Visakhapatnam :

Haleem lovers in the Port City are in for a bigger treat this Ramzan. For, a local haleem maker-cum-vendor is cooking up plans to introduce Vizagites to fish haleem on July 3, the 15th day of the holy month of Ramzan.

“So far Vizagites have sampled chicken, mutton and vegetarian haleem. But this year, we will be giving them a taste of fish haleem at our outlet,” said Sheik Zuber, proprietor, Dil Se Haleem, which is located opposite the mosque at Jagadamba Junction.

Divulging the recipe of the seafood variety of haleem, Zuber said it will be prepared using Tuna and King Fish (Konam in Telugu). “There are just one or two shops offering fish haleem in Hyderabad. In Andhra Pradesh we will be the first to introduce it. I am trying to arrange the tuna and king fish for the haleem,” he said.

He said fish haleem will be more expensive than mutton but claimed it will be healthier for people suffering from diabetes, heart diseases, cholesterol and eye sight problems though it will be made of pure ghee.

Pointing out that almost 75% of the haleem customers in the city are non-Muslims and are mainly students and corporate employees, Zuber said his stall gets a good response every year and he earns around Rs 5 lakh every Ramzan on an average just by selling chicken and mutton haleem. This year he hopes to rake in higher profits with the introduction of the fish variety.

Mastan Valli, a haleem vendor from Gajuwaka, said the city has nearly 100 haleem centres at key locations with the ones at Jagadamba Junction, RK Beach, Leela Mahal Centre, NAD Junction and Gajuwaka getting a good response from consumers. “Most of the haleem makers go to the sheep market at Hanumanthawaka Junction on National Highway-16. Healthy male healthy sheep are much in demand among haleem makers,” he added.

Mohammed Sadiq, president, Vizag Young Muslims Association, said the city has 52 mosques and nearly three lakh Muslim residents. “Muslims traditionally eat haleem while breaking their fast to get instant energy, but now the dish has become a much sought-after delicacy among Vizagites of all walks irrespective of community,” he explained.

China Rehman, a senior member of the Muslim community in the Old City area, said five years ago there were just a handful of stalls selling haleem near a mosque at Jagadamba Junction, but now the numbers have gone up manifold due to rising demand and increased publicity. “I strongly feel that Vizag will soon turn out to be another Hyderabad when it comes to the haleem business,” Rehman said.

Sources said that nearly 2,000 bowls of haleem are sold every day in the city during the month of Ramzan, generating revenues of around Rs 60 lakh. Zuber said the cost of a family pack of chicken or mutton haleem has gone up this year due to the rise in price of spices. “A bowl of chicken haleem costs Rs 50 this year and that of mutton Rs 100. A family pack of chicken haleem will now cost Rs 180 (750 grams) and that of mutton Rs 300 this year,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by V Kamalakara Rao / June 23rd, 2015