When it comes to culinary traditions, Lucknow is among the richest Indian cuisines. Besides the popular sheermal and Galouti kebabs, this culinary tradition has a number of hidden gastronomic treasures that are steeped in the history of their time. One such dish is Boz Musallam. Taqi Abbas, a brand advisor who operates an Instagram handle called ‘Lucknow Uncovered’ recently shared an insightful video about this lesser-known dish that is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Boz Musallam, A Traditional Lucknowi Dish With Whole Goat
In the video shared, Nawab Faisal Ali Khan shares a heritage recipe of his familial abode, Sheesh Mahal. The recipe for Boz Musallam has been in his family for generations recalling memories of it from his childhood. He described the process of making this dish in intricate detail.
The piece de resistance of this dish is that it consists of a whole goat. You start by scoring the meat across to ensure that the flavour seeps into the meat and it is cooked evenly throughout. After the scoring, an assortment of Awadhi spices is rubbed on the meat.
Along with the spices, the paste of raw papaya is also rubbed on it. Raw papaya is a natural meat tenderiser and ensures that the meat is cooked soft and tender. The meat is left in the marinade for some time to ensure that it is evenly flavoured.
Hiding A Chicken In The Goat!
After that, you boil the marinated goat in water. Then, caramelise onions and make a thick gravy by mixing dry fruits or mewa. This goat is then smothered in this gravy and given dum on coals. Let it cook for some time and then, the Bofz Musallam is ready.
The Nawab recalled memories of his childhood and said that his grandfather used to have a chicken hidden in the goat’s cavity for an additional variation of meat. Such recipes show how deeply food and culinary traditions are intertwined with personal and cultural ones.
Also Read: Make Lucknow’s Famous Hing Dhaniya Ke Chatpate Aloo; Celebrity Chef Mohsin Qureshi Shares Recipe
Have you heard of this dish before? Would you dare to make this dish at home? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @lucknowuncovered/Instagram
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