Pakistani food is a mix of south, central and west Asian foods, with each region having a wide range of different dishes. There is also a huge legacy from the Mughal empire which used to rule this region. Pakistani food has lots of spices similar to Indian food and often includes flat breads and rice.
The main meats are chicken and lamb or mutton, and pork is not eaten as it is not halal. Along the coast fish is very popular as well.
Now similar to India, Pakistan is one of the world’s greatest food countries (in our opinion at least). Here are our must try foods in Pakistan:
Nihari
This is a mixture of usually beef shank and spices fried together with ghee or animal fat. It’s eaten with slices of ginger and with a side of spicey green chillies and a squeeze of lime and is typically eaten for breakfast.
Kabuli Pulao
If you’ve been to Central Asia, then this is Pakistan/Afghanistan’s answer to plov. Slow cooked meat mixed in with oily rice and chickpeas. Very common especially in the west of Pakistan and in Peshawar.
Karahi
Karahi is the name given to the black metal pan that cooks this amazingly spiced fragrant dish. Made typically with a base of tomatoes, onions and spices, the main meat is usually goat or chicken, or even shrimp in the south. This can be served straight from the pan itself and is very common to find even the smallest of street stalls selling this.
Haleem
This is basically a delicious warm goo made from wheat or barley, which is slow cooked and then topped with fresh or dried chillies and other spices as well as lime. This dish is hearty and will keep you going. Haleem shows the influence from the western Middle East on Pakistani cuisine.
Chapshurro
This is a unique dish found in the north in Gilgit. Think of Pakistan’s answer to the quesadilla. The filling is made from spices and sometimes yak meat! A must try in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Chapali kebab
Also sometimes known as Peshwari kebab, this is a fatty meat patty that is fried. Usually made from buffalo meat and mixed in with all the usual suspect spices like cumin and chilli. The flavour is next level!
And finally, no trip to the sub-continent is complete without tea. Dud Pathi is hot black milk tea sold everywhere in the country. If you don’t have a few cups of this every day in Pakistan, then you probably didn’t really visit the country.
