Delicious Ramzan fare awaits you in Old Delhi. There’s a lot for vegetarians, too

Head to Jama Masjid in Old Delhi to gorge on Ramzan-special delicacies. Sweet and savoury — there is something for everyone.

The Metro heritage line connecting Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid and Lal Kila has made it easier for food lovers to gorge on the delicacies of Old Delhi — a bonus during the holy month of Ramzan, when its bylanes are dotted with food stalls. We boarded the metro, got off at the Jama Masjid Metro Station, and were welcomed by the tantalising aroma of boti kabab (Buff). It was almost time for Iftari.

Of all varieties such as paneer, mirchi, keema and chicken pakodas, keema pakodas are the most popular in the bylanes of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. (Shivam Saxena/ HT Photo)

What can you gorge on? Everything, from khajla (priced at Rs 180) to biryani (Rs 30 a plate) and seekh kabab (Rs 50 per plate).

(Clockwise) Boti Kabab, biryani, tandoori chicken, keema pakoda.

Other Ramzan-special dishes include keema samosa, paneer jalebi, khoya jalebi, karachi halwah and habshi halwah. Cooked in desi ghee, the keema samosa has buffalo meat filling. “Keema samosa is prepared during this holy month only. We sell it for Rs 15 a piece, which is not a profitable price for us, but as a gesture of charity we keep the price to that. People from far-flung areas visit us to eat our samosas and jalebis. Chef Vikas Khanna also visited our shop for the recipe of paneer jalebi,” says Mohd. Shaan, owner of Kallan Sweets.

(Clockwise) Keema Samosa, karachi halwah, paneer jalebi and khoya jalebi, and habshi halwah.

(Clockwise) Dry-fruit mixture, shahi tukda, feni, andarse ki goliya.