Maghaz Masala
Maghaz in Arabic language means ‘Brain’ in English, and ‘Bheja‘ in Urdu language. Maghaz masala is one of my favorite dishes only next to Nihari that I look forward to after every Qurbani. Eid-ul-Adha is a time when Muslims pray for forgiveness from God and pray for an increased strength in faith by refreshing the sprit of sacrifice for virtue and rectitude.
Just after the Qurbani on Eid-Ul-Adha, also called as Bakri Eid, muslims around the world, feast on red meat dishes, ranging from Biryanis, Nihari and many other kinds of its meat and organ meat preperations. Among them, Maghaz masala is one of the famous organ meat preperations, usually had as breakfast on Eid-ul-Adha after the Qurbani, which is easy to cook and most delicious. you will relish the excuisite and creamy flavor of the dish along with the sweet caramelized onions and spicy green chillies and fresh aromatic herbs.
This dish is also called as Bheja fry in some places in Hyderabad.
Maghaz/Brain Masala:
Ingredients
Sheep’s brain – 2
Canola oil – 2 to 3 tbsp
Yellow Onion – 1, large, finely sliced
Ginger garlic paste – 1 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
Green chillies – 4, finely chopped
Salt – to taste
Roasted coriander seeds powder – 1/2 tsp
Cilantro – 2 tbsp, finely chopped
Lemon juice – 2 to 3 tsp
Method:
- Bring about a litre of water to boil. Close the heat and dip the whole brains into the hot water for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the brains from the water gently using a slotted spoon, and throw away the water. Wear gloves, carefully remove the membrane adhering to the brain and as many nerves as possible. You can also ask your butcher to do this. Once the brain is clean (it wont matter if a few nerves are till attached to the brain), cut it into bite size pieces. Keep aside.
- Pour oil into a medium sized non-stick frying pan and as soon as it gets warm, add the sliced onions and salt and fry them on a medium high, with a careful eye so thet you do not burn them, until they are golden brown in color.
- Lower the heat to medium low and add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, coriander seed powder and green chillies, red chilli powder. Stir fry till a nice aroma comes, for about a minute or so, then add the cubed brain pieces and gently mix well. Add about half cup of water and mix it all gently with a rubber spatula. Cover the pan with a lid and let cook for around 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid, stir fry for a minute more, until no water is left and it is mostly dry and well cooked. Serve onto a platter and garnish with cilantro, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Enjoy it warm.
Suggested Accompaniments: Enjoy Maghaz masala along with some warm parathas for a delicious breakfast.
Consuming sheep’s brain might be a taboo food to some people, but for those of you willing to experiment and try out new victuals, do try it out. I am sure you will enjoy this mellow and delicate Hyderabadi dish.
Cheers,
Mona
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December 12th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Mmmmm…. delectable. This is a fairly common breakfast dish too, with rotis. Though you have to get to the local butcher’s quite early to get fresh ‘bheja’.
Oh btw, how come this post got hardly any comments? I’m guessing fried sheep’s brain isn’t a hit with your readers!
December 13th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Asak Mona.
Fried sheep’s brain is a yummmy….. dish and i really miss it here in dammam, thanks for sending me this recipe as i miss all the eid celebration in hyd
again eid mubarak to all in ur family.
amina anjum
December 13th, 2008 at 10:16 am
It looks good, but when I was in seventh grade, our science teacher brought in sheeps brains and cooked them in class… and most the kids wouldn’t even touch it, and I tried it… and I did NOT like it! The texture about killed me!!! But your dish looks great, and I’m sure it did taste good 🙂
December 13th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
The Bheja fry with roti was my favorite brunch on bakrid.Its strange I never liked the bheja of US sheep,the Indian sheep bheja was tastier for me.
December 13th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Mona, thanks for the education of this post.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
first of all pls accept my salam and belated EID MUBARAK. i must admit that BHEJA FRY is not that bheja fry which normally people say for boriing. it is really UMMY. thanks.
December 14th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Salam Mona, belated eid mubarak! your bheja fry looks really good(I mean sheep’s bheja fry)lol. You know people have love/hate realationship with sheep’s organ meat, we either LOVE it or we HATE it, I love kaleji,gurda…but never tried to eat bheja or even zabaan in nihaari…or the boti, I may try bheja and zabaan ,but I can never dream of eating the Boti….
December 15th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Hi ya
The post looks so yummy.
I am bothering you for a favor. I have tasted Hyderabadi kichdi at my friend’s place. I remem she making it with basmati rice, red lentils, whole masalas, mint leaves and meat kheema. I would like to have the recipe for it. Can ya pls mail me that?
Thanks
Cheers
Vij
December 15th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Eid wishes to u!
December 15th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Asak mona, lovely post after bakrid.,although i don like organ meat much …my husband simply loves it.,he plans to goto india for a vacation for bakrid off just to eat all tht stuff…ur recipe is simple n nice
December 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Happy Eid! I’ve never cooked brain before. What’s the texture like?
Mallika, Maghaz masala is soft and creamy in texture. You will enjoy it. ~Mona
December 15th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Thnx for posting this lovely recipe….Mona, never really imagined I wud find one on the internet….thnx a million,I am looking forward to make it and will definetly post a review of ur recipe in the comments section,
Belated Eid mubarak and have a nice day..
February 5th, 2009 at 8:00 am
all the dishes mentioned in ur blog reminds me of my mother in laws kitchen in hyderabad. could u suggest a easy way to devein the magaz?do u have the recipie for ambada ghost and ambada boti? thanks for visiting my blog
Varunavi, Butchers here devein the Brain themselves usually, so if your butcher can do it, ask him. Otherwise if you follow the instructions above, you should be able to do it fine.
I just love Ambada Gosht and Ambada boti, but the sad thing is that I dont get Ambada in the markets herein Ontario. I guess I’ll enjoy it only when I visit Hyderabad inshallah. ~Mona
June 26th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Salaam Mona..congratulation on your second anniversary of blog
I have enjoyed your home made hydro cooking..brings back child hood memories.
I have one wierd favor to ask you.. I would like to cook
not sure what it is called, but all the spare parts taken from head of goat/lamb including eyes and tounge..no I am not talking about sira paya..that’s nehari..
this is more like bhuna salan just with head parts it was very tasty when I had in my childhood..wondering if you or your family know how to cook. please let me know with the recipe.
thanks
Afshan
Afshan, I apologise but I do not know the dish you are talking about. The only dish with sheep trotters and tongue that I know about is Nihari.
Jazakallah khair for the wishes and appreciation. ~Mona
September 24th, 2011 at 2:59 am
Dear Mona,
I get frozen brain here which is already cut into pieces… Can you tell me how much do 2 brains weigh?
Aseem
Aseem, I suggest that you buy fresh brains.