad or Shikora, is a traditional small, handless poetry cup made from clay. Especially in north India, these cups are used to serve hot beverages like Kulhad Chai or Kulhad Milk. They are biodegradable and eco-friendly, as they are meant to be disposable and are rarely reused, and this property makes them a perfect sustainable alternative to plastic or Styrofoam cups.
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Kulhars are not just used as serving cups; nowadays, they are also incorporated into cooking. In this modern time, Kulhars in culinary are often used for slow-cooking dishes; the porous nature of kulhar allows it to absorb moisture, which helps in cooking food evenly while retaining the natural flavours and earthy aromas.
While cooking, they are typically placed in tandoors or preheated ovens to let the food cook inside. Incorporating kulhars in cooking adds the natural minerals and the earthy flavours of the clay to the dishes, making them unique in texture and aromatic.
Essential Tips For Using Kulhars In Cooking
Check Before Buying
Before using kulhars for culinary use, it is essential at the time of purchasing to make sure that they are free from any cracks or defects. The kulhar you are planning to buy should be made from high-quality, natural clay, additionally, ensuring its durability and ability to retain heat.
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Soak The Kulhar
Before using kulhars for culinary purposes, soak them in water for about 15-20 minutes, as this will help prevent kulhar from cracking when it is exposed to high heat. Additionally, this process of soaking will help to create steam during cooking, which keeps the food moist.
Preheat The Kulhars
Ensure to preheat the kulhars slowly, you can place them in a cold oven or a tandoor after that gradually increase the temperature. This step will prevent the kulhars from cracking due to sudden temperature changes.
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Avoid High Flame
Low and slow cooking works best with kulhars so avoid placing them directly on the high flame or exposing them to the unbearable heat, as it can cause the clay cup to crack which will lead to the wastage of food.
Dishes To Make Using Kulhars
Kulhar Biryani
Kulhar Biryani is the delectable version of traditional biryani, where in culinary, marinated rice, meat and a blend of spices are layered and then sealed with a chappati, just like in dum cooking. The slow cooking process melds all the flavours beautifully, and the earthy aroma of the clay provides an additional extra punch to the dish.
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Kulhad Pizza
Kulhad Pizzas are the most popular dish prepared in this modern era. It is one of the popular street eats that you can achieve at home by layering the kulhar with a base of pizza dough, adding your favourite toppings like cheese, vegetables, and sauce, and baking them in the oven. The kulhar at the end provides a crispy dough outside while staying soft and chewy on the inside.
Kulhar Lassi
Lassi is a popular and cool Indian yoghurt drink which becomes more special and refreshing when served in a kulhar. The kulhar with its heat resistance properties keeps the lassi cool and adds a slightly earthy flavour to the cup, making it an enjoyable dining experience.
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Kulhad Kheer
Kheer a traditional Indian rice pudding, gets an extra much with the earthy aromas when served in the kulhar. Kulhar kheer is crafted when the creamy and rich rice pudding made by cooking milk, rice, sugar, and cardamom powder is done and poured into the kulhar and then garnished with dry fruits and nuts.