Sheerkhorma still rules the roost as Eid delicacy

Hyderabad: When it is Eid it has to be Sheerkhorma, the special sweet delicacy made of vermicelli, still rules the roost in Hyderabad and entire Deccan region. The age-old sweet dish is fondly consumed by all people across the society.

As Ramzan comes to its end, lakhs of Muslims across the State and city celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr and the Sheerkhorma is the dominant sweet dish over all other sweets prepared on the festival day. Eid-ul-Fitr is in fact described as the festival of sweets since a variety of sweets are made on this day. There are two kinds of seviyan preparations on the Eid day; Sheerkhorma (made with sugar) khare seviyan (salted).

The Eid brings with it sublime food flavours. Sale of vermicelli, dry fruits, ghee and other ingredients goes up during the last week of the Ramzan. The preparations for the sheerkhorma begin a day before the Eid. A household, Nafees Sultan said that she prepares the ingredients one day before Eid so that the sweet can be served early on the day of Eid to the family members and guests. She said, "Frying all the ingredients and soaking the vermicelli in ghee takes a lot of time and needs early preparation."

After a month of strict abstinence, Eid-ul-Fitr is most associated with feasting and would not be complete without the sheerkhorma. Traditionally sheerkhorma is made with seviyan. It is cooked in milk and dates, adding a variety of dry fruits to make it a rich aromatic dessert. Sheerkhorma is a customary Muslim festive dessert dish and is served to family and friends on Eid-ul-fitr to show hospitality and joy on the happy occasion.

BY Syed Mujtaba Hussain Abedi