Indians have in their own ways become very inclusive in their hearts & mind & are embracing varied cultures and rituals with passion. Its not uncommon to celebrate festivals of different communities all through the year. Festivals like Ganpati, Durga Puja, Navratri , Ramzan , Christmas have all broken boundaries and found place in every Indian heart.
No wonder then, the holy month of Ramzan holds equal fervour, especially in Mumbai. The month long fasting and feasting ritual takes a whole new meaning in the maximum city as foodies like us trail the landscape to discover hidden gems that hold elaborate iftar spreads.
Sunday evening , the better half proposed that we should push and shove our way through the crowded lanes and alleys of the buzzing Mohammed Ali road to taste the kebabs and curries there. I rejected the idea downright – partly because I was apprehensive of travelling for almost 2 hours only to encounter the massive crowd that throng the Khao – gulli on weekend….but largely due to the overcast sky that promised a heavy downpour.
However, I could not let the mood of the man go as gloomy as the weather , so out came Plan B to my rescue. A quick help of the ever obedient Google baba and Zomato and pronto – I discovered outlets selling elaborate Iftar spreads only 10 minutes away from my abode at Yaari Road, Versova, Mumbai.
As we drove along the sea-facing Yaari Road, we were tempted to stop at the popular Persia Darbar. One glance and we saw Sawarmas, Seekh , Reshmi & Malai Kebabs peeking their way through glass panels. Reserving it as our stop-over for another evening , we drove further to explore the rustic variety of ramzan food down the road. A sharp right turn towards the D-Mart road at the end of Yaari road, brought us to two brightly lit outlets that have been recently reviewed quite frequently –
- Seekh Paratha Inn
- Treat Way Inn
The Iftar Spread :
Kebabs – We found a variety of kebabs available here – Seekh, Malai , Reshmi, galouti. We tried the Mutton Seekh Kebabs, which were soft and full of authentic flavours of the spices used.
Tandoori Chicken – I did not venture into trying these Tandoori chicken as it looked too colourful (Red to be precise) for my appetite.
Cutlets, Naan , Pakodas, Chicken Lollypops, Chicken Rolls , Chicken Samosas – Some of the spread drifted away from the traditional Mughlai influence and bent towards satisfying the current food tastes & trends. However, the mutton cutlet was succulent , the naans were soft.
Haleem, Paya, Keema & Nihari – The best of Mutton dishes were on offer and were cooked to perfection, retaining its distinct tastes.
We tried the the popular & fastest selling Hyderabadi Haleem and were surprised by the wonderfully soft mutton pieces and the wheat and lentil were perfectly blended. However, I would still prefer the haleem from Mohammed Ali road for its authentic taste.
The Keema or minced mutton curry was deliciously well-cooked with a variety of whole and ground spices. Complimented the paratha beautifully, however was cooked in excess oil and ghee, so beyond 2 helpings , I decided to let go.
Nihari – The mutton Nihari is a smooth & rich flour based stew with slow cooked mutton and a myriad of spices. Again the mutton pieces were delicately cooked and the nihari masala balanced the taste well.
Paya Soup – Very light Mutton soup stewed along with fragrant spices. Was a treat to the tastebuds & was perfect for the rain-drenched weather.
Desserts
Malpuas, Phirni & Rabdi
The breaking of the fast every evening is incomplete without a generous spread of desserts. The sight and smell of the aromatic giant Malpuas , served with a drizzle of smooth rabdi is literally heaven on a plate and can be easily shared by 4 people.
The plain Phirnis (Rice pudding) and Rabdis (Condensed Milk sweet) are very popular during Ramzan and are a hot seller.
All in all, our Iftar trail on Yaari Road turned out to be successful and we did not regret missing a walk down the other popular Iftar lanes of Mumbai. With a few days more to go to the
Food 4 D Soul 