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 :)

Shikarpur - My Hometown - Past and Present

I had earlier mentioned that my hometown is the city of Shikarpur. Hence it will be befitting to share some information about my city. This city is located in the interior of the province of Sindh, around 500km north from Karachi. When you go to your hometown it gives you a sense of belonging and makes you feel relaxed. Once it was once a dignified trade centre of great repute. Now aside from infamous spicy pickles and sindhi needlework, the town has only its past history to boast about.

This town was founded in early seventeenth century by Bahadar Khan Daudpotras whose family tree goes up to Abbasids. Mughal king Aurangzeb Alamgir conferred a vast jagir from Lakhi to Khanpur upon Bahadar Khan. The jagir area consisted of dense forest that was rich in wild animals. The forest was in possession of Mahars - powerful landlords' clan in Sindh. Reward of the area to the Daudpotras by the emperor triggered strife between the two sides that turned into a bloody battle between the Daudpotras and Mahars. Legend has it that after victory, Bahadar Khan Daudpotras was advised by a local saint to clear the forest that had been the cause of the battle and built a town on that land. Hence, the name Shikarpur meaning hunting ground. This is how Shikarpur came into being around 1617 AD.

I can assume only but Shikarpur had a reputation for its rich gardens. The Shahi Bagh, which stands neglected today, was known for its thriving vegetation and scented flowers. I have hear that at one time Shahi Bagh had a zoo with large population of lions, cheetahs, bears and wild boars. These animals were later shifted to Karachi Zoo. The garden had a wooden pavilion that was designed by Perston Phel and constructed by Sir W. Merewether in September 1871. Many other public and private gardens and open spaces of Shikarpur have vanished. These open spaces used to be meeting points where people used to gather for causal talk. It is probably the only city in the world which has a cricket ground in a park which also is a victim of neglect.

History has it that due to its strategic location on important caravan trade route of seventeenth century, Shikarpur turned into an eminent commercial centre. Due to its reputation in trade and commerce, in his notes R. Burten described Shikarpur as "the capital of merchants, money changers and bankers." With smart marketing practices, the Shikarpur merchants had built significant reputation and there was hardly any notable commercial town from Turkey to China that did not have dealings with traders in Shikarpur. There is also a long narrow market which is covered by bay wood and it is often seen as the pride of the city.

Later Shikarpur lost its glory especially after the partition the subcontinent when many Hindu merchants migrated to India. Later there was an increase in migrants from the rural areas into the city which started tribal feuds and today the city is plagued with corruption, illiteracy, unemployment and lack of development. Many other well-off people left to other cities such as Karachi. The rich history of Shikarpur is what i have heard from my family members. What i see is unplanned narrow streets with heaps of garbage, dense housing which have become unsafe for living, roads which have not being repaired for years, a broken sewage system, and lack of educational institutions, medical facilities and under-development does not allow it to be a city of the 21st century.

However, as i mentioned the hometown is a place where people know and respect you. Hence the moments that one spends in the hometown are truly priceless.