Pakistani Food Culture — A blend of Flavors, Spices, and Traditions
Mealtimes are such a blessing for families, a time to sit together and relish a range of flavors, aromas, and tastes. Belonging to a desi Pakistani family, my childhood memoir relies on huge family gatherings, senseless moments with siblings and cousins, and of course appetizing Pakistani food culture.
What I remember and still witnessing, mealtimes with pure desi families in Pakistan are not about a single dish. It’s about a main dish- it may be a curry, lentil, meat or vegetable- accompanied with fluffy rice, hot roti (tortilla or chapati), chutneys, pickles, salads, raita, and spices!
Mealtimes in Pakistan are similar to others when it’s about the number of meals that is breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some families add up with Shaam ki chai (An informal evening meal). What makes Pakistani food different is diversity. It’s the diversity of dishes, diversity of flavors, diversity of meal courses, and diversity of spices and flavors. I am starting with a breakfast menu, letting the world know about what Pakistani food culture has as a day starter.
Nashta — A healthy breakfast to boost up your day!
Breakfast or Naashta (a word of Urdu for breakfast) is the first meal in Pakistani food culture. Usually, breakfast in Pakistani families is boosted with eggs (fried, boiled, or omelet) and paratha (fried flatbread) or double-roti (sandwich bread) supplemented with hot tea with milk!
Some other dishes go with breakfast may include:
· Halwa Puri
It is roasted and fried semolina with fried deep-fat fried bread added with potato and chickpea curry.
· Aloo Paratha
A fried flatbread stuffed with mashed potatoes flavored up with a range of spices.
· Lassi
A yogurt-based traditional drink usually goes with full-fat cream and sugar.
· Maska Bun
A round top bread with butter spread.
· Khageena or Anda Ghotala
Pakistani scrambled eggs with green chilies and other ingredients.
· Naan Chaney
Flavorful chickpea curry with oven-baked flatbread.
· Chai Papaa
A hard dry biscuit with Milk Tea.
· Jam Double Roti
Fruit Jam Spread on Sandwich Bread.
Is That Not Enough?
Wait, these are just some formal dishes that normally go with a breakfast menu in Pakistani food culture. Some may have leftover curry with roti or leftover chapatti with tea in breakfast. I am a big fan of leftover curry with chapatti in breakfast, it is a piece of blessing.
I hope you have enjoyed getting into Pakistani food culture and learning about breakfast dishes. I expect that this brief read makes you look into more about Pakistani food culture, Pakistani cuisine, and recipes.
Let me know if you want to learn more about Pakistani food and meals. I am here to write and share some more wonderful insights into Pakistani food and also celebrated recipes from my side. Cheers!
