Winter is the best time for non-vegetarians, isn’t it? Though we can enjoy non-vegetarian food in any season, the magic it spreads in winter is beyond imagination. Among so many quintessential winter meals, one is hareesa also known as harees or harisa. For those who don’t know, hareesa constitutes of a thick brownish gravy mixed with finger kebabs and topped with pure desi ghee. It is basically a stew made with wheat and meat. It can either be cooked using lamb, beef, or even chicken. The wheat in hareesa is cooked in water until it is soft while the meat is cooked in a separate pot. Both are then mixed together and transformed into a dish that is divine. Usually served with naan, this dish can satiate your soul. Believe me!!
Also Read: From Pre-Partition Lahore To Old Delhi: Madan Lal Halwai’s Mithaiyan Are Winning Generations
Hareesa is a special Winter-meal in Kashmir as well, but this piece is dedicated to the beauty of Amritsari Hareesa commonly found in Lahore. Although it has Amritsar in its name, the dish has quite many followers in our neighbouring country i.e., Pakistan. Partition may have divided the two countries but the rich food on both sides has always brought people together. A perfect example of this is Amritsari Hareesa in Lahore. Hareesa lovers from all over Pakistan travel to Lahore to have this delicious and lip-smacking dish. Though there is no particular reason why this dish is named so. However, if legends are to be believed, the people who started selling this dish had come from Amritsar during the partition.
Among many famous Hareesa sellers, one is Haji Sahib, situated on Nisbat Road and has been running for over 60 years now. It is believed that Haji Sirajdin started selling hareesa from a humble shop and named it so as an ode to his roots across the border. While another famous Hareesa shop is believed to be in Gujranwala. This owner of “Amritsari Hareesa” in Gujranwala claims to have been serving the best Hareesa. Amritsari Hareesa served in Gawalmandi has a lot many fans as well. This dish truly joins two countries together, isn’t it? We know we have triggered your hareesa cravings. Let us give you a quick recipe of this dish so that you can have the taste of Lahore!!
Amritsari Hareesa
Ingredients
- 250 gm cracked wheat grain
- ½ kg mutton (boneless)
- ¼ cup ghee
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tbsp garam masala (whole)
- 2 tsp ginger garlic paste
- Salt as per taste
- 2 to 3 tsp red chili powder
- ¼ cup curd
- Spinach (boiled and ground)
For Mini Kebab
- ½ kg minced chicken
- 2 tbsp red chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- Salt as per taste
- Oil for frying
Method
- Add cracked wheat grain to a bowl and soak it in 4 to 5 glasses of water for a few hours.
- Then, boil the cracked wheat until it turns soft.
- Add the whole garam masala and mix well.
- Now add mutton pieces and fry until it changes their colour.
- Add ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, salt, and curd.
- Add sufficient water and mix well.
- Cover it and let it cook on a slow flame. Cook the meat until it turns tender and soft.
- When done, grind the meat.
- Now, mix the coarse wheat with the ground meat. Also, add ground spinach.
- Again, let it cook on a medium flame until it turns brown.
- Then, add mini kebabs and mix.
- Thereafter, heat up the ghee and sizzle crushed cumin in a pan. Pour it over Hareesa and serve hot!!
Enjoy!!