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Thali

🇵🇰 The food of Pakistan

42 dishes from Pakistan, best known first, across 3 cities and regions.

Pakistani cooking brings together influences from South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, shaped by geography and Islamic dietary laws. Meals often center on meat, but lentils, rice, and vegetables are staples for many. Regional dishes, aromatic spices, and a balance between rich and subtle flavors set it apart.

  • Ghee is favored for its flavor and high smoke point.
  • Meat is eaten more often than in neighboring countries.
  • Balochi sajji is whole lamb or chicken stuffed with rice.
  • Sindhi biryani is a signature rice and meat dish.
  • Chapshuro from the north is sometimes called local pizza.

The cooking of Pakistan

Pakistani food is shaped by centuries of migration, trade, and conquest, blending South Asian roots with Persian, Central Asian, and Arab touches. Islamic dietary rules are central, so pork and alcohol are absent, and meat is prepared according to halal practices. Aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cumin are common, and dishes often use ghee for richness. While meat is prized, many rely on lentils, rice, and vegetables due to cost. Dishes can be rich and full-flavored, with some regions favoring bold spices and others preferring milder, aromatic profiles. Baking and new-world vegetables arrived through colonial influence.

Staple foods in Pakistan

Wheat bread (roti or naan) and rice are the main staples, often eaten with meat, lentils, or vegetables. Lentils, chickpeas, and beans are widely used, especially where meat is less affordable. Ghee and oil are common for cooking. Vegetables like potatoes, eggplant, okra, and cauliflower are everyday fare. Dairy, especially yogurt, is important in many regions.

From region to region in Pakistan

Each region has its own style. Balochistan is known for slow-cooked meats like sajji and rosh, usually mild in spice. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa features rice, kebabs, and lamb, with dishes like chapli kabab and Kabuli palaw. Punjab offers a mix of wheat breads, meat stews, and vegetable dishes, often moderately spicy. Sindhi food is meat-heavy and aromatic, while Karachi’s cuisine is spicier due to its diverse population. In the north, Gilgit-Baltistan and Hunza use barley, wheat, and dairy, with dishes like chapshuro and dumplings. Azad Jammu and Kashmir blends Kashmiri and Pahari flavors, using rice, meat, and yogurt.

At the table in Pakistan

Meals are usually served with bread or rice as the base, and salads are eaten alongside the main course rather than before. Meat is central to the meal, but many families use lentils or vegetables as the main dish. Islamic dietary laws shape what is eaten and how meat is prepared.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Pakistani cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Pakistan

Karachi 2Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1Peshawar 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Kebabكَبَاب‎ 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreGrilled or roasted meat, often on skewers, found across the Middle East and beyond Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Samosa 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFried or baked pastry with a spiced filling, shaped into triangles or cones Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Lunch JalebiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreDeep-fried spirals of batter soaked in syrup, enjoyed across Asia and Africa Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks ChapatiVeganचपाती 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreUnleavened flatbread cooked on a griddle and served hot with meals Bread, Breakfast, Lunch Aloo tikkiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 morePotato cutlets spiced and fried, served hot with chutneys Street food, Snacks KahwahVegan 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA spiced green tea from Kashmir, often served with saffron and nuts Drink RaitaVegetarianरायता 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreYogurt mixed with vegetables, fruit or pulses, served as a cooling side dish Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner LimeadeVegan 🇧🇸 Bahamas and 5 moreSweetened lime juice mixed with water, served cold as a refreshing drink Drink, Snacks RajmaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreKidney beans stewed with spices, often served with rice in North India and Nepal Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Papri chaatVegetarianपापड़ी चाट 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreCrisp wafers topped with potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and tangy chutneys Street food, Snacks Sheer khurmaVegetarianشير خرما 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA sweet vermicelli pudding with milk, dates and nuts for Eid celebrations Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Pakoraपकोड़ा 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreVegetables or other fillings coated in spiced gram flour batter and deep-fried Street food, Snacks, Tea time Gulab jamunVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreDeep-fried milk dough balls soaked in rose-scented sugar syrup Sweet or dessert PapadamVegan 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreThin, crisp flatbread made from lentil or other flours, served as a snack or side Bread, Lunch, Dinner Chicken tikka masalaMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRoasted marinated chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato-based sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner SharbatVeganشربت 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSweet fruit or flower drink, served chilled or as a syrup Drink, Snacks PuriVegan 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreUnleavened wheat flatbread, deep-fried until puffed and golden Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Masala chaiVegetarianचाय 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreBlack tea brewed with milk, spices and sugar, served hot across India Drink, Breakfast, Tea time KulfiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreFrozen sweet made from slow-cooked milk, often flavoured with nuts or spices Sweet or dessert, Snacks Paratha 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreLayered flatbread from the Indian subcontinent, often fried and sometimes stuffed Bread, Breakfast, Lunch Tandoori chickenMeat 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreChicken marinated in yogurt and spices, roasted in a clay oven Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Butter chickenMeatमुर्ग़ मक्खनी 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreChicken in a rich, creamy tomato and butter sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Butter teaབོད་ཇ་ 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA hot Himalayan drink of tea, yak butter and salt, churned to a creamy texture Drink, Breakfast, Snacks Korma 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreA rich curry of meat or vegetables simmered in yogurt and spices Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner KhichdiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreRice and lentils cooked together, often with vegetables and spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Sugarcane juiceVegan 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreFresh juice pressed from sugarcane stalks, sold widely as a street drink Drink, Snacks Chicken tikkaMeat 🇵🇰 Pakistan and 2 moreBoneless chicken pieces marinated in yogurt and spices, cooked in a tandoor oven Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chana masalaVegan 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChickpeas simmered in a spiced tomato and onion sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Ras malaiVegetarian 🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 moreSoft chhena discs soaked in sweet, creamy milk and flavoured with cardamom and saffron Sweet or dessert Kabuli pulaoMeatقابلی پلو 🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 5 moreAfghan rice pilaf with caramelized carrots, raisins, and meat Main dish, Lunch, Dinner HaleemMeat 🇮🇳 India and 7 moreA slow-cooked stew of wheat, lentils, meat and spices Stew or curry, Breakfast, Lunch Aloo gobiVegetarianआलू गोभी 🇮🇳 India and 2 morePotato and cauliflower cooked with turmeric and spices Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Dahi vadaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreLentil fritters soaked in spiced yogurt and served as a cold snack Street food, Snacks Gajar ka halwaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreGrated carrot cooked with milk, sugar, ghee and khoya, often served at Indian festivals Sweet or dessert Dal makhaniVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreCreamy black lentils slow-cooked with butter and spices Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Soan papdiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreCrisp, flaky sweet made from gram flour, sugar, ghee, and cardamom Sweet or dessert, Snacks Cheesesteak 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreThinly sliced beef and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll Sandwich or wrap, Lunch, Dinner MalpuaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreSweet deep-fried pancakes from the Indian subcontinent, often dipped in syrup Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Khoreshخورش 🇮🇷 Iran and 4 moreSlow-cooked Persian stew, served hot with rice Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner Tandoor breadVegan 🇮🇶 Iraq and 5 moreFlatbread baked on the walls of a clay tandoor oven Bread, Breakfast, Lunch SheermalVegetarianشیرمال‎ 🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreA sweet, saffron-scented flatbread made with milk and cardamom Bread, Breakfast, Lunch Karah ParshadVegetarianਕੜਾਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreA sacred Sikh sweet made from whole-wheat flour, ghee, and sugar, shared in Gurdwaras Sweet or dessert

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