Pakistani

Pakistan is a young country situated north of India. It shares borders with China, Afghanistan, and Iran. The southern part of the country touches the Arabian sea, while the northern tip is part of the Himalayan mountains. Overall, the climate is very hot and dry. The annual rainfall is only about 8 inches per year. So how does this desert climate influence their cuisine?

Actually, much of their culinary influence is due in large part to their neighbors. You can find elements of Indian, Middle Eastern and Far East in their dishes. So what exactly are these neighborly influences? For one, ghee (clarified butter) and yoghurt are widely used. Next, Pakistan is a bread culture. This means that most meals are served with various types of flatbreads both seasoned or plain. They are used to scoop up the curries or dip into sweet chutneys. 

Pakistani recipes focus on curries. These are stewed for hours and made from aromatic spices, pulses, and meats. Thanks to their Middle Eastern neighbors, some curries incorporate pomegranate seeds for a sweet and sour taste. Some incorporate rosewater for both the taste and smell. No, it doesn’t taste like perfume. It’s so delicious. But I digress,  Lamb is the most popular meat, but people often eat goat or beef. The southern part of the country consumes a lot of fish due to the coastline. 

I hope you enjoy my selection of easy Pakistani recipes.