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Thali

🇵🇰 The food of Pakistan

75 dishes from Pakistan, best known first, across 11 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 6Lahore 4Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 3Peshawar 2Sindh 2Burns Road 1Chakwal 1Islamabad 1Multan 1Punjab 1South Punjab 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
Chicken tikka masalaMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRoasted marinated chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato-based sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner 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 Chicken tikkaMeat 🇵🇰 Pakistan and 2 moreBoneless chicken pieces marinated in yogurt and spices, cooked in a tandoor oven Main dish, Lunch, Dinner 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 NihariMeat 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSlow-cooked meat stew from the Indian subcontinent, served hot with bread or rice Stew or curry, Breakfast, Lunch Shami kebabMeatشامی کباب 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreMinced meat and chickpea patties, shallow-fried and spiced Main dish, Snacks, Lunch Chapli kebabMeatچَپلِي کَبَاب 🇵🇰 Pakistan and 2 moreFlattened spiced meat patties fried and served hot, from Peshawar Main dish, Lunch, Dinner PayaMeat 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA slow-cooked stew of animal trotters with spices, served at gatherings in South Asia Stew or curry, Breakfast Curry GoatMeat 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreGoat meat simmered in spiced curry, enjoyed across Asia and the Caribbean Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chicken karahiMeat 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChicken cooked with tomatoes, ginger and spices in a karahi pan Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Ohn no khao swèMeatအုန်းနို့ခေါက်ဆွဲ 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 1 moreEgg noodles in a coconut chicken soup, topped with crisp garnishes Soup, Breakfast Aloo goshtMeat 🇵🇰 Pakistan and 2 morePotato and meat curry simmered with spices in a rich gravy Main dish, Lunch, Dinner MaghazMeat 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreBrains of cow, goat or sheep cooked with spices, served as a rich offal dish Main dish SajjiMeatسجی 🇵🇰 PakistanWhole lamb or chicken marinated, roasted, and served with rice or bread Main dish, Lunch, Dinner CharghaMeatچرغا 🇵🇰 PakistanWhole chicken marinated, steamed, and deep-fried in Lahori style Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KhichraMeatکھچڑا 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA slow-cooked stew of meat, lentils and spices from the Indian subcontinent Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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