Bukhara cuisine, now in Pune

Bukhara Cusine

Pune is ready to welcome a new addition to its wide food selection with the grand entry of Khiva. Khiva, a restaurant located in Phoenix Market City, is an ode to royal Bukhara cuisine that comes all the way from Uzbekistan. Khiva is a city located in Uzbekistan which is famously known for the Itchan Kala, a famous walled inner town which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After tantalising the taste buds of Mumbaikars, Roshan Nichani, the owner and founder of Khiva, decided to bring the restaurant here to wow Puneites.

“The Bukhara cuisine is essentially the art of the slow-cooking process. We use specialised spices and cuts of meat. The timing is so important for us. Every dish goes through a long process before it comes on to the table. Our menu is very limited so that we can focus on bringing the authenticity to you. We just have one dal dish on the menu because that takes nine hours to cook. Simple dishes are cooked with so much complexity in this cuisine,” explains Nichani.

Chandni Kebab

The starters include a host of vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebabs to choose from. The Subz Lacheela Kebab is dish made from ground vegetables mixed in a host of spices and grilled to perfection. The Khumb Khazana is a mushroom kebab platter with spinach and cheese stuffed mushrooms. One of the specialties here is the Chandni Kebab, a chicken kebab wrapped in silver foil and slow-cooked to taste succulent. For the tandoori lovers, the Tandoori Shikari Tangdi is a heavily spiced kebab that is marinated for hours, leaving you asking for more.

For the main course, the highlight is the Dal Khiva, a dish of dal makhni that has been cooked for around nine hours to bring out the subtle and creamy flavours. Nalli ka Salan is a lamb-based dish cooked in rich tomato gravy that leaves a burst of flavours in your mouth. The Paneer Khurchan is made from a mix of tomatoes and onions sautéed in cumin seeds and diced with tender pieces of cottage cheese. These dishes can easily be paired with tandoori rotis or naans. For the rice-eaters, the biryanis exceed expectations with the Gosht Ki Dum Biryani, that is cooked with generous amounts of meat pieces tossed in with flavourful rice.

Lychee ki Tehree

The desserts are simplistic yet wholesome. The Lychee Ki Tehree is a milk pudding made from rice and lychee pieces which bring out its creamy and sweet texture. The Elaichi Jamun is another version of raas malai that is flavoured with cardamom and saffron.

Head over to Khiva to experience this Uzbek culinary delight!

 

Pune 365
Latest posts by Pune 365 (see all)