Secret of Karim’s Curries

Food at Karim’s is truly world-class! The restaurant chain has a presence in East Delhi through its Take Away outlet located at Sagar Complex on Vikas Marg. Aziz Haider decided to taste this food one more time and, needless to say, came back licking his fingers to file the story. Read on to know more about curries and the rest of food that this restaurant has to offer…

If only there was space to sit! This is the view of innumerable visitors to Karim’s Take Away joint at Sagar Complex, when they are unable to raise an accusing finger at the quality of food and the consequent licking that it inevitably leads to.
Started in 1913, Karim is today a chain of restaurants serving hot and spicy mughlai cuisine to gourmets coming from far and near. Though professionalism has caught on to the extent that there are several franchise outlets available, where it is possible to debate whether the quality remains the same, the East Delhi’s Take Away joint is directly run by the owners.
Says Alimuddin Ahmed of Dastarkhwan-e-Karim Pvt. Ltd., that runs the East Delhi outlet: “Ours is the fifth generation in business. Cooking The Royal Food is the hereditary profession of Karim’s, because wherever the Mughal’s went they took our ancestors along with them right from the times of Babur. The Mughlai food developed under the patronage of the Mughal Kings and Queens using the Indian spices became our hallmark when the Mughals made India their permanent homeland.”
No doubt that Karim’s food is a result of time-tested methods, perfected through several decades. Trick lies in the proportions and not just the ingredients. Even oil or fat is regulated and only put as per necessity. The comfortable level of chillies makes the food more relishing.
“The type of people who come to our restaurant and even care to pen down their views suggest the extent to which the food is relished. And a lot many inevitably returns, again and again, to give Karim a dedicated clientele that perhaps no other restaurant in Delhi can boast of.”
All that’s on offering is up for taste! You will find a distinct taste to every dish. Upon trying the food at Karim’s you would only marvel at the number of taste-buds that are present on your tongue and the level to which they get ignited. Be it the Yakhni soup and Baqar Khani, roti and the Sag Ghost or simply Nahari or Kofta of peppery ground lamb tenderly embracing a boiled egg – your tongue would relish them all. Also, there is a choice of roasted items, including chicken and paneer. Chicken tikka or rumali rotis served with kababs too are hot-selling items and so is Kheer in small earthen plates.
Food is such that Karim should put a warning for the vegetarians. Don’t accompany your non-vegetarian friend to the premises. Or else, just the colour and smell might tempt you into conversion. After all, Karim can easily be blamed for subverting a lot many vegetarians through its exquisite Mughal cuisine.