Awadhi Sheermal Recipe with A2 Ghee (Saffron Flatbread)
Share
Share
By the Faimly Farm Team · Prep 20 min (plus proofing) · Cook 20 min · Makes about 8 · An Awadhi (Lucknowi) classic
Sheermal is the saffron-scented sweet flatbread of Awadhi (Lucknowi) cuisine — a soft, mildly sweet, milk-and-ghee enriched bread brushed with saffron milk and pure ghee, traditionally served with rich curries and kebabs. A jewel of the Nawabi table, it depends on ghee for its tender richness. Here is how.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (maida)
- 1/4 cup A2 ghee (plus more for brushing), melted
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp instant yeast (or traditional, use baking powder)
- A generous pinch of saffron, soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk
- A pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
Method
1. Make the dough: dissolve sugar and yeast in the warm milk and rest until frothy. Mix the flour, salt, cardamom, and melted A2 ghee, then knead a soft dough with the milk. Add half the saffron milk while kneading.
2. Proof: cover and let the dough rise until soft and puffy (about an hour).
3. Shape: divide and roll into thick rounds, slightly smaller than a roti.
4. Bake or griddle: bake in a hot oven (or on a tawa, covered) until pale golden. Brush generously with the remaining saffron milk and pure ghee while hot.
5. Serve: warm, with rich curries, kebabs, or on its own.
Why Ghee Is Essential
Sheermal is enriched with ghee in the dough and brushed with ghee and saffron milk on top — this is what gives it the soft, tender crumb, the glossy finish, and the rich aroma that distinguish it from ordinary bread. Pure ghee makes it Nawabi.
The Faimly Farm Tip
Enrich the dough and brush the top with pure A2 ghee. Ours is made from indigenous-cow milk by the traditional bilona method, in small lab-tested batches under our FSSAI licence. Explore our A2 Bilona Cow Ghee or the full A2 Ghee collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sheermal?
Sheermal is a soft, mildly sweet saffron flatbread from Awadhi (Lucknowi) cuisine, enriched with milk and ghee and brushed with saffron milk, served with rich curries and kebabs.
Why is sheermal slightly sweet?
A little sugar and the milk-ghee enrichment give sheermal its characteristic mild sweetness and tender crumb.
Can I make it without an oven?
Yes; it can be cooked on a tawa, covered, on low heat, then brushed with saffron ghee.
Why brush with ghee and saffron milk?
It gives the signature golden colour, glossy finish, aroma, and richness of sheermal.
Which ghee is best?
Pure A2 cow ghee, ideally bilona-made, gives the most authentic richness.
Conclusion
Sheermal is Nawabi indulgence in bread form — soft, saffron-kissed, and rich with pure ghee. Enrich the dough with A2 ghee, proof it well, and brush generously with saffron ghee for a Lucknowi classic that turns any meal into a feast.
Bake fragrant sheermal. Explore our A2 Ghee collection, try A2 Bilona Cow Ghee, and see our complete guide to cooking with A2 ghee. New customers can use code FIRST10 for 10% off their first order.
Faimly Farm: indigenous A2 milk, traditional bilona batches, lab-tested purity under our FSSAI licence. Learn more about Faimly Farm or contact us.
