Skip to content

All recipes

Filter by cuisine, meal, ingredient, time and diet. Filters combine, so “Vegetarian + Indian + Dinner + under 30 minutes” works.

Pakistani Family Meals Clear all

68 recipes

Mutton chops in thick red-brown masala with ginger, green chillies and coriander in a karahiPakistani

Mutton Chops Masala

Mutton chops are marinated, pressure-cooked until soft, then finished in a thick, glossy masala that clings to the bone. A good Sunday dinner with naan or rice.

1 h 55 minServes 5
Stack of freshly cooked butter-brushed naan topped with nigella and sesame seeds on a wooden boardPakistani

Tawa Naan

Soft, bubbly naan made with yogurt and milk, cooked on a hot tawa or in the oven. A dependable flatbread for karahi, daal and kababs, no tandoor needed.

1 h 50 minServes 6
Bowl of golden chicken corn soup with shredded chicken, corn kernels, egg ribbons and spring onionPakistani

Chicken Corn Soup

A thick, gently peppery soup of shredded chicken, sweet corn and silky egg ribbons, in the style of Pakistani Chinese restaurants. Easy to make at home on a cold evening.

55 minServes 4
A bowl of golden yellow kadhi with soft pakoras, red chilli tarka and fresh coriander, served with white ricePakistani

Kadhi Pakora

A tangy, silky yogurt and besan curry simmered slowly and topped with soft onion pakoras and a sizzling cumin-chilli tarka. It's a comforting Punjabi-style lunch to serve with plain rice.

1 h 20 minServes 6
Bowl of spicy chicken macaroni with capsicum, carrot and fresh coriander on a wooden tablePakistani

Chicken Macaroni

Tender chicken and macaroni tossed in a spicy tomato masala with capsicum, black pepper and lemon. A quick, filling family dinner with a Pakistani flavour.

45 minServes 4
Golden roasted chicken pieces on a tray with onion gravy, green chillies and lemon wedgesPakistani

Chicken Steam Roast

Chicken pieces are marinated in spiced yogurt, steamed over sliced onions until tender, then roasted with butter until browned at the edges. The result is juicy meat and a small pot of onion gravy on the side.

1 h 25 minServes 4
Bowl of smooth golden lentil soup topped with cumin and garlic tarka, coriander and a lemon wedgePakistani

Daal Shorba

A thin, silky soup of red and yellow lentils blended with ginger, tomato and carrot, then finished with a sizzling cumin and garlic ghee. Good on a cold evening with bread on the side.

55 minServes 4
Bowl of clear golden chicken yakhni soup topped with shredded chicken, ginger and coriander, with lemon and whole spices beside itPakistani

Chicken Yakhni

A clear, gently spiced chicken soup simmered with fennel, ginger, garlic and whole spices, then finished with shredded chicken and lemon. Warming, light and easy to make on a cold evening.

1 h 15 minServes 4
Stack of freshly cooked soft chapatis with golden spots on a wooden board beside a bowl of gheePakistani

Chapati

Soft, thin whole wheat flatbreads cooked on a tawa until they puff and show light brown spots. Make them fresh to scoop up daal, sabzi and curries at dinner.

50 minServes 4
Stack of golden garlic naan brushed with garlic butter and coriander on a wooden boardPakistani

Garlic Naan

Soft, blistered oven-baked naan brushed with garlic and coriander butter. It needs no tandoor, just a very hot tray, and it's ideal for scooping up karahi or daal.

1 h 50 minServes 6
Freshly baked roghni naan topped with sesame and nigella seeds on a wooden boardPakistani

Roghni Naan

Soft, slightly rich oven-baked naan brushed with ghee and topped with sesame and nigella seeds. It's made with milk and egg, so it stays tender and needs no tandoor.

1 h 50 minServes 6
Golden crispy Chicken Broast pieces served with fries, garlic mayo, ketchup and lemon wedgesPakistani

Chicken Broast

Brined, yogurt-marinated chicken in a double-dredged, peppery flour crust, fried until deep gold and crisp. It's the Pakistani takeaway favourite, made in an ordinary deep pot at home.

2 h 35 minServes 4
Charred red tandoori chicken legs served with onion rings, lemon wedges and green chutneyPakistani

Tandoori Chicken

Bone-in chicken legs marinated overnight in spiced yogurt, then roasted in a hot home oven until charred at the edges and juicy inside. No tandoor needed.

1 h 15 minServes 4
Whole roasted chicken sajji with spiced rice stuffing, roasted potatoes and lemon wedges on a wooden boardPakistani

Chicken Sajji

A whole chicken rubbed with garlic, pepper and raw papaya, then roasted with a fragrant rice and raisin stuffing until the skin is deep gold. A showpiece dinner made in a home oven.

2 h 15 minServes 4
Tawa Chicken with green chillies, ginger and coriander served in a cast-iron tawaPakistani

Tawa Chicken

Yogurt-marinated chicken thigh seared on a flat tawa, then cooked down with tomatoes, green chilli and ginger into a thick, spicy masala. Good with hot rotis.

1 h 10 minServes 4
Skewers of creamy grilled chicken malai boti with lemon wedges, onion rings and green chutney on a slate boardPakistani

Chicken Malai Boti

Tender boneless chicken pieces marinated in cream, cheese, cashew and white pepper, then grilled until lightly browned. Mild, rich and juicy, with no red chilli.

45 minServes 4
Golden grilled reshmi chicken kababs on skewers with mint chutney, onion rings, lemon and naanPakistani

Reshmi Kabab

Silky, pale golden chicken kababs made with a cashew and cream paste, so they stay tender and juicy. Easy to grill on a pan, in the oven or over charcoal.

1 h 5 minServes 4
Skewers of charred, red-orange chicken tikka boti served with onions, lemon wedges, chutney and naanPakistani

Chicken Tikka Boti

Juicy cubes of boneless chicken marinated in spiced yogurt, skewered and grilled until charred at the edges. A weekend barbecue favourite you can make in a hot oven.

4 h 45 minServes 4
Golden brown chapli kababs on a slate board with naan, onion rings, lemon wedges and green chutneyPakistani

Chapli Kabab

Wide, flat beef patties packed with crushed coriander seed, pomegranate seed, tomato and green chilli, then cooked on a hot griddle until crisp at the edges and juicy inside.

1 h 10 minServes 6
A pot of mixed vegetable curry with potato, carrot, green beans, cauliflower and peas in a red-orange masala, served with rotiPakistani

Mix Sabzi

An everyday mixed vegetable curry with potato, carrot, beans, cauliflower and peas in a soft onion-tomato masala. Simple to make with ordinary vegetables, and it goes well with roti.

1 h 5 minServes 4
Anda shami burger with a golden shami patty, fried egg, fresh salad and chilli mayo in a toasted bun on a wooden boardPakistani

Anda Shami Burger

A street-style burger with a soft chicken and chana daal shami patty, a fried egg on top and a garlicky chilli mayo. Cook the patties ahead and finish in minutes.

1 h 25 minServes 4
Bun kabab with a golden egg-coated beef patty, onion, tomato and green chutney in a toasted bun on a wooden boardPakistani

Bun Kabab

A spiced beef and potato patty, dipped in egg and shallow-fried until golden, then tucked into a toasted bun with mint chutney, onion and tomato. It is the classic Karachi street-side snack, easy to make at home.

1 h 10 minServes 6
Chicken roll parathas with one cut open to show spiced chicken, mint yogurt sauce and onionsPakistani

Chicken Roll Paratha

Tender spiced chicken strips, a cool mint-yogurt sauce and crunchy onions rolled inside a flaky, golden paratha. It's a filling street-style snack you can make at home in under an hour.

1 h 15 minServes 4
Golden fried chicken samosas on a plate with one split open showing spiced chicken mince, served with chutneysPakistani

Chicken Samosa

Golden, flaky samosas filled with dry-cooked spiced chicken mince, fresh mint and a squeeze of lemon. Make them from scratch with a simple ajwain dough, ideal for Ramadan iftar or tea time.

1 h 25 minServes 6