Pakistanis hold immense pride in their historic architectural sites, culture, national dress and scrumptious food delicacies. There are a few specials occasions on which we indulge in an array of mouth-watering foods, ranging from savoury to sweet. ‘If you do not love food or get excited about it, then you are not a true Pakistani’ is something we have heard from our ancestors over the years and we could not agree more! Everyone has their personal favorites’ when it comes to cooking up a feast on festivals such as Eid, desi weddings and August 14. With Pakistan Independence Day around the corner, lets take a look at the country’s best and most popular food dishes, which no one can every say no to!
Biryani
Daig biryani is one of the most famous in Pakistan. Its roots date back to pre-Partition and there is no ammi (mother), dadi (paternal grandmother) or nani (maternal grandmother) who does not know how to prepare this rice dish. Filled with spices and exotic flavours, biryani is a staple in almost every household in the country. From mutton to chicken and even kofta biryani, we can never get enough of it and what better day to eat it over lunch than Pakistan Independence Day? Finger-licking good!
Paya
A traditional food hailing from South Asia, paya is served at various festivals and gatherings, or made for special guests. The word ‘paya’ means legs in Urdu. The main ingredients of the dish are the trotters, cooked with various spices and eaten with naan or chapatti. Its enjoyable and delicious taste will surely make you forget about the sticky texture of the dish, which can surely be a put off for some. It is SO worth it!
Pakora and Samosa
Be it rain or shine, we love pakoras, samosas and everything in between! The best and most filling evening snacks, both pakoras and samosas can easily be made at home but they are of course readily available in most food markets too. These bite-sized fried items add the right amount of happiness and yumminess to our lives!
Chaat and Bun Kebab
This savoury snack is typically served over tea. Its varieties are never-ending, ranging from dahi puri and sev puri to mix chaat and gol guppas among others. The perfect pit-stop if you are out and about on August 14 would be to stop at any food stall or chaat shop that sells this filling snack. Oh, and don’t forget to get some bun kebabs while you’re at it. We love them!
Gulab Jamun
This milk-solid-based sweet undeniably boasts of a lot of calories but it is too hard to resist if placed in front of you! Sweet and flavourful, gulab jamuns taste best when served hot. This mithai is found all across Pakistan and is often given in wedding giveaways too. Chum Chum and Jalebi are the only other mithais which come close to the ever-famous gulab jamun!
Kheer
Kheer is a type of pudding from the Indian subcontinent, made from boiling milk, sugar, and rice. Sometimes rice is substituted with bulgar wheat, millet, tapioca, vermicelli or even sweet corn. The best part about kheer is that it is on the lighter side and will not make you feel bloated or too heavy even if you devour a generous amount.
Rabri
It is a sweet, condensed-milk-based subcontinent dish. Rabri is made by boiling milk on low heat for a long time until it becomes dense and changes its colour to off-white or pale yellow. Jaggery, spices, and nuts are added to it to give it flavour and add beauty. It is chilled and served as dessert.