Halal food is that which is permissible according to Islamic law. The opposite of halal is haram, which means unlawful or prohibited. For Muslims, certain dietary restrictions exist – specifically, what they can and cannot eat. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what halal food near me is and some of the most popular dishes from around the world.
What Is Halal Food?
When it comes to determining what is and isn’t halal, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
– All meat must come from a halal animal. This includes chicken, beef, lamb, goat, etc. In addition, the animal must be slaughtered in a specific way, and all of the blood must be drained from the meat.
– Pork and alcohol are never considered to be halal.
– All fish are considered to be halal as long as they have scales. Shellfish such as shrimp, crab, and lobster are not considered to be halal.
– Halal desserts often use gelatine as an ingredient. However, gelatine is made from pork products, so it’s essential to check with the manufacturer to see if it’s halal before consuming it.
– Any food that has been blessed by a priest of another religion is not considered to be halal.
Popular Halal Dishes From Around the World
Now that we’ve answered the question “what is halal food,” let’s take a look at some of the most popular dishes from around the world that fall under this category.
Shawarma – This dish originated in Turkey but can now be found all over the world. It consists of meat that is sliced thinly, either lamb or chicken, that has been marinated and cooked on a rotating spit. The meat is then served on a pita or rice with vegetables and condiments such as tahini sauce or hummus.
Currywurst – This dish originated in Germany and consists of grilled sausage cut into pieces and smothered in curry ketchup (a mix of regular ketchup and curry powder). It’s typically served with french fries on the side.
Chicken tikka masala – This dish originated in India but has since become famous worldwide. It consists of chunks of boneless chicken that have been marinated in spices and yogurt and then grilled or roasted. The chicken is then simmered in a tomato-based sauce and served with rice or naan bread.
Conclusion: Halal food is simply food that is permissible according to Islamic law. There are a few key things to keep in mind when determining what is and isn’t halal, such as all meat must come from a halal animal (beef, chicken, lamb, etc.), pork and alcohol are never considered to be halal, all fish are considered to be halal unless they don’t have scales (shellfish like shrimp), desserts often use gelatine as an ingredient (which isn’t always halal), and any food that another religion’s priest has blessed isn’t considered to be halal either. Some popular dishes from around the world that are considered to be halal include shawarma, currywurst, and chicken tikka masala. When dining out or traveling, it’s always best to double-check with the restaurant or hotel about their policies on serving halal food.