By Pamela Nandi | June 07, 2020

Since I started my blog 2 years back and being a foodie, always overwhelmed with the elaborated spread of Ramazan. It is my wish since long to write a blog about the sweet memories that I have captured during these years.

The holy month of Ramzan (the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting) is the month of prayers and fasting by Muslims all over the globe and also synonymous with food in the form of Iftar. The kaleidoscope of flavours in the spread, host of eclectic masalas in the delectables, meticulously prepared dishes with nutritional values, absorb sufficient fluids to avoid dehydration are awesome. And then the much-awaited Eid al-Fitr (“Festival of Breaking the Fast”), marks the conclusion of Ramadan when its time to rejoice with loved ones and indulge in an array of delicious dishes.

This year during the lockdown due to COVID-19, with limited ingredients in my stock, I prepared some Ramadan dishes.

Sharbat always helps the body to stay hydrated making it one of the best options for Iftar and the fennel seeds sharbat is the most common one. A sharbat should be picked so that it matches your taste, can be a smoothie too as a hunger filler.

Your taste buds crave for something delicious after a long day fasting. One batter and wide varieties of fritters, so easy and tasty always grace the Iftar spread.

After a day-long fast, the high protein – Haleem is the staple dish that is consumed during Iftar. The slow-cooked meat and lentils with the aromatic spices is the most energising and highly nutritional comforting meal for every iftar spread.

Iftar is the time to replenish energy levels and there is a saying not to mix fruits with meals, break the fast with fruits to keep the day going.

During the occasion of Ramadan this year Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport treated with their signature delicacies where food and togetherness take the special significance of this grand celebration. Chef Debarpita Das rolled out some of the intensely flavourful and rich recipes that are classic family favourites to enjoy an elaborate and exquisitely prepared feast.

Our much loved Kolkata Chicken Biryani with its beautiful flavours of the delicately perfumed saffron rice layered with the spicy meat, cooked in dum style are always palate-pleasing.

Another most flavorful and exotic dish in the spread is the unusual Kathal Biryani or Jackfruit Biryani. An interesting combination of spiced biryani made using fried raw unripe jackfruit pieces cooked slowly with a delicious melange of Indian spices and fluffy rice. The amalgamation of the mildly spiced dum cooked biryani with its meaty tender kathal and long grain fragrant rice is simply scrumptious.

Its the feast on this fragrant royal Mutton Awadhi Korma. The riot of the rich Indian spices sets the bud to a storm, that gives this best and super delicious mutton korma with its delectable curry a distinct flavour and perfect texture.

The traditional Ramadan special delicacy served as an evening meal daily, post iftar is the royal Haleem, with its root originating from Arabic dish and travelled all its way to the Hyderabad by the Chaush people during the Nizams. The mushy stew graced with meat, lentils, pounded wheat comes with amazing flavour leaving the aroma of ghee and slightly tangy taste of the lemon.

There is always a room for the dessert to savour the homemade hot Gulab Jamun.

Thankful to the Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport team for sending the gestures.

Alfresco, The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata lays out the best Iftari spreads on every Friday evening during Ramazan month. Gorged on their sumptuous spread of Iftar a year back.

Energy boosters – fruit juices, milkshakes and juicy and tender kebabs and fritters are always an integral part of a quintessential Iftar spread.

Soups are a good way of keeping full and hydrated during Ramadan.

A truly unique Iftar experience with an influence of the Middle East from Arabic, Persian and Turkish cuisines.

A taste of heaven on my palate. Yes, the Haleem, a perfect amalgamation of texture and flavour. The power-packed and the tastiest dish of Iftar – the mushy stew of meat, lentils and wheat mixed with spices. Served with Sheermal or Shirmal derived from the Persian words means ‘milk rubbed’. Saffron-flavoured mildly sweet naan.

Finally, a throwback to my trail for Haleem during the holy month of Ramadan, when the streets of Kolkata around Park Circus and Chitpur neighbourhoods comes alive. To fulfil my craze for Haleem from the enchanting land of Nizams, I visited a couple of restaurants in the vibrant area of Park Circus.

The first joint visited was ZamZam, a paradise for Beef Biryani. Their regular Haleem comes with 5 types of lentils and mutton just melted into my mouth. Served with coriander, lemon, green chillis.

This is called ‘Special Royal Haleem’ at Royal Indian Restaurant Pvt Ltd – Park Circus. Light gravy and less oil, mutton is a bit chewy, made from 10 types of lentils. Served with deep-fried onions, lemon, chillis.

Really touched by the warm invitation that came from the staffs of Royal Indian Restaurant Pvt Ltd – Park Circus to join the Iftari meal -‘madam khana khakhe jaiye’ (madam, please have the food). The shutters were going down, as the staffs were getting ready for the IFTAR meal to break their fasts after sunset, and I was finishing my last spoon of Haleem by sitting at Royal Indian Restaurant Pvt Ltd – Park Circus on the ground floor of the restaurant. Unfortunately, as I was in a big hurry could not join the lavish IFTAR spread.

Lastly, Aliah Restaurant & Banquet calls their Haleem as ‘Sahi Haleem’ – comes with 12 types of lentils, thick gravy with rich spices and mouth melting mutton. Served with coriander, chillis, lemon and deep-fried onions.

Happy Eating !!!