Halal cuts, explained.
حلال
Curry cut, biryani cut, keema and more.
The short answer
At a halal butcher you ask for meat by what you are cooking. Curry cut is small bone-in pieces. Biryani cut is larger bone-in pieces that hold up in layered rice. Keema is fresh mince. You can ask for any of them bone-in or boneless.
Chicken
- Curry cut: a whole chicken cut into 12 to 16 small pieces, usually skinless
- Biryani cut: bigger pieces, about 8, so they stay juicy in the rice
- Grill cut: halves or quarters for the oven or barbecue
- Boneless: breast or thigh pieces for tikka and stir-fries
Goat, mutton and lamb
Goat is lean and full of flavour, and needs slow cooking. Mutton is meat from an older sheep, with a stronger taste. Lamb is younger and more tender.
- Curry cut: small bone-in pieces from the leg and shoulder, the classic for curry and bhuna
- Small cut: extra small pieces that cook faster
- Boneless: for kebabs and quick curries
- Keema: fresh mince, made to order
- Bone marrow and shank: for nihari, paya and slow-cooked stews
Which cut for which dish
- Curry and bhuna: curry cut, bone-in
- Biryani: biryani cut, bone-in
- Nihari: shank and bone marrow
- Seekh kebab and keema matar: fresh keema
- Grill and roast: grill cut, or a leg of lamb
- Haleem: boneless pieces that cook down
What halal means
Halal meat comes from animals slaughtered according to Islamic rules. The meat must also be kept apart from anything that is not halal, all the way to the counter. Every piece of meat World of Spices sells is halal, and it is cut to order.
How to order at the counter
Follow it once, then cook it your way.
- Say the dishTell the butcher what you are cooking: curry, biryani, nihari, kebab or grill.
- Choose the meatChicken, goat, mutton, lamb or beef.
- Bone-in or bonelessAnd the size of the pieces: curry cut, small cut or bigger biryani pieces.
- Skin and fatSay skin on or skinless for chicken, and how much fat to trim. It is cut while you wait.
What to buy.
Everything on this list is on our shelves or at our counters. Tap a ticket to see the aisle.
- Chicken curry cutHalal butcher · cut to orderIn store
- Goat curry cutBone-in or bonelessHalal butcher · cut to orderIn store
- Fresh keemaMinced on requestHalal butcher · cut to orderIn store
- Bone marrowFor nihariHalal butcher · cut to orderIn store
- Biryani masalaSpices and masalas aisleIn store
- Meat curry masalaSpices and masalas aisleIn store
Questions people ask.
- Why does bone-in taste better in curry?
- The bone adds flavour and body to the gravy as it cooks, which is why most curry and biryani recipes use bone-in pieces.
- Can I ask for the skin to be removed?
- Yes. Tell the butcher skin on or skinless when you order.
- What is the difference between goat and mutton?
- Goat is meat from a goat. In South Asia "mutton" often means goat too, but in Ireland mutton means meat from an older sheep. Say which one you want.
- Can I pre-order meat for Eid?
- Yes. Ask at the butcher counter in your shop and it will be cut and ready to collect.
Come and see us in store.
No online orders and no delivery. Everything is waiting on the shelves and at the counters in our shops in Dublin and Drogheda.