Pakistani Food (Popular Pakistani Dishes)

Food Culture in Pakistan

Designed By Usama Mujahid

Nihari

Nihari is a top dish that you shouldn't miss in Pakistan. This dish is usually eaten for breakfast and is one of the best breakfast dishes in the world. This Pakistani food is made by frying vegetable oil and animal fat with dry spices. The meat ingredients used for this dish are usually beef shank and a healthy serving of desi ghee. The stew is slowly cooked and filled with tender pieces of meat floating in desi ghee. The dish has a deep red color that comes from the flavored and infused ghee. Nihari is eaten from shared plates and garnished with a side plate made from spicy green chili peppers, sliced   ginger and a splash of fresh lime. Some of the best places to have a plate of Nihari are Niharibei Waris Nihari and Javed Nihari at Karachi.

Halwa Puri

This is another type of breakfast dish in Pakistan that originated in Punjab but is very popular around the world because of its great taste and eye-catching color. Halwa is a sweet and a very popular dish. It's made of suji, which is made from flour and sugar, while puri is also made from flour, which is then fried in oil.

Biryani and Pulao

The Pakistani dining experience wouldn't be complete without the biryani and pulao. This dish is essentially a South Indian dish, but it has become a hit in Pakistan. The dish consists of rice and meat of all kinds. Biryani has numerous varieties such as mutton biryani, tikka biryani, Sindhi biryani, aalo biryani and so on. Pulao also has numerous variations and ways in which you can prepare the dish.

Karahi chicken

There are different ways in which meat like poultry, sheep etc. is consumed in Pakistan. Karahi is known as a cooking system in which meat is cooked with vegetables and served in its own container. The Karahi Chicken is made from chicken and vegetables. Some of the other ways meat can be cooked in Pakistan is Jalfrezi, which is meat mixed with tomatoes, chillies, and eggs, or the Tikka-Bhoti-Kebab, which is skewered meat grilled over an open fire.

Samosas

These are triangular, flour-coated snacks filled with green chilies, boiled potatoes, and a selection of chopped herbs. You can fill them with a variety of meats, such as ground beef, lamb, and chicken. The dish is very tasty and filling and you won't want the main course after eating this starter.

Kheer

This is the most popular traditional dessert in the country. The kheer is a rice pudding made from milk, rice and sugar. The dish also combines an assortment of nuts like pistachios, almonds, and cashews, as well as saffron and cardamom, which makes the dish melt in your mouth when you eat it.

Haleem

Haleem is a dish made from local varieties of wheat, barley, and chana (chickpeas). Locals have enjoyed Haleem for centuries, and it has had a strong impact on Pakistan, with Haleem being native to the Middle East. The dish is cooked slowly over very low heat for about a day, which gives the dish a warm and homemade taste. Some of the ingredients used to cook the dish are onions, mint leaves, masala spices, green and dry chilies, and a generous pinch of lemon juice at the end. Haleem is popular in the morning or for early lunch. The food is very rich and full of calories that will keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

Korma mutton

If you want to try a classic meal of Punjab cuisine, it's best to have tried at least one dish with mutton. Korma Mutton is a rich and hearty dish from Pakistan and consists of tender pieces of goat meat or sheep with a dark red blend of spices. Pakistani locals love this dish and it is a must to try this Pakistani food. When in Lahore, try one of the best mutton curries in Pakistan at Khan Baba Restaurant.

Lassi

You will love the cool and refreshing tradition of drinking lassi after breakfast, lunch, or any other time in Pakistan. Lassi is the name of a drink in Pakistan and there are numerous variations such as sweet lasso, salt lasso or the fruit variation with mango. The lassi makers in Pakistan are making the drink from scratch and it's very cool to see how every cup of milk turns into lassi. You can also watch the chef mix everything by hand if the versions the chef makes contain cream or butter. Some lassi are easy to make with a little sugar, yogurt, ice cream, etc.

Saag

This is a popular dish that can be found throughout Pakistan's Punjab Province. The name of the dish means mustard green and can be prepared with a variety of other ingredients. The dish is also cooked slowly until the leaves are soft enough that you can easily break them apart. Various types of seasoning are added to the stew, including coriander, mint and chilli flakes. In addition, a large amount of Desi Ghee is added to the food.

Dowdo

This is one of the best foods in Pakistan and is from Gilgit Baltistan. Dowdo is a great dish to warm up after exploring in cold weather. The thick cream soup consists of wheat noodles and mustard greens and comes with different sized noodles. The dish can sometimes contain carrot schnitzel or thin potato slices. The cuisine is considered to be the traditional dish of the Gilgit-Baltistan Province, a semi-autonomous region in the north of Islamabad. The province is surrounded by the plateau of the Pamir Mountains and the area is full of rugged glaciers and unique cultures. The dish is commonly eaten by the locals to warm up and recharge their batteries.

Gyal (or Go-Lee)

This is a rather hearty dish that looks like sweet pancakes. It is another dish that comes from the Gilgit-Baltistan Province. The dish consists of fine flour of the locally grown types of red or brown buckwheat and the cakes are fried on a black iron flat sheet with fragrant apricot kernel oil. The dish has a wide variety of variations, as every family and village has their own loving recipes for making this gyal. The best thing about this dish is that it is always all-natural, as the ingredients for each recipe are usually made in and around each family's home village. Most of the recipes and versions of this dish date back hundreds of years, and the best place to try this hearty meal is when you are in one of the locals' homes.

Paya (or Paaya)

Paya means legs in Urdu language. The recipe for this dish is simple, but it's quite complicated to prepare. Paya has a mind-boggling taste due to the fact that it was slowly cooked for hours, which the restaurant usually does the night before serving. The basic ingredients for making Paya are onions, curry spices, and red oil, as well as a huge bowl full of goat legs and feet. Since it was cooked for hours, the tendons and cartilage surrounding the joint are juicy and easy to chew, while the red curry broth gives the food an incredible taste. A stack of fresh, hot roti bread is usually served with this meal.

Conclusion

Pakistan's dishes are very diverse and delicious. On your trip through Pakistan, you are sure to find one that suits you and your taste, whether you are a meat eater or a vegetarian.