If you’ve ever been to a Pakistani buffet, you’ve probably been overwhelmed by the plethora of mouth-watering dishes available to you. You won’t go wrong with whichever food you end up sampling—each Pakistani dish comes contains a unique flavor and will satisfy your palate. That being said, we’d be remiss if we didn’t say we have our biases.
This dish is perhaps the best-known of the bunch. Biryani is a rice dish combined with either chicken, mutton, or beef. It is best known for its delicious Basmati rice, made yellow by turmeric and other spices and herbs. Biryani also benefits from perfectly cooked tomatoes, potatoes, and lemons for added aromatics, texture, and complementing flavors.
Another famous Pakistani food is the Beef Kebab, which is well-seasoned beef grilled to succulent perfection. Kebabs are traditionally skewered with onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Beef Kebabs can be eaten alone; however, they can also be paired with herb-infused rice or wrapped in a warm pita.
The Chicken Tikka is baked and grilled boneless chicken marinated in spices and dahi—which is also known as yogurt. It can be served on a sizzling plate or skewers. Chicken Tikka is traditionally eaten alone but is also very delightful with naan bread.
Supposed to be eaten as a light snack, samosas are incredibly filling—so much so that they can spoil the main dishes if you’re not careful with your portions! These are mainly boiled potatoes, green chilies, and finely chopped herbs wrapped in a flour-coated triangular crust. They can also come stuffed with minced lamb, chicken, or beef.
If you’re craving some soup, you won’t go wrong with the Nihari. It contains meat slowly cooked and simmered in spices overnight. The slow cooking process absorbs the bone marrow’s full flavor, making it one of the world’s best-tasting meat dishes. The same slow-cooking process that makes it so tasteful also makes preparing the Nihari a very time-consuming disk to cook. For this reason, Pakistanis traditionally reserve the Nihari for special occasions. However, thanks to Pakistani restaurants in Vancouver, you can enjoy them anytime you want to!
Haleem is another Pakistani stew dish that takes a very long time to prepare. It is a mixture of several Pakistani staples, such as wheat, barley, and minced meat (mutton, beef or chicken). The preparation traditionally takes a long time because the lentils and special spices take a long time to combine with the minced meat properly. The result is a unique and flavorful paste that will fulfill your hankering.
After being inundated with flavors, it’s time to water it down with a refreshing glass of Lassi. This popular drink is a blend of dasi (yogurt), water, spices, and occasionally, fruit. It is sweet and best served chilled with the consistency of milkshakes.
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