Pakistani slow-cooked beef shank stew with deep spices — Karachi's iconic breakfast, intensely flavorful.
Nihari is Pakistan's most beloved breakfast dish — beef shanks slow-cooked overnight in a rich, complex sauce of caramelized onions, ginger, garlic, and a fragrant masala blend. The result is meltingly tender meat in an intensely flavored, slightly sweet, deeply spiced sauce. Topped with fresh ginger, cilantro, and lime, served with naan. Originally a royal Mughal dish, now Karachi's quintessential weekend breakfast.
Serves 6
Heat 1/2 cup ghee in heavy-bottomed pot. Brown beef shanks well on all sides over high heat, 10 minutes. Remove to plate.
Add remaining ghee. Add onions and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes until deeply golden brown — patience is key.
Add ginger-garlic paste. Cook 2 minutes.
Add chili powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin, ground fennel. Cook 1 minute, adding splash of water if needed.
Add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, and bay leaves.
Return beef to pot. Add water and salt. Bring to boil.
Reduce heat to lowest. Cover and simmer 3-4 hours until meat is fall-apart tender.
Whisk flour with 1 cup water until smooth. Slowly stir into stew while it simmers. Cook 20 minutes — sauce thickens to gravy consistency.
Stir in garam masala, ground nutmeg, and ground star anise. Cook 5 more minutes.
Ladle into bowls. Top with julienned ginger, sliced chilies, cilantro, and lime juice. Serve with naan or basmati rice.
Long, slow cooking is essential — beef must literally fall off the bone.
Make a day ahead — flavor improves dramatically overnight.
Mutton nihari: use lamb shanks.
Chicken nihari: faster — use bone-in chicken thighs, reduce cook time to 60 minutes.
Refrigerate up to 5 days. Tastes even better next day. Freezes 3 months.
Nihari originated in 18th century Mughal Delhi, traditionally cooked overnight in tandoors. The name comes from 'nihar' (Arabic for morning) — it's a breakfast dish.
Mughals believed nihari's slow-developed warmth and protein gave strength for the day. Now it's traditional Friday morning breakfast in Pakistan.
Per serving (450g) · 6 servings total
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