Written by: Dr. Saba Noor
Posted on: August 15, 2022 | 
| 中文
Dulhan Paratha
Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh, is a home to long-held traditions, culture and heritage. It is widely known for its markets, chatpatta food and a lot more. In addition to housing a number of architectural masterpieces and historical monuments, it houses a number of historic eateries, like the Bombay Bakers, Koozi Haleem etc. One such famous and extraordinary food point is Café Afzal, established about half a century ago.
The counter of the cafe
In the old and narrow streets of Shahi Bazaar Hyderabad, at a walking distance from Mukhi House and Hasrat Mohani Central Library, a small restaurant (more like a shop) under the name of Café Afzal is located. The café is limited to serving breakfast only, consequently, it is only open from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. They serve a wide variety of desi breakfast items like daal poori, halwa pakwan, paratha and many more items. However, out of its wide range, the most popular and delicious is the Dulhan (bride) paratha, because of which the café is also known as the Dulhan Paratha Center.
Dulhan Paratha with chicken
The love of Pakistanis for parathas is intense, and this can be measured by a paratha that is referred to as Dulhan ka paratha or Dulhan Paratha. Since in Pakistan a bride is no less than a celebrity, same goes for the paratha of the bride. The fuss created by the so-called queen of parathas has made food lovers come from afar to taste it. Loaded with savory minced chicken, butter and dry fruits, this crispy deep fried paratha is sliced into several pieces and then garnished with chicken leg piece, minced chicken, khoya, beetroot, cashew nuts, almonds and seasonal fruits. This edible piece of art is being served at a price of 350 rupees each, and a single serving of Dulhan Paratha can satisfy the appetite of two people.
The reason behind its distinct taste is the recipe that has been followed and developed over decades. The secret behind its success lies in the masala, which, as the owners claim, contains the spice of 12 different herbs. The combination of these herbs in parathas was discovered by their ancestors, which is still being used in Dulhan Paratha. Currently, the 3rd generation of the family owns the café and is carrying on the culinary tradition.
The process of making Dulhan Parathas
Café Afzal knows how to satisfy and please the taste buds of its customers. The hype of this Hyderabad’s bride like decorated paratha has given birth to a lot of restaurants selling dulhan paratha in different cities. It is also being tried by many people in homes, due to which many chefs have shared different recipes that are present on social media too. However, the Dulhan parathas of Café Afzal are in a league of their own, and none can match them.
Dulhan Paratha with Chaney
The paratha has been named Dulhan Paratha not only because of the mouth-watering and flavorful ingredients used to make it, but also because it is embellished with colorful, healthy elements and it looks as stunning as a bride. Another reason for calling it Dulhan Paratha is that for many years, a lot of locals take parathas from Café Afzal to their newly wedded daughter as the bride’s first breakfast at her in-laws.
Dulhan Paratha with eggs
Over time, it has gained significant publicity through the food review groups on Facebook, bloggers/vloggers on Instagram and YouTube. Despite its inaccessible location, the café is always crowded and people wait for their turn in long queues, which become longer over the weekends.
However, despite the publicity and the quality of their parathas, Dulhan Paratha has not acquired the fame it deserves. This might be because only about 8 to 10 persons can be seated inside at one time. Also, the café is situated in the old and narrow streets of Hyderabad city, and is concealed by the huge buildings surrounding it. They do not have any other branches nor do they have a system of delivery. Since they are only open during working hours, it also restricts the number of their clientele.
The Cafe
As one goes to eat the Dulhan Paratha, there are many old food shops in the Shahi Bazar area, like the Haji Rabri House that has been selling sweet milk (rabri) since the time of Independence. The vibes of these streets and the distinct food offered by these cafés, is a reminder of childhood days spent in the old Hyderabad city. It is these small shops selling gourmet food at reasonable prices have kept the traditional recipes alive.
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