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What cut of beef is best for nihari?
Ikhlas Halal Butcher
Beef shin, the shank, called nalli at the counter, is the cut for nihari, and it is £10 per kilo at Ikhlas Halal Butcher in Bradford. It is the muscle from the lower leg: full of collagen that turns to gelatin over a long, slow cook and gives nihari its thick, glossy gravy. Ask for it on the bone with the marrow bones included, or boneless with the bones bagged separately. For six people, buy 1.5kg of shin plus the bones.
£10/kgbeef shin at our counter
250gshin per person, plus bone
4–6 hrsthe slow cook it needs
The cuts, ranked for nihari
| Cut | Per 500g | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Beef shin (nalli) | £5.00 | The one. Collagen, marrow, holds together after six hours |
| Brisket | £6.00 | Good second choice, fattier, softer, less body in the gravy |
| Ox tail | £6.50 | Superb flavour and gelatin; use it alongside shin, not instead |
| Short ribs | £7.99 | Rich, but the meat falls apart before the gravy is ready |
| Diced beef | £6.00 | Avoid, lean cubes go dry and stringy in a long cook |
| Steak | £7.00 | Avoid, wrong cut entirely; wasted on a six-hour pot |
Why shin, specifically
Nihari is a stew that cooks for four to six hours, and most beef cannot take that. Lean cuts dry out; fatty cuts fall apart into threads. Shin is different because it is a working muscle threaded with connective tissue. Over a long cook that tissue melts into gelatin, which is what makes a proper nihari gravy coat a spoon. The marrow from the bone does the rest. It is also, at £10/kg, one of the cheapest cuts on the counter, nihari was a working man’s breakfast for a reason.
How to ask for it
At the counter or in the online note: "beef shin for nihari, on the bone, large pieces, marrow bones in". Large curry-cut pieces, 60g and up, so they survive the cook. If you want the marrow served separately, ask for the bones cracked. Ask for the tendon left on; it becomes the best part.
How much to buy
250g of shin per adult plus the bone. For six, 1.5kg; for ten, 2.5kg. A kilo of shin loses about a third of its weight in cooking, so do not be alarmed when the pot looks fuller at the start than at the end.
Shop the cuts
Shin, on the bone, large pieces
Order beef shin online and put "for nihari" in the note, the butcher knows what that means.
Order onlineQuestions people also ask
Can I make nihari with lamb or mutton?
Yes, mutton shank (£10/kg) or lamb shank (£13/kg) work the same way and cook in less time. Beef is traditional.
What is nalli?
The shank, and specifically the marrow bone in it. "Nalli nihari" is nihari served with the marrow bones.
Is shin the same as shank?
Yes, shin is the British butcher’s word, shank the American. Same muscle.
Do you sell nihari masala?
The Mumtaz range at the counter and online includes karahi, keema and biryani masalas made in Bradford; ask at the counter for what is in stock for nihari.