Kebabs & Biryani at Jehan Numa Retreat

Weekends are supposed to be the days when you just relax and do what you love. Being a big time food lover, I like to spend my weekend with my folks and good food, of course! So recently, on a Saturday, I visited Jehan Numa Retreat for its famed Kebabs & Biryanis.  Placed smack on the edge of Van Vihar National park, The Jehan Numa Retreat is the latest offering from the Jehan Numa Hotels in Bhopal. It’s an intimate collection of low slung room blocks, uniquely designed as aesthetic village-style cottages, filled with colors from the earth and stone of the region.

The Coriander Leaf is a fine dining restaurant, bar and lounge, which is an opulent destination for connoisseurs of superior offerings and this place, guarantees a magnificent meal for diners. The food at Jehan Numa Retreat is the work of Executive Chef Siddharth. He believes that there are a lot of rich and bold flavors in Indian cuisine with the use of different spices and herbs. The skill lies in managing the spices and layered flavors well. Each and every dish that they prepare goes with a lot of research and zeal to continuously experiment with food and present them in the most exclusive way.

Retreat Cooler

It was an extremely Sunny Saturday and therefore, I Started my Lunch with “Retreat Cooler.” One of the most exquisite mocktails I’ve had in Bhopal. The Retreat Cooler was made with Fresh Pineapple Juice, Cranberry Juice, Mint, Lime and Soda. More on the sweeter edge but the flavors were really strong and it was the most wonderful drink to quench my thirst.

The Kebabs

The kebabs are cooked using high temperatures in the tandoor which is a traditional clay pot heated with coal fire. The flavors which emerge are a delicious combination of smoky yet subtle while the textures are rich, soft and succulent.

Since Jehan Numa Retreat had its last day of Kebabs and Biryani Food Festival, they had a specially curated menu for the same. With a varied variety of Kebabs, I chose two which were suggested by the chef and were such a success, that they’ve been now included in the main menu too.

Cheese & Mushroom Kebabs

These were the most marvelous kebabs I’ve had in a while. People, who know me, know my love for Mushrooms & Cheese. Getting both of them in Kebabs was a win-win thing for me. It was made with minced mushrooms, sour cream and sesame. Boiled potatoes were used as the binding element which made it crisp on the outside. The cheese was heavenly, since it was melting in my mouth and was blending perfectly with mushrooms & boiled potatoes. The herbs added all the more flavors, making it one of the most amazing kebabs. This certainly calls for a must try!!

Hari Mirch Ka Paneer Tikka

No, this is not that boring old Paneer Tikka. Now the twist over here was that the Paneer was marinated with green chilies, rather than those regular tomatoes & onion. Not very spicy but cooked in a way that’ll make you drool. The Paneer was soft & fresh, flavours were aromatic. The bell peppers, Onions and cherry tomatoes complimented well with the Paneer Tikka. Good on taste and made to perfection.

Biryani Love

I think I don’t really need to explain what Biryani is! Hyderabadi Biryani & Kacche Gosh ki Biryani were on the Menu and Chef Siddharth urged to try the same.

Both the Biryani’s were served in small cute looking Clay pots and were Dum cooked with a garnishing of Caramelized onions. Raita and Salan were provided as accomplishments. The aroma & robust flavours coming from the little pots can certainly make anyone tantalize.

The rice was cooked on low flame and therefore each and every piece of it was flavorsome. The Salan & Raita accompanied well with the Biryani, making it all the more heavenly.

The Menu at Coriander Leaf, Jehan Numa Retreat is designed to give your taste buds an exquisite taste about the food available across India. If you wish to indulge on succulent Kebabs and piquant Biryanis, this is the place to be!

Happy Hogging!

Chatori Meter: 4/5

Restaurant: Coriander Leaf, Jehan Numa Retreat

Address: Dr. Saleem Ali Road, Near Van Vihar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – 462002, India

Telephone: +91 755 6606600, 4235100