Pakistani Beef and Lentil Stew / Haleem

Haleem (lately I’ve even seen it referred to as Daleem), the popular South Asian stew consisting of lentils, grains, and meat- oh how I have searched high and low for a recipe that yields the flavor and consistency of the deliciousness that can be found in the small street-side restaurants in Karachi, without the use of the pre-made boxed mixes! I (and you!) can finally stand up and proudly say, “why yes, I CAN make amazing Haleem on my own!”

I am so excited to share the recipe for Haleem because it is something that I’ve been wanting to learn to make on my own for a long time.  I know, I could have easily used the recipe found on the backside of those ever popular boxed mixes, but to be completely honest, I prefer being in a position where I am not reliant on a boxed mix to create those same delicious flavors.

This recipe has been a long time coming, and something that I have wrestled with for several years.  The flavor and texture is as authentic as it comes!

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Haleem

Course Main Course

Cuisine Pakistani

Keyword Beef, Grains, Lentils

Servings 8 People

Ingredients

Broth/Stock

• 1 pound beef bones
• 4 cups water

Meat Mixture

• ¼ cup neutral flavored oil
• 2 large onions, sliced thin
• 2 ½ tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
• 2 teaspoons red chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 5 whole cloves
• 2 pieces cinnamon
• 2 dried bay leaves
• Salt, to taste
• 1 pound boneless beef, diced into small to medium chunks

Lentil Mixture

• 8 cups water
• ½ cup cracked wheat (gehu), soaked overnight, and drained
• ½ cup barley (jay), soaked overnight, and drained
• ½ cup bengal gram (channa dal), soaked overnight, and drained
• ¼ cup red lentils (masoor dal), soaked overnight, and drained
• ¼ cup split black gram (urad dal), soaked overnight, and drained
• ¼ cup split mung beans (moong dal), soaked overnight, and drained.
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon gram flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground mace

Tempering

• ¼ cup neutral flavored oil
• 1 large onion, sliced thin

Garnish

• Fried onions
• Ginger, sliced into matchsticks
• Cilantro, chopped
• Green chilies, sliced
• Fresh lemon or lime juice
• Chaat masala

Instructions

Prepare Stock

1. In a large vessel, combine bones and water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for an hour, skimming off any residue that floats to the top. Strain and discard bones, while reserving the stock. Set aside.

Prepare Meat Mixture

1. Heat oil in a large vessel over medium high heat. Add onions and cook until golden brown, stirring often. Add ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, salt, and a splash of water. Cook, stirring often for 2 minutes. Add meat and 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours, stirring intermittently, until the meat is cooked through and falling apart.
2. When the mixture has cooled slightly, remove bay leaves and shred the meat. Set aside.

Prepare Lentil Mixture

1. In a large vessel, combine water, drained grains and lentils, salt, turmeric, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and cover. Cook until the lentils are tender, about an hour. Remove from heat.
2. Remove bay leaves and discard. Carefully pulverize the mixture with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth.
3. Add prepared stock and meat mixture and mix well. If needed, use an immersion blender or food processor to further pulverize mixture.
4. Over medium low heat, gently bring the Haleem to a simmer. Add water as needed (depends on how thick or thin the Haleem is. If it is too thick and sticking to the bottom of the vessel, add water a bit at a time. Keep in mind that Haleem thickens as it cools.).
5. In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup water with gram flour, cumin, nutmeg, and mace. Add this mixture to the Haleem and cook for 5 minutes. Cover and remove from heat.

Prepare Tempering

1. Heat oil in a small pan over medium high heat. Add onions and cook until golden brown, stirring often. Once onions have turned golden, carefully pour the mixture over the Haleem and cover.
2. Serve Haleem with garnishes on the side.

Recipe Notes

Measurements are in actual measuring spoons/cups and not eating utensils.

Adapted from Food Fusion.