Culture of Pakistan - Food and Cuisine

Recently, i was involved in a chat with a friend who showed some immense interest in the history and culture of Pakistan especially the food and cusine. I strongly support cross-cultural exchange of ideas as it removes misunderstanding and improve our image and make the world a better place. Therefore i decided to share that information about my country on this blog. This may not be of interest if you are from Pakistan. Sorry but i have international friends as well now.

As you may known, Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in the world. Islam has been since 700 A.D and this actually forms the basis of Pakistan cuisine. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork and many other carnivorous animals and reptiles and the use of alcohol as well. Hence, the food is concentrated on other areas such as chicken, mutton, beef, fish, vegetables and pulses. I had not realised this earlier but meat plays a more dominant role in Pakistani food.As the land was known and even envied for its spices, Pakistan food have traditionally a strong content of herbs and spices which along with flavorings and seasonings make Pakistani cuisine exotic and is known for its richness and flavour. If you are interested in knowing about the spices of Pakistan then please see here.

Pakistan is divided into four provinces, each with different cultures and regional specialties reflecting the country's ethnic and cultural diversity but some items are common across the country. Every country has staples and Pakistan staple food is undoubtedly the chapati (roti) - unleavened bread from kneaded flour and make on a griddle. There are many variants such as naan which are leavened with yeast and made from white floor and occasionally seasoned with sesame seeds and baked in a tandoor (open oven), parathas, puris, shermal, taftan and roti made from rice and maize flour as well.

Rice is widely grown in many parts of Pakistan and the main course is served with rice as well. However, more importantly some of famous infamous dishes are made using rice especially the Biryani. The friend on the chat was interested in knowing about it. Biryani is rice-based dish which is also popular in South Asia and the Middle East as well and is made with meat, fish or vegetables. In Karachi where i live the chicken version of the Sindhi biryani is the most popular and is one of the most consumed dish.

The main course of Pakistani cuisine popularly involves curries which are common and cooked almost everyday. The most famous curry is the iconic Karahi made from chicken or mutton combined with vegetables and named after the special utensil in which it is cooked and is enjoyed all over Pakistan. Korma which is also popular dish which traces it origin to the Mughal-era and is typically eaten with rice and is very popular as well in Pakistan.

Lentils, called daal, made from various pulses is important part of Pakistan dishes. It is considered a inexpensive food item but now their prices have increased a lot, and is not served at special occasions. However, Haleem is an exception. This is popular across many countries in South Asia and the Middle East but i can bet that Pakistan's haleem is the best. Haleem is made from lentils, wheat, meat (chicken or beef) and spices. If you want some then you need a lot of patience and efforts as it can take 7-8 hours to cook to perfection.

Barbecue food is also extremely popular in many cities of Pakistan and culturally incorporate a variety of herbs and spices. The most famous is undoubtedly the Chicken Tikka, which is baked on skewers with red-hot coal and the ieces are brushed with ghee (clarified butter) at intervals, which gives its taste, while being continuously fanned. Sajji is a dish from Western Pakistan, made of lamb stuffed with rice, and some cities like Karachi also has a chicken variant that has also become popular all over the country. A Middle Eastern influence on Pakistani cuisine is the popularity of grilled meats such as kababs. These are spicy and the meat include chicken, beef or even lamb. Types of kebabs are Seekh, Shami, Chapli (specialty of NWFP), Behari Kabab and many others not-so-common kebabs as well.

Volumes can written on chicken delicacies and their recipes. I will end by providing information on the tea variants. Pakistanis drink a great deal of tea (locally called, chai). Both black and green tea (sabz chai/qehwa) are popular. Kashmiri chai, a pink milky tea with pistachios and cardamom, is drunk primarily at weddings and during the winter. Lassi, a yogurt-based drink either sweet or salty is popular in many parts of Pakistan.

If you have a sweet tooth then you wont be disappointed. Some of the popular deserts are Saviyan (vermicelli), Sheer khurma, Kulfi, Falooda, Kheer, Rasmalai, , Zardah, Shahi Tokray, Gajar Halwah, and Rubri. Pakistan has a long list of sweets. Some of the most popular are Gulab Jamun, Barfi, Kalakand, Jalebi, Laddu and various kinds of Halvah.Pakistan has had western influences on it cuisines and different restaurants and fast-food outlets have established their franchise and people try out for new and modern food. And you can not miss the food and its splendour if you ever visit Pakistan.
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Dedicated and with Thanks to Ms. Bela Pertiwi from Indonesia. I would not have written this if there had been no chat with you :)