Sweet haleem: a hot favourite on a cold day

The sugarcoated dish cements its place as winter staple

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PESHAWAR:

Haleem is often synonymous with spices and other herbs, but a small vendor is famous for his sweet haleem in the heart of the old walled city of Peshawar.

It is considered a winter dish, revered for its unique taste and body-warming properties. In the past few decades, it has become a hot favorite among local foodies.

Sweet haleem, prepared from a blend of wheat, rice, and more than six other ingredients, is a special treat for Peshawar stomachs during harsh winters. Together with local favourites like siri paye, tikka karahi, and halwa puri cooked in desi ghee, the sweet haleem is a must-try.

Spicy haleem may be the better-known variant, but few know about this sweet sensation. This dish is an Afghan specialty, but also prepared in Peshawar.

On Muhammad Ali Jauhar Road, near Qisa Khwani Bazaar, 'Bukhar Haleem' has become synonymous with sweet haleem. It is prepared from a blend of wheat, rice, khoya, milk, kamar kas, and various herbs and pulses. It is a sweet dish that is very tasty and requires a lot of preparation.

The ingredients for making haleem are put in a pan and cooked for nine hours. After cooking, it is coated with a mixture of chickpeas, eggs, and desi ghee. Powdered sugar is quite literally the icing on the cake.

This haleem can be eaten with or without a hot naan loving prepared in the local tandoor. Many Peshawari people take the haleem home at night, and it is popularly consumed for breakfast in the morning.