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112 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
Stack of freshly baked kulcha breads with sesame and nigella seeds on a wooden boardPakistani

Kulcha

Soft, fluffy round breads made with yogurt and milk, topped with nigella and sesame and brushed with butter. They bake in a hot home oven and go well with chanay, daal or any curry.

1 h 40 minServes 6
A dish of Dahi Baray with lentil fritters in yogurt, tamarind chutney, spices and pomegranate seedsPakistani

Dahi Baray

Soft, pillowy lentil dumplings soaked in whisked yogurt and topped with sweet-sour tamarind chutney and chaat masala. A cool, tangy snack for iftar or a gathering.

1 h 10 minServes 6
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
A karahi of Pakistani kaleji masala with liver cubes in thick masala, garnished with ginger, green chilli and corianderPakistani

Kaleji Masala

Tender cubes of goat liver cooked quickly in a thick onion-tomato masala and finished with fresh ginger, green chilli and lemon. Ready in under an hour and lovely with hot roti.

55 minServes 4
Glass cups of golden Kashmiri kahwa tea topped with sliced almonds, beside a teapot, cinnamon sticks and cardamom podsPakistani

Kahwa

A fragrant, golden-green tea simmered with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and saffron, then topped with sliced almonds. It is served without milk and is lovely after a heavy meal or on a cold evening.

15 minServes 4
Glasses of deep purple falsa sharbat with ice and mint beside a bowl of fresh falsa berriesPakistani

Falsa Sharbat

A deep purple summer cooler made from tart falsa berries, lightly sweetened and finished with black salt and mint. Cook it when falsay are in season and the days are hot.

25 minServes 4
Tall glasses of iced shikanjvi with lemon slices and mint, beside halved lemons and a jug of the drinkPakistani

Shikanjvi

A cooling, tangy-sweet lemonade spiced with roasted cumin, black salt and fresh mint. It takes ten minutes to make and is the drink to reach for on a hot afternoon or at iftar.

15 minServes 4
A cup of pink Kashmiri chai topped with crushed pistachios and almonds, beside cardamom pods and a cinnamon stickPakistani

Kashmiri Chai

A soft pink, lightly salted milk tea made by boiling green tea leaves with a little baking soda, then finishing with milk and crushed nuts. It is a warming winter cup with a rich, silky body.

40 minServes 4
Two tall glasses of pale pink Doodh Soda with ice and a fizzy foam top, garnished with dried rose petalsPakistani

Doodh Soda

Doodh Soda is a fizzy street-stall favourite made from sweetened cold milk topped with lemon-lime soda. It takes minutes to make and is especially welcome on hot evenings and at iftar.

10 minServes 2
Glasses of sweet and salted lassi garnished with pistachios, malai, roasted cumin and mintPakistani

Lassi

Thick, cooling Punjabi-style yogurt lassi with two easy versions: a sweet one scented with cardamom and rose, and a salted one with roasted cumin and mint. Ready in ten minutes.

10 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
Platter of charred Bihari Boti beef strips with lemon wedges, sliced onions and parathaPakistani

Bihari Boti

Thin beef strips tenderised with raw papaya, marinated in roasted spices, poppy seeds and mustard oil, slow-cooked until soft, then grilled for charred edges. Lovely with paratha or naan.

6 h 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
Bowl of bright green hari chutney with fresh coriander, green chillies and lemon on a wooden boardPakistani

Hari Chutney

A bright, sharp green chutney of fresh coriander, green chilli, garlic and lemon, blended in minutes. Serve it beside samosas, kababs and pakoras, or spread it in sandwiches.

10 minServes 8
Bowl of glossy dark brown imli chutney with a spoon, surrounded by tamarind pods, jaggery and spicesPakistani

Imli Chutney

A glossy, sweet-sour tamarind chutney sweetened with jaggery and lifted with roasted cumin, fennel and black salt. Keep a jar ready for samosas, chaat and pakoras.

35 minServes 10
Bowl of diced cucumber, tomato and red onion salad with coriander, mint and pomegranate seeds beside lemon halvesPakistani

Kachumber Salad

A cool, crunchy salad of cucumber, tomato and red onion with green chilli, coriander and lemon. It comes together in 15 minutes and sits well beside rice, daal or grilled meat.

17 minServes 4