Guide to Hyderabadi food

BiryaniHyderabadi Biryani is no run-of-the-mill stuff, it is the authentic kachhe gosht ki biryani. The meat is cooked with the rice so it r...

Biryani
Hyderabadi Biryani is no run-of-the-mill stuff, it is the authentic kachhe gosht ki biryani. The meat is cooked with the rice so it remains slightly raw. We also call it Dum Biryani, where the pan is sealed with dough and cooked on a very slow flame. Maybe the word delicacy is a bit much but it’s undoubtedly the best thing about Hyderabad.

Haleem during Ramzan
I know it’s really corny but if you want to see how secular India is then visit Hyderabad during Ramzan. It’s the one time when the entire city is alive and everybody is buying buckets of haleem. The best haleem I’ve had is made by a lady called Azeeza. She’s Hyderabad’s best kept secret. She doesn’t cook the grain too fine so it’s a little chunky… which tastes phenomenal.

Hyderabadi Mango
The only reason summers in Hyderabad are bearable is because of Himayat, the Hyderabadi mango. You rave about Alphonso but it’s just a piddly little fruit. Himayat is monstrously good food. You get them as big as 500 gm also. I eat close to four mangoes a day which comes to 2 kg. I love the mango so much that I take it along it wherever I am travelling. It’s nothing short of an obsession. And just to let you know, I never ever share my fruit.

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Chicken 65
This dish originated in Hyderabad but no one knows when and how. This is boneless chicken cooked with various masalas until it turns orange in colour. The final tadka is given with curry leaves. There are different theories as to how the dish got its name. Some say only those chicken are used that have lived for 65 days or that the dish was invented in 1965 or that it needs 65 ingredients to cook the dish. Awesome.

Whatever Mom Cooks
Now I am going to sound like a mommy’s boy, but one of the important reasons why I love the city is because my mom—who happens to be a great cook—lives there. My mom, Kusuma, has the knack of making things taste right. She does an amazing okra (ladyfinger) sambhar and mutton chop masala. My sister and I are planning to do a book on her recipes soon.

PS: Kukunoor does have one more reason (other than food) to recommend his city: It’s called the Golconda Fort.

Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing 17 women, held in Agra

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A self-proclaimed 'godman' was arrested in Agra for sexual harassment and misappropriation of funds. He was accused of sending inappropriate messages and photoshopping pictures with politicians. The Delhi Police traced him to Agra and froze his accounts and fixed deposits. He was previously booked for harassing 19 women at a private institute.

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