Hyderabad! A city where you can explore the traditions while trying out the best flavors. The city of Hyderabad has a royal culture and it reflects in the food that it offers. Let’s take a little food tour of the most popular delicacies that just can’t be ignored. Hyderabad offers a diverse variety of food for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food lovers.
16 Most Popular Foods to Eat in Hyderabad
1. Hyderabadi Biryani
The most delicious as well as a popular food item that you cannot miss out as a meat lover. In Hyderabad, Biryani has a new definition. Hyderabadi biryani is indeed one of the most important dishes in the Indian food culture. Rice is so aromatic and saffron colored mixed with the best-cooked meat ever that the flavor and texture remain unparalleled.
2. Irani chai
With the essence of Persian culture, Irani chai gives you the feeling of the royalties. It’s sweet, it’s fresh. With all of its rejuvenating properties, it is there to win your heart at the first sip itself!
3. Osmania Biscuits
You must have eaten a wide variety of biscuits in your life but there is actually something special in this kind that will really make you feel amazing. Its main ingredients are custard powder, milk powder, and saffron. Saffron in biscuits must sound weird but tastes like heaven. Try it in combination with Irani chai and you will never be able to forget the taste.
4. Pesarattu Dosa
Dosa is much famous in South Indian cuisine and so, Hyderabad too, being a part of South India, serves some of the very delicious dosas. You can have a variety in terms of both flavors and fillings. Served with delectable stuffings and hot fresh sambhar accompanied by coconut chutney, it will surely give you a light and tasty feeling. The different thing about this dosa is that it is made up of the moong dal which is highly nutritious too. Have it with your favorite filling and chutneys.
5. Khobani ka Meetha
Khobani means apricot itself. This is a dessert that originated in Hyderabad long ago. So, you cannot doubt the authenticity of this super tasty sweet dish in this city. Full of dry fruits mainly apricots, rosewater, and lots of milk cream will give you a ride of the old royal era.
6. Dum Biryani
No one can leave the city without having the taste of this savory dish called Dum biryani especially served in Hyderabad. Based on the technique of Dum Pukht, it is different from all of the biryanis that you have eaten previously. Dum Pukht means a ‘slow technique of cooking’ where the vegetables or meat are allowed to cook at a slow flame for a long time. This is done so that the ingredient leaves all of its juices in the meal. Try this out!
7. Mirchi ka saalan
A very popular dish in Hyderabad for a vegetarian. It can be called a combination of Mughlai taste in a vegetarian dish. Mirchi or green chili is the main ingredient of the dish and the whole of the gravy is full of green chilies but they still tend to balance the extra spicy and loud taste of the dish while serving it with raita (or sour gravy of curd).
8. Mutton Dalcha
Dalcha originated from the word ‘dal’ (pulses or lentils) which is the core ingredient of this dish. It’s a kind of stew made with mutton and chana dal. You can have it with or without the vegetables. This is also the authentic dish of Telangana, Hyderabad. When served with tandoori roti, it tastes the best.
9. Sheer Khurma
A much popular sweet dish made with fried vermicelli or seviyaan, loads of dry fruits, and milk. This dessert is rich in terms of taste and texture. The dessert is very popular and can be found in various cities too but Hyderabad has its variety and taste. If you have a sweet tooth, this dish is a must-try.
10. Maghaz Masala
Maghaz masala is commonly known as ‘bheja fry’ in other parts of India. Maghaz is nothing but a brain in Urdu. This dish can be found in the common stalls at the roadside as it is much popular street food in the city. Meat is fried thoroughly and served with hot chapatis. It is really mouth-watering dish.
11. Mirchi Bajji
It is a snack or an appetizer made with fried green chilies. These tasty fritters are deeply fried and served hot with chutney. You can find it mostly as the common street food in Hyderabad.
12. Kebabs
Hyderabad and kebabs have many deep and old connections. The cuisine is said to be incomplete without a variety of kebabs. There are mutton kebabs, chicken kebabs and then there are fish kebabs. You can find hundreds of varieties in these categories: boti kebab, seekh kebab, Shami kebab, etc. Choose any of these and enjoy!
13. Punugulu
Punugulu is a very famous snack of Andhra Pradesh so, it can be found in many places in various cities but Punugulu in Hyderabad is unbeatable. You can easily find this snack from high-profile restaurants to small eateries at the roadside. It is made up of moong dal, rice, and lots of spices. This deep-fried snack is then served with the most delicious and different chutneys.
14. Double ka Meetha
A festive sweet, very popular in the food culture of Hyderabad is a much-loved dessert in Hyderabadi cuisine. It is a pudding of fried bread. A sauce is made with saffron, cardamom, and milk. Fried bread is then soaked in this milky sauce. You can imagine the taste levels when served with toppings of dry fruits. It’s a must-try dessert.
15. Qeema samosa
Qeema or minced meat is the filling inside the well-prepared tasty samosas. You have surely eaten samosas with stuffings of mostly potatoes and peas. This time, try out different ones. It treats your taste buds with a much more pleasant experience.
16. Hyderabadi Marag
One of the best dishes that you can start your meal with! Its name may sound heavy but the dish is not. It is a light dish eaten as a starter usually. A kind of soup where the core ingredient is mutton. It is very spicy to taste. Tastes best when served hot. Try it out with your friends and cherish the taste.
Read also – 16 Most Popular Foods to Eat in Pune
