
By Ms Shi & Mr He
Beef Nihari
Learn how to make delicious beef nihari at home with this step by step guide and pictures. Perfect for a special night in or a cozy meal.
Updated at: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:50:53 GMT
Nutrition balance score
Great
Glycemic Index
35
Low
Glycemic Load
5
Low
Nutrition per serving
Calories303.5 kcal (15%)
Total Fat14.6 g (21%)
Carbs14.4 g (6%)
Sugars3.6 g (4%)
Protein29 g (58%)
Sodium576 mg (29%)
Fiber3.3 g (12%)
% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Ingredients
6 servings

2 lbbeef shank
cut into 2 to 3-inch chunks

1 lbmarrow bones
optional, for better flavor

4 tbspsghee
or cooking oil

1onion
thinly sliced

1 Tbspginger-garlic paste

1 Tbspblack peppercorns

1 Tbspcoriander seeds

1 tspcumin seeds

3bay leaves

1star anise

4cardamom pods

2black cardamoms

1cinnamon stick

0.5 piecenutmeg

1mace

1.5 tbspsground spices

1 ½ Tbspred chili powder
use 1 tbsp if you want your beef nihari to be less spicy

2 tspturmeric powder

1 tspsalt
Add 1 to 2 tsps of salt to your taste

water
hot

sugar
Add towards the end of cooking and adjust to your taste

2 tbspsflour

½ cupwater
cold

2 tbspsFresh ginger
julienned

¼ cupFresh cilantro
chopped

1lime
wedged
Instructions
Step 1
Place a small dry skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add all the spices to be ground (see ingredient list above) to the pan. Stir the spices frequently for 2-3 minutes, or until they become fragrant. Be careful not to burn them. The goal is to release the essential oils and enhance the aroma.
Step 2
After toasting, remove the spices from the skillet and let them cool. Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder (or use a mortar and pestle) and grind them into a fine powder. For this dish, you will need only 1½ tablespoons of the ground spice powder. Store any remaining powder in an airtight container for future use.
Step 3
Heat ghee (or cooking oil) in a large pan. Add sliced onions and ginger-garlic paste and sauté until golden brown.
Step 4
Add the beef pieces and bones cook on medium high heat until browned.
Step 5
Add the ground spices (made in step 2), red chili powder, turmeric, and salt. Stir well to evenly coat the beef and bones with the spices. If using a Dutch oven, transfer everything to it at this point.
Step 6
Pour in hot water (*see note 1 below) until cover the meat, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beef is tender.
Step 7
In a small bowl, mix flour with water to make a smooth slurry. Slowly add this slurry to the simmering Nihari while stirring continuously. Allow it to cook until the gravy reaches your desired thickness.
Step 8
Serve the beef nihari hot with naan or rice, garnished with fresh ginger, cilantro, and lemon wedges.
View on Ms Shi & Mr He
↑Support creators by visiting their site 😊
Notes
1 liked
0 disliked
There are no notes yet. Be the first to share your experience!