Halal restaurants are becoming more and more popular in the United States. However, they can be hard to find in some states. Unfortunately, I don’t have one within walking distance of my house, so we have to drive to fix our desi food cravings. This causes distance and time issues when I want to eat Halal food but don’t want to cook.
So what is the best way to know about halal food options near us, through friends or forums that list places that serve halal food? Apps like grub Hub, Door Dash, Uber Eats have many halal food places listed. Halal food restaurants may not be like Chick-Fil-A or Mcdonald’s chains in every neighborhood. Still, with the increase in demand and popularity amongst people of all descents, the wait for halal eateries around every corner shouldn’t be too long.
Halal means all food is prepared according to Islamic dietary laws. For example, any meat for consumption other than fish must be slaughtered in a specific way. Although Halal restaurants are not commonly found in the United States, cities like Houston, Texas, have many Halal food options.
Food from a halal restaurant is not always available on the go, and this is because of two factors:
-The first reason is that there is not a lot of demand for it here in America.
-The second reason is that halal restaurants tend to only cook their food after diners order it, so they don’t have much ready to take away availability on their menus.
The great thing is that, like other multi-cultural cuisines in the US, Halal foods are also becoming very popular among Westerners because of their universal appeal. Halal cuisine is defined by its emphasis on spices, meat, and vegetables, such as chicken or beef. The food contains no alcohol, pork, or animal byproducts.
Today I will shed light on the Famous Halal Food Restaurants Dishes that will always keep you coming back to have more. These are found in most of the Halal food restaurants. To find out which Halal Food Restaurant serves them the best, read on:
Chicken Biryani
Biryani is a meat and rice dish hugely popular in South Asia and even beyond parts of the Middle East. Without the right balance of spices, the word is nothing more than a bland mixture of nuts and rice and meat; hence the complexity of the flavors in Chicken Biryani originate from its spices. The dish typically has a few different spices that are used to create multiple layers of flavor and aromas.
Chicken biryani is one of the most loved dishes of Indo/Pak cuisine. The word biryani comes from two Persian words, which means to fry or roast with spices. These days, people are using many variations for this dish, for example, chicken biryani, lamb biryani, vegetable biryani, and even prawn biryani. The process involves cooking meat in a spiced sauce until it becomes tender and then layering it on white rice. The dish has become so popular because it’s easy to make and looks beautiful when served.
Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is one of the many dishes loved by the native in the US. The dish is made of chicken, usually roasted or grilled, and then prepared in creamy butter and tomato sauce. Butter Chicken is loved by all generations, cultures, and nationalities because its unique taste blends nicely with many types of rice. Of course, people love having it with basmati rice. Still, it is equally enjoyed with naan or roti garnished with chopped cilantro.
It is said that butter chicken was first cooked in British India during the 19th century by cooks who used leftovers creatively to make them palatable. This dish has changed quite a lot since its inception and continues to spread across cultures!
Beef Haleem
Beef Haleem is a beef and lentil stew cooked for hours over low heat so that the meat becomes tender and juicy and shreds. It disperses uniformly in the gravy giving it a coarse texture. I like to leave mine a little grainy so I can have it with a fork.
Haleem is one of the most loved dishes by all. Since its inception, the dish has spread like wildfire due to its rich flavors and tender meat that becomes soft after long cooking.
A typical Haleem contains beef (or lamb or goat), lentils, ginger, garlic, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander pods, cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticks. It is served with condiments like fresh cilantro, lemon, julienned ginger, and chaat masala on the side.
Nihari
Nihari is a slow-cooked, mouth-watering dish of meat, bone stock, and spices. The cooking process takes around two hours or more. The dish was created in the late 19th century by Afghan royals who came to India following the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
Nihari is cooked with beef or goat meat. It has a rich, spicy and creamy gravy because of the roasted flour added to it during the final stages of cooking. It is loved by all as it is really easy to make and can be found in most Pakistani restaurants all over the US. Best eaten with fresh Khulchay or naan bread, this is one Pakistani Halal food restaurant dish that will reel your senses!
Bihari Kebab
Bihari kebab is one of the most popular dishes served in Halal Food Restaurants all over the US. The kebabs are made from finely ground mutton and spices and cooked on a skewer.
Bihari kebabs are the most popular dish of the subcontinent. They are made mainly of finely ground mutton and cooked on skewers. The word kebab is derived from the Arabic word “shōkhábāb” (شوخباب), which means “to turn around regularly.” In Turkish, it is called “döner,” and in Greek, it is called “gyros” or simply “kebab.”
Bihari kebabs are dry, spiced, and marinated with papaya that breaks down the meat, cooked on a skewer. The meat used for this dish is mostly goat, beef, or chicken. The spices typically include cumin, ginger, cardamom, coriander seed powder, and turmeric powder.
The Bihari kebab became popular in the subcontinent because of the creaminess of the meat that makes it melt in one’s mouth. Served with piping hot parathas or naan bread, freshly chopped salad, and mint yogurt, Behari kebabs are an addiction for life! Talking about food is my favorite thing; my friends always want to hear about mouth-watering spicy Halal Food restaurants I have recently visited. Spicy food is a perfect way to boost the taste and make an enjoyable experience for the tongue. If all that delicious food talk has not made your mouth water, I don’t know what will. This restaurant I visit all the time because it has it all, and no one does haleem or biryani like them; Halal Tempura is my twice-a-week stopover for tantalizing desi halal food and my family and friends love it too. But, you know what, I just want to go and have their beef Bihari right now, so I will sign off for now and go fix my cravings!