What is the 200-year-old Nizami sweet that Harsh Goenka is raving about? All you need to know about Badam ki Jali | Today’s news
While Hyderabad’s culinary fame is dominated by its iconic biryani, haleem and khubani ka meetha, industrialist Harsh Goenka recently took to social media to highlight one of the city’s “lesser-known treasures”.
In his recent X post, Goenka introduced his followers to ‘Badam ki Jali’ – a 200-year-old delicacy from the Nizami era. Describing the intricately patterned and baked confection, he praised the traditional dessert as “smooth, nutty, melt-in-the-mouth and not too sweet.”
“Hyderabad is famous for biryani, haleem and khubani ka meetha. But one of its lesser known treasures is Badam ki Jali,” he wrote. “A 200-year-old sweet from the Nizami era, made of almonds, sugar and cardamom, delicately patterned and baked. Soft, nutty, melt-in-your-mouth and not too sweet.”
Several of his followers were so taken with the performance that a person from Hyderabad said they had never heard of him before.
“Though I have lived in Hyderabad since 1969, I have never heard of this Harsh ji, not even in my club Nizam, a true Hyderabadi social connection. Thanks for enlightening me,” the user said.
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Here’s everything we know about Badam ki Jali:
What is Badam ki Jali?
Badam ki Jali is a traditional, intricately processed almond-based confection originating from the Nizami era of Hyderabad. The name translates directly into its physical description: Badam (almond) and Jali (lattice or mesh).
This soft, roasted almond confection is essentially characterized by its lacy design, boasting a slightly crunchy golden exterior and a soft, chewy, marzipan center.
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Badam ki Jali: History and Origins
The delicacy traces its roots back some 200 years to the royal kitchens of the Nizams of Hyderabad, although culinary historians often associate its earliest iterations with the Arcot Nawabs and the Nawayath community of Madras.
Originally, Badam ki Jali was an exclusive luxury reserved for royal banquets, aristocratic weddings and important gatherings.
Because the production process was highly laborious and required expensive ingredients, the recipe was carefully guarded by select noble families and their private chefs.
Over the generations, several traditional families in the old city of Hyderabad have inherited and preserved these precise techniques.
Today, legendary establishments like Nafees Sweet House and Imperial Sweet House in Hyderabad remain renowned for handcrafting an authentic version of this heritage dessert.
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Badam ki Jali: Cultural Significance
Badam ki Jali holds significant cultural weight in Hyderabadi traditions.
A staple of traditional Hyderabadi Muslim weddings, it often takes center stage in sanchaq, gifts sent from the groom’s family to the bride. It is also highly sought after during Eid and other major festivals.
In recent years, a cashew-based variant, Kaju ki Jali, using exactly the same craft techniques, has also become popular.
