Haji biryani

Haji biryani
Haji biryani
Restaurant information
Established	1939; 85 years ago
Owner(s)	Haji Mohammad Shahed
Previous owner(s)	Haji Mohammad Hossain, Haji Mohammad Golam Hossain
Food type	Chevon (goat's meat) biryani
Street address	70 Kazi Alauddin Road, Nazira Bazar
City	Dhaka
Country	Bangladesh
Seating capacity	50
Other locations	Motijheel

Haji biryani (also known as Hajir biryani) is one of the oldest restaurants in the heart of Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, selling chevon biryani (dish made with highly seasoned rice and goat's meat). The restaurant also sells borhani (a salted mint drink made of yogurt) and soft drinks. In 1939, the restaurant was started as a roadside food corner by a person named Haji Mohammad Hossain. Later on, the business took dramatic change and became part of the culture of Dhaka city.^[1]

History

The business was started on 1939 by a cook Haji Mohammad Hossain. After Haji Mohammad Hossain died in 1992, his son, Haji Mohammad Golam Hossain took over and continued the family business without making any changes in style and tradition. By the passage of time, Haji Mohammad Golam would become tired of running the family business and finally hand over the business to his son, Haji Mohammad Shahed.^[2] The dish bears resemblance to the Yemeni Haneeth.

Location

The Haji biryani has three branches. One is in Old Dhaka which is the main branch,^[3] one is in Motijheel,^[4] ^[5] Another branch is said to be planned in Jamuna Future Park. In Old Dhaka, it is located at 70 Kazi Alauddin Road, Nazira Bazar.^[6]

Recipe

The recipe includes highly seasoned rice, chevon, mustard oil, garlic, onion, black pepper, saffron, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, salt, lemon, doi (yogurt), peanuts, cream, raisin and small amount of cheese (either cow or buffalo). The recipe has been handed over the founder of the restaurant to his next generation. Haji Mohammad Shahed claimed that, “I have never changed anything, not even the amount of salt”.^[7]

References

^ Sakhawat, Adil (8 March 2013). "Haji Biriyani: The Scintillating Taste from Old Dhaka". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
^ "The Flavour of Dhaka - by Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan". www.facebook.com.
^ "Haji Biriyani". Dhaka Foodies. Dhaka Foodies. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
^ "Hajir Biriyani". Google. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
^ "Haji Biriyani". Dhaka Foodies. Dhaka Foodies. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
^ "Dhaka". Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
^ Mydans, Seth (8 July 1987). "FOR A SECRET STEW RECIPE, TIME IS RUNNING OUT". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

External links

Haji biryani on Facebook

[1] Sakhawat, Adil (8 March 2013). "Haji Biriyani: The Scintillating Taste from Old Dhaka". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

[2] "The Flavour of Dhaka - by Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan". www.facebook.com.

[3] "Haji Biriyani". Dhaka Foodies. Dhaka Foodies. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

[4] "Hajir Biriyani". Google. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

[5] "Haji Biriyani". Dhaka Foodies. Dhaka Foodies. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

[6] "Dhaka". Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2017-12-14.

[7] Mydans, Seth (8 July 1987). "FOR A SECRET STEW RECIPE, TIME IS RUNNING OUT". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

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