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Dhakaiya Haleem

Name: Dhakaiya Haleem
Total time: 360 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 600 g Beef, boneless, cubed; 150 g Red lentils, a mix of masoor, moong and chana daal, soaked; 100 g Wheat flour, cracked wheat (or broken wheat/dalia), soaked; 3 pc Onion, sliced and fried crisp; 2 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste, plus extra julienned for garnish; 2 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste; 1 tbsp Red chilli powder; 1 tsp Turmeric; 1 tsp Garam masala; 4 tbsp Clarified butter; to taste Salt; 3 tbsp Coriander, chopped, for garnish; 2 pc Lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

360 min Hard 8 servings

Serves 8 · Total 360 min · Prep 240 min · Cook 120 min

Updated on 20 October 2026

Photo: Dead.rabbit / CC BY-SA 4.0

Beef slow-cooked with a mix of wheat, lentils and barley until it all breaks down into one thick, mash-like stew, then finished with fried onion, ginger, lime and coriander. A Dhaka Ramadan iftar essential, sold by the kilo from huge pots outside restaurants in the evening.

Quick answer: 360 min in total · serves 8 · main ingredients: Beef, Red lentils, Wheat flour, Onion · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

600 g 1.3 lb Beef, boneless, cubed
150 g 0.75 cup Red lentils, a mix of masoor, moong and chana daal, soaked
100 g 0.8 cup Wheat flour, cracked wheat (or broken wheat/dalia), soaked
3 pc 3 pc Onion, sliced and fried crisp
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste, plus extra julienned for garnish
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Red chilli powder
1 tsp 1 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp 1 tsp Garam masala
4 tbsp 4 tbsp Clarified butter
to taste to taste Salt
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Coriander, chopped, for garnish (Optional)
2 pc 2 pc Lemon, cut into wedges, for serving (Optional)

Steps

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Soak the lentils and cracked wheat together in water for at least 2 hours.
⏱ Soaking · 120 min
Cook the beef with ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, chilli and salt in a pressure cooker or pot until very tender; shred the meat finely and keep the stock.
⏱ Cooking the beef · 45 min
Separately, boil the soaked lentils and wheat in fresh water until completely soft and starting to break down.
⏱ Cooking the lentils and wheat · 40 min
Blend or mash the cooked lentils and wheat until smooth, then stir it into the shredded beef and its stock.
Simmer everything together on low heat, stirring often to prevent sticking, until it becomes one thick, well-blended stew, adding hot water if it gets too thick.
⏱ Simmering the haleem · 40 min
In a small pan, heat the ghee and add garam masala for a final tempering; pour over the haleem and garnish with fried onion, julienned ginger, coriander and a lime wedge.
⏱ Final tempering · 1 min

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Dhakaiya Haleem take?

360 minutes in total: about 240 minutes of prep and 120 minutes of cooking.

Is Dhakaiya Haleem hard to make?

Degchi rates it hard. The method has 6 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Dhakaiya Haleem serve?

This recipe serves 8. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Dhakaiya Haleem halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It contains beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Dhakaiya Haleem?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: red chilli powder, turmeric, salt. Spice-box items: garam masala. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: beef, onion, ginger, garlic, clarified butter. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: red lentils, wheat flour.

Any tips for making Dhakaiya Haleem?

The longer and slower the final simmer, the smoother the haleem gets — do not rush this step by raising the heat. Texture test: lift a spoonful and let it drop. Good haleem falls like a thick batter with the shreds clinging, not like a soup. It keeps thickening as it rests, so stop while it is slightly looser than you want.