Hyderabad’s love for biryani and haleem is well-known, but this Ramzan, the city is reviving ancient dishes linked directly to the Prophet’s table. As dusk falls and the azaan echoes near Charminar, Hyderabadis are breaking fasts with dishes that trace their origins back 1,400 years.
Flavours like Tharid, Talbina, Nabeez, and Harees, once quietly cooked in home kitchens, are now making waves at street stalls and fine-dining restaurants. These dishes, documented in Hadith literature, were traditionally enjoyed by the Prophet and are now gaining a public following.
Social activist Zakir Hussain credits social media for popularising these spiritual recipes. “These foods, tied to faith and health, are attracting both the devout and the curious,” he said. All the ingredients — dates, barley, honey — are natural and packed with nutrients.
Former techie Syed Moazzam now serves Talbina and Nabeez at his early-morning stall. “My mother still makes it the traditional way,” he shared, offering fasting locals and fitness buffs a taste of prophetic nutrition. Talbina, a barley-based porridge, is praised for its healing benefits.
Juice-seller Abdul Qadar has adapted Talbina into trendy versions like nutty shakes and warm drinks, attracting a new-age crowd.
According to food historian Dr Haseeb Jafferi, this return to simple, spiritually rooted food reflects a global trend — people seeking wholesome and meaningful meals. Hyderabad, always a melting pot of culinary traditions, is blending the past with the present, one bowl at a time.
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