Enjoy your sheermal as much as we do? If yes, then you’d love our round-up on the city’s must–have rotis/naans. You will be surprised at how many of these breads you will find only in Lucknow. Go on, try some. A lot of these varieties are available only on prior order.
SHEERMALS
Traditionally kneaded with milk or ‘sheer’, the basic dough is made of ghee, flour and yeast and the rest of the ingredients are added as per required. There are a variety of sheermals to choose from – the basic kind to the one sprinkled with saffron (zaffrani sheermal) to the hugely popular baqarkhani.
Where: Sheermalwali Gali, Nakhas
Price: Price Range: Rs. 10/- onwards, depending on the size and kind
Best eaten with: Whatever your heart’s desire – a cup of tea to nihari to anything in between!
GAU ZABAAN
Yes, that does translate to cow’s tongue, but do not be alarmed, this bread is so called only because of its shape – it resembles that of a tongue. It is the most deliciously soft bread/naan that you will have. Also, the bread has a slight sweetness to it.
Where: Usman Rotiwala, Chowk
Price: Rs. 5/-
Best eaten with: Spicy curries
TAFTAN NAAN
This flat bread is super thin and crisp and is the best accompaniment to a hot cup of tea! You can call it a bread or a naan or even a papad!
Where: Sheermaalwali Gali, Nakhas
Price: Rs. 10/- onwards
ALLAHABADI SHEERMAL
A hybrid between sheermaal and bun, this flat bread is sweet tasting and doesn’t need any company; it is best enjoyed on its own.
Where: Ali Hussain Sheermal, Chawalwali Gali, Near Nakkhas Police Chowki, Old Nakkhas, Lucknow
Price: Rs. 10/- onwards
BAKARKHANI
This is your everyday sheermal gone big! With a diameter of 10 inches or more, this is often flavored with saffron and is a popular item in marriages.
Where: Ali Hussain Sheermal, Chawalwali Gali, Near Nakkhas Police Chowki, Old Nakkhas, Lucknow
Price: Rs. 50/- onwards
DOORBEENI NAAN
Like the name suggests, this naan is in the shape of a doorbeen or say a small telescope. You could even call it a desi doughnut. Legend has it, that this particular naan was a favourtie of a certain Nawab; so fascinated was he with the shape of the naan that he jokingly referred to it as a doorbeen or a telescope, hence the name!
Where: Ali Hussain Sheermal, Chawalwali Gali, Near Nakkhas Police Chowki, Old Nakkhas, Lucknow
Price: Rs. 10/- onwards
KHAMEERI ROTI
Pic By Lillottama – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org
As the name suggests, this roti is made using yeast, or “khameer”. This flat bread with little gorgeous mounts of puffed dough, is slight pungent owing to the khameer. Nevertheless, it is a must-have at your dinner table.
Where: Umar Bhai Roti Wale, Chowk
Price: Rs. 5/-
Best eaten with: Curries, especially the tale aloo ka salan (fried potatoes in a heavily spiced curry)
