Take your taste buds on a tantalising journey with Ziya’s latest regional thali

An award-wining restaurant on Manchester’s curry mile, Ziya is famous for its modern Indian cookery and vibrant street food dishes.

It’s won multiple awards over the years, including the high-profile Best Indian Restaurant in Manchester accolade at the Asian Curry Awards. 

And now, your taste buds can go on an even more thrilling culinary journey thanks to Ziya’s year-long Festival of India, which highlights the incredible food created in almost every part of the South Asian nation.

It’s described as a ‘joyful celebration of Indian regional thalis’ – and for one week out of every month throughout 2022, you can enjoy a delicious thali platter inspired by a specific region of India.

A complete meal made up of several different dishes served on one huge round tray, the thali platter offers the chance to try a bit of everything.

Ziya’s thalis have so far showcased Kolhapuri, Gujarati, Punjabi and Kashmiri dishes.

Now, it’s the turn of Hyderabad.

The capital of southern India’s Telangana state, Hyderabad is home to many upscale restaurants – and Ziya offers a chance to sample some of its most famous dishes.

Snacks on the stunningly presented platter include mirchi bajji. A popular South Indian street food made by frying battered green chillies, they’re crisp and golden with a welcome kick of heat.

There are also several curries, including a nicely spiced keema, a sweet pumpkin curry, and a mild egg bagara made with hard boiled egg and a paste of coconut, peanuts and sesame oil.

No Hyderabadi platter would be complete without a Hyderabadi biryani, one of the most popular dishes of the city. 

A celebration dish of basmati rice and meat, along with yoghurt, onions and various spices, Ziya’s chicken version is simply superb: aromatic, tender and full of flavour.

There’s also a little dish of vivid purple beetroot fry, and a bowl of spicy South Indian rasam.

Lachha paratha – crispy flaky layered whole wheat flatbreads – are perfect for scooping and dipping, while tangy tamarind rice brings the whole lot together.

And for a sweet treat, there’s shahi tukda, a rich Mughlai dessert made with homemade ghee-fried bread slices soaked in sugar syrup, fragrant and creamy, topped with crunchy nuts.

At £19.95, there’s plenty for two if you wanted to share – or it makes a seriously indulgent treat for one.

The Hyderabadi thali is a great chance to discover some new regional favourites – but you’ll have to be quick, because it’s only available until Sunday 26th June.

Then, it’s time for other cuisines to shine, with Rajasthan (24th – 31st July), Kerala (21st – 28th August), Lucknow (18th – 25th September), Bangal (23rd – 30th), Garhwal (20th – 27th November) and Goa (18th – 24th December) all still to come.

They’re very popular, so make sure to book, and don’t miss out on the chance to take your taste buds on a tantalising journey – without leaving Wilmslow Road.