Tahri (dish)

As per Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, the Hindi word Tahri is derived from Sanskrit word Tāpaharī,[3][1] which is a dish prepared from rice, dal chunks (badi), vegetables, cooked in ghee with spices especially turmeric.[4]

The recipe for Tahari is mentioned with name Tapahari in ancient Ayurvedic treatise written in Sanskrit language, which was a preparation of rice cooked with vegetables and other ingredients.[4][5] The recipe for Tahari also finds mention in Pakadarpana (1200 CE) cookbook, which uses meat of hen.[6] Bhojanakutūhala (1675 CE) Sanskrit book on cookery and culinary traditions mentions taharī rice dish and it was eaten with side-dish of fried lentil fitters known as "vaṭakas". The ingredients for cooking tāpaharī in both text varies but are similar in technique; It was made with rice seasoned with spice-blend called "Trikatu" and "Trijataka" along with ghee, turmeric, wet ginger, asafoetida, water and salt. Pakadarpana cookbook adds meat of hen to this before cooking. In Bhojanakuthuhala, this rice dish was eaten with fried fritters known as Vaṭakas prepared from black-gram flour, rice flour and mixed with turmeric and fried in ghee. This preparation was called taharī or tāpaharī.[5][7] Recipe also finds mentioned in Bhāvaprakāśa Nighaṇṭu, a 16th century medical treatise.[8]

Tahari became more popular during the Second World War when meat prices increased substantially and potato became the popular substitute in biryani.[9]