Sheermal

Sheermal or Shirmal (Persian-Urdu: شیرمال, Hindi: शीरमाल), is a saffron-flavored traditional flatbread from Greater Iran.[1] The word sheermal is derived from the Persian words شیر (translit. sheer) meaning milk, and مالیدن (translit. malidan) meaning to rub. In a literal translation, sheermal means milk rubbed. After being introduced to North India by the Persianate Mughal emperors. It became a delicacy of Lucknow, Hyderabad and Aurangabad.[2] It is also part of the Awadhi cuisine[3] and is enjoyed in Old Bhopal and Pakistan.

Sheermal

Sheermal served in Iran
Alternative names	Shirmal
Place of origin	Iran
Region or state	Greater Iran, later spread to North India with the arrival of Persianate Mughal rulers
Main ingredients	Maida, Milk, Ghee, Saffron
Cookbook: Sheermal

Preparation

Shirmal is a mildly sweet naan made out of maida, leavened with yeast, baked in a tandoor or oven. Shirmal was traditionally made like roti. Today, shirmal is prepared like naan. The warm water in the recipe for naan roti was replaced with warm milk sweetened with sugar and flavored with saffron and cardamom. The final product resembles Danish pastry.

In Iran, there are slight regional variations in the preparation of sheermal. As such, it is sometimes sold as a souvenir when travelling between the regions.

Shirmal is sometimes served with Lucknow kababs or alongside nihari.

See also

• List of Indian breads

References

1. "Sheermal, Persian Sweet Bread". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
2. "The Hindu : A nawabi affair". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
3. "A slice of the Awadh exotica". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 October 2014.