Nihari
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Servings
8-10

Prep time
30 mins

Cooking time
6.5–7 hours
Growing up, my grandmother’s Nihari on Friday nights was a tradition in Dhaka. Her family had strong Pakistani influences, as they were originally from Karachi. I learned this “shortcut method” using packet masala, but I still follow her broth recipe and preparation techniques to keep the flavors authentic. This way, my Nihari tastes just like hers! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does back home in Bangladesh.
Ingredients
For Bone Broth
- 3.8–4 lbs beef bones (with marrow if available)
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp caraway seeds (shahi jeera )
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt to taste
- 6 cups water (to boil and discard impurities)
- 6 cups fresh water (for broth)
For Meat
- 3 lbs beef (cut for Nihari)
- 1 cup oil
- 2 Nihari Masala Packet ( Shan Brand)
- 1.5 tbsp ginger paste
- 1.5 tbsp garlic paste
- Fennel seed powder (to taste)
- 10 cups water
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour (maida/atta), mixed in 2 cups water (for slurry)
Directions
Method for Bone Broth (Total Time: 4-5 hours)
- Add 6 cups of water and bones to a pot. Bring to a boil, then discard the water with impurities.
- Add another 6 cups of fresh water.
- Place the spices in a small cloth pouch (or tea mesh). If you don’t have one, you can strain later.
- Slow cook over low heat for 5 hours to extract maximum flavor and marrow.
- Set aside for cooking the meat.
Cooking the meat
- Heat oil in a pot and add the beef.
- Sprinkle in fennel seed powder and sauté the meat for 5–6 minutes.
- Add onion, ginger-garlic paste, and Nihari masala. Cook on low-medium heat until the oil separates.
- Gradually add bone broth, one cup at a time, cooking on high heat. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add the bones back into the pot.
- Pour in 10 cups water, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and slow cook for 1.5–2 hours until the beef is tender.
- Skim off excess oil, leaving some behind for flavor. (You can add it back later if desired.)
- On high heat, add the flour slurry while stirring continuously to avoid clumps. Lower the heat and simmer for another 30–40 minutes until the gravy is silky and smooth.
- Serve hot with naan or paratha.
Recipe Video
Notes
- You can reduce the cooking time by making both the bone broth and the meat in a pressure cooker. The broth will take about 1–1.5 hours instead of 4, and the beef will be tender in about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

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