PakistaniZeera Rice (Pakistani Cumin Rice)Fluffy basmati rice tempered in ghee with toasted cumin, a few whole spices and a slit green chilli. It's a simple side that goes well with any daal, curry or karahi.1 h 2 min·Serves 4
PakistaniKhichdi with GheeA soft, comforting one-pot of rice and yellow moong daal, cooked with cumin, ginger and onion and finished with a sizzling ghee tarka. It's an easy, budget-friendly dinner for a quiet night.1 h·Serves 4
PakistaniChana Pulao (Chickpea Pulao with Whole Spices and Fried Onions)A one-pot rice dish of tender chickpeas and basmati, cooked in the chickpea broth with browned onions, yogurt and whole spices. Filling, meat-free and good for a weekday lunch.1 h 55 min·Serves 4
PakistaniMatar Pulao (Green Pea Pulao with Cumin and Whole Spices)A fragrant, one-pot basmati pulao with sweet green peas, golden onions, cumin and whole spices. It's simple enough for a weekday lunch and good with raita.1 h 15 min·Serves 4
PakistaniBeef BiryaniTender yogurt-marinated beef and soft potatoes in a thick masala, layered with long-grain basmati, mint and fried onions, then steamed on dum. A proper family dinner for a weekend.2 h 35 min·Serves 6
PakistaniMutton Biryani with Golden Fried Onions and DumTender bone-in mutton cooked in a yogurt and tomato masala, layered with par-cooked basmati, fried onions and mint, then steamed on dum until fragrant. A proper centrepiece for weekend dinners.3 h·Serves 6
PakistaniSindhi BiryaniA tangy, herb-heavy mutton biryani from Sindh, layered with fried potatoes, dried plums and green chillies. It's spicier and more sour than most biryanis, and it makes a full dinner for a crowd.2 h 45 min·Serves 6
PakistaniBeef Pulao with Browned Onions and Whole SpicesA everyday-style Pakistani pulao where beef is browned with onions and yogurt, then cooked with basmati in its own rich stock. Fragrant, full of flavour and made in one pot.2 h 15 min·Serves 4
PakistaniMutton Yakhni PulaoFragrant basmati rice cooked in a whole-spice mutton stock, with browned onions and tender bone-in meat. A gentle, aromatic pulao for Sunday dinners and guests.2 h 20 min·Serves 6
PakistaniChicken Yakhni PulaoA fragrant one-pot pulao where basmati cooks in a homemade chicken and whole-spice stock. It is milder and more aromatic than biryani, and needs no tomato or heavy masala.1 h 55 min·Serves 5
PakistaniAloo Anday (Potato and Boiled Egg Curry with Cumin and Green Chilli)Tender potatoes and turmeric-crisped boiled eggs in a light, cumin-scented tomato gravy. It is a budget-friendly lunch that comes together with pantry staples and goes well with roti or rice.1 h·Serves 4
PakistaniAnda Curry (Pakistani Egg Curry in Onion-Tomato Masala)Hard-boiled eggs simmered in a thick, glossy onion-tomato masala with whole spices. It is an easy, budget-friendly dinner that comes together in under 45 minutes and suits roti or rice.45 min·Serves 4
PakistaniLahori Chargha (Steamed and Fried Spiced Chicken)Chicken pieces are marinated in a tangy, spiced yogurt paste, steamed until tender, then fried until deep red and crisp. Juicy inside, crackling outside, and made for sharing.2 h·Serves 4
PakistaniChicken AchariBone-in chicken simmered in a tangy, onion-yogurt gravy flavoured with the whole spices used in pickling. Bold and sharp, it goes well with plain roti or rice.1 h 30 min·Serves 6
PakistaniKunna Gosht (Sealed Pot Slow-Cooked Mutton)Bone-in mutton cooked in its own juices with yogurt, ghee and whole spices in a dough-sealed pot until it falls off the bone. A rich Punjabi-style dum dish for weekends.3 h 25 min·Serves 6
PakistaniDum ka Keema (Slow-Steamed Minced Beef with Fried Onions and Herbs)Yogurt-marinated beef mince cooked down until rich, then sealed and steamed on low heat with golden onions, mint and ginger. It is dry, deeply savoury and full of aroma.1 h 20 min·Serves 4
PakistaniShimla Mirch Keema (Spiced Minced Beef with Capsicum)Tender spiced beef mince cooked down with onions and tomatoes, then finished with crisp-tender capsicum for a fresh, green bite. A quick weeknight dinner that goes well with hot rotis.1 h 10 min·Serves 4
PakistaniKeema Karela (Bitter Gourd with Spiced Minced Beef)Salted and browned bitter gourd cooked into a savoury beef mince masala with onions and tomatoes. The keema softens the bitterness, so it suits both karela lovers and doubters.1 h 20 min·Serves 4
PakistaniMatar Keema (Spiced Minced Beef with Green Peas)A dry-style everyday keema where sweet green peas cook into browned, well-spiced beef mince. Quick enough for a weeknight and perfect with hot roti.1 h 5 min·Serves 4
PakistaniAloo Keema (Spiced Minced Beef with Potatoes)A everyday Pakistani dinner of minced beef and soft potato cubes in a thick, spiced tomato-onion masala. It is quick to make and tastes best with hot roti.1 h·Serves 4
PakistaniNargisi Kofta (Egg-Stuffed Meatballs in Yogurt Onion Gravy)Soft boiled eggs wrapped in spiced beef mince, browned, then simmered in a smooth yogurt and fried-onion gravy. It looks impressive on the table and suits Sunday dinners or guests.1 h 30 min·Serves 6
PakistaniKofta Curry (Beef Meatballs in Tomato-Onion Gravy)Tender spiced beef meatballs simmered in a smooth tomato and onion gravy. It is a family dinner staple that is easy to make ahead and tastes even better the next day.1 h 15 min·Serves 6
PakistaniPaya (Slow-Cooked Trotters)Goat trotters simmered with onions, yogurt and whole spices until the gravy turns silky and the meat slips off the bone. A classic weekend breakfast to eat with naan.2 h 50 min·Serves 6
PakistaniBeef HaleemA thick, slow-simmered porridge of tender beef, wheat and mixed daals, finished with fried onions, ginger and lemon. Cook a big pot for family dinners or gatherings.4 h·Serves 8