Mutton Haleem (Slow Cooked Meat and Grain Porridge)
A thick, silky pot of tender mutton, wheat and lentils, beaten smooth and topped with crisp onions, ginger and lemon.
- Time5 hr 30 plus soaking
- LevelHard
- Costabout £2.06 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 459kcal
- 12.3gcarbs
- 4.7gof which sugars
- 35.1gfat
- 14gsaturates
- 24.4gprotein
- 3.3gfibre
- 1.8gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
The night before, soak the cracked wheat, barley, chana dal and moong dal together in plenty of cold water. Drain and rinse them before cooking.
- 2
Heat the oil in a large heavy pan over a medium heat. Fry the onions for 20 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden. Lift out about a third with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper and keep for the top.
20 min - 3
Add the ginger and garlic paste to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin and salt, then add the mutton and yoghurt. Fry for 10 minutes until the oil starts to separate.
10 min - 4
Add the drained grains and dals, the red lentils and the water. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer on the lowest heat for 3 hours, stirring from the bottom every 20 minutes so it does not catch.
180 min - 5
Lift out the bones and shred the meat off them. Return the meat to the pot, then beat the haleem hard with a wooden spoon or a potato masher for 5 minutes until the meat and grains turn thick and stringy. Add a splash of hot water if it is too stiff.
5 min - 6
Stir in the garam masala and cook for 10 more minutes. It should fall off a spoon in thick ribbons.
10 min - 7
Serve in warm bowls topped with the crisp onions, ginger, green chilli, coriander, mint and a squeeze of lemon.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
