Mouth-watering desserts that complement haleem

City foodies say that after eating spicy haleem, one needs to have a cold, sweet dessert to complete the meal. Many haleem points across the city are also selling deserts at nominal prices. Desserts like Qubani ka meetha, Kadduki kheer, Firni, Shahi tukdhe and fruit salad attract haleem lovers

Charminar: Come Ramzan, most of us remember about the savoury Haleem, but complementing this famous dish with scores of traditional desserts with various flavours are also being sold at Haleem points across the city. The kiosks dotting the non-vegetarian restaurants are making a killing during the holy month by attracting visitors with transparent packaging and eye-catching colourful range of desserts for sweet tooth.

Desserts like Qubani ka meetha (made of apricot), Kadduki kheer (made of bottle gourd), Firni (made of rice), Shahi tukdhe (made of bread) and fruit salad and other dishes are attracting the Haleem customers. These mouth-watering desserts are available in areas like Shalibanda, Charminar, Moghalpura, Nampally, Mallepally, Toli Chowki and Abids at kiosks near the non-vegetarian restaurants. Besides, the deserts are also available in bakeries and road-side kiosks that sell Haleem. They are available at a nominal price starting from Rs 50.

During Ramzan, it's a trend among Hyderabadi Muslims to relish desserts at their homes in Iftar or after the dinner, such as fruit salad, Shahi Tukdhe, Firni or Kheer. But now, due to lifestyle changes and preferences for readily available foods, many families also prefer desserts available near the haleem points. "After eating Haleem in restaurants many prefer to eat sweet that are cold like Kadduki Kheer, Firni, Fruit Salad etc. While some love Shahi Tukdhe, others prefer Qubani ka Meetha," said one of the stall owners in Shalibanda.

After eating the hot and spicy haleem, eating a cold, sweet desert completes our meal. In Hyderabad, meal is incomplete without eating desert, said Mohammed Qizar from Shalibanda. "Sikander Jah was a lover of Qubani ka Meetha and hence most of the Hyderabadis enjoy the dessert. The preparation of the desert is so tough.

The desert is not available in normal days. One has to wait for functions to eat his or her favorite desert. But now, it is available easily in market places during Ramzan. Almost every alternate day, I enjoy this desert," he added.

"This different type of dessert can be found only in functions, but in the month of Ramzan, we can eat our favorite desert anytime in city. Thanks to the hotels and makers for selling the desserts," said Rizwan Khan, a foodie in the Old City.

By MM Farooqui