Ingredients

  • Haleem Mix
  • 2 Chicken thigh and leg (no skin, bone in, fat trimmed)
  • 2 tablespoons Yoghurt
  • 1 teaspoon Chilli Powder
  • Salt, as needed
  • 2 tablespoons Oil
  • 2 Medium Onions, Sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic Paste
  • 1/2 tablespoon Ginger Paste
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Coriander
  • 1/4 cup Chopped Mint
  • 4-7 Green Chillies
  • 1-2 teaspoons rose water
  • 1 pinch Saffron Strands
  • 9 cups Water
  • Haleem Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Channa Dhal
  • 1 tablespoon Masoor Dhal
  • 1 tablespoon Toor Dhal
  • 1 tablespoon Barley
  • 2 tablespoons Oats
  • 2 tablespoons Urid Dhal
  • 1/4 cup Broken Wheat (Cracked Wheat)
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Black Cumin Seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoon Coriander Seeds
  • 3 Elaichi Pods
  • 1 inch pieces Cinnamon Stick
  • 4 pieces Cloves
  • 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
  • 4 pieces Whole Almonds (Optional)

Method

  • Place all the ingredients listed under haleem powder in a mixer and grind till it is a coarse powder (should have the consistency of corn meal) and set aside
  • In a large bowl marinate the chicken with yoghurt, salt and chilli powder and set aside
  • In a pressure cooker** over medium heat add the oil and let it warm up
  • Once the oil is warm add the onion and mix intermittently and let it cook till it is golden brown (around 15 minutes)
  • Once the onions are golden add the ginger paste and garlic paste and cook for about a minute. (I highly recommend using fresh ginger and garlic and quickly blending it in a mixer or with a mortar and pestle)
  • Add the chicken along with all the yoghurt and mix well and let it cook for about three minutes
  • Add 5 cups of water, coriander, mint, green chillies, rose water and saffron strands and mix well
  • Once the mixture is warm, add the haleem powder that you had set aside and stir vigorously to avoid clumps
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, now increase the temperature to medium high and lock the pressure cooker lid in place trapping all the steam in
  • Cook at this temperature for about five to seven minutes and then reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook for 30 minutes
  • After 30 minutes, turn the heat off and leave the pressure cooker for about 20 minutes for it to depressurize naturally
  • When depressurized, remove the lid and stir the mixture vigorously. The chicken should disintegrate as you stir.
  • Remove the chicken bones out and using a potato masher, mash the chicken into the mixture.
  • Add 3 more cups of water, mix well and on medium low heat let it simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes until it has a wonderful porridge consistency
  • Ladle out some haleem into a bowl and top with the dehydrated or fried onions, chopped chillies, julienne ginger, chopped coriander and a squeeze of lemon. Serve Warm.
  • Notes: *If you decide to use boneless chicken, make sure to replace 2 cups of the water with chicken stock to simulate the flavour the bones impart into the haleem **You can make the entire thing in a pot instead of a pressure cooker but you will probably have to cook it over medium heat mixing intermittently for about 2 to 2.5 hours.