Pakistan has one of the most delicious cuisines around the globe. Due to this, we have compiled a list of the Top 10 Greatest Traditional Pakistani Dishes You Should Try right now.
These delicious dishes are made from specific spices and herbs. And each of the traditional dishes has a long history linking it to their ancestors. Due to the amazing geography of Pakistan, its dishes range from deserts to the highest mountain peaks in the world. Each place has a unique flavor in its beauty. Pakistani food is rich in nutrients and full of spices. The country is generous in oil as well as it also has an incredible taste.
Previously, we have shared with you the Top 10 Must-Eat Foods from Around the World. So now, when you visit Pakistan, here are the top 10 best mouth-watering traditional Pakistani dishes for you:
TOP 10: Sarson Ka Saag
“Sarson Ka Saag” is a ubiquitous dish around the subcontinent, especially in Punjab. If you are a Punjabi, it is not possible that you don’t know about “Sarson Ka Saag.” You can also say it as mustard greens. They are cooked slowly until the greens become soft and crumble like a sticky casserole. The recipe includes healthy spices, mint, coriander, chili peppers, etc. However, many versions have bolder additions in different areas of Pakistan. There is also a great version available in the city of Northern Skardu.
TOP 9: Halwa Puri
Puri is a sort of mixture sprinkled with salt and abounded all around, at that point insertion in a modest quantity of oil. It is especially feathery and light. In Pakistan, it is mainly served with a sweet dish known as halwa, a mixture of sugar syrup, egg whites, and sesame seeds. Also, the mix of unique flavors brings about a life-changing gastronomic experience.
If you want to find the champion dish for breakfast in Pakistan, it ought to be Halwa puri. It is, perhaps, the most mainstream breakfast dish in Pakistan. Puri is a flimsy, moved butter that makes unlimited layers and ultra-crunchiness. Nonetheless, if you don’t like too much sweetness, you can typically eat it with chickpea curry and with a slight quantity of Halwa to enhance its taste.
TOP 8: Channa Chaat
Channa means chickpeas and is perhaps the most famous snack in Pakistan. This delicious bite is a mixture of various vegetables, like chickpeas, tomatoes, and onions, to make an ambivalent eating experience. Undeniably, it’s one of the most cost-proficient approaches to top off tidbits.
It doesn’t mean that it is anything less tasty, but it is an extraordinary dish in itself. Channa Chaat is one of the most popular street foods in Pakistan. It is also served with a mixture of tamarind sauce, new mint yogurt, or new-cut vegetables like white onion, cucumber, and/or beetroot.
TOP 7: Haleem
Haleem is a combination of different pulses, especially in the subcontinent. This is a very spicy dish that includes meat. It is a dish that sets aside a long effort as we have to prepare different lentils in powdered form. Then, we have to boil it for its exceptional flavors. And on the other side, there is minced meat and a structure of exciting mixture that charms the faculties. Haleem is a fantastic dish made with a mixture of grains, including wheat, chickpeas, etc.
This traditional Pakistani dish shows the impact of the Middle East on Pakistan. Haleem has been appreciated here for quite a long time now. Onion (singled independently), mint leaves, dried green peppers, trailed by some masala flavors. Lastly, go with lemon juice for garnishing and to enhance its taste. This is the ideal feast for a morning or early lunch.
TOP 6: Karahi
Karahi is one of the most popular traditional food and has a special place in the hearts of every Pakistani. You can find Karahi in the smallest shop up the road to a five-star restaurant in Pakistan. Pakistani cuisine is not at all complete without Karahi. The dish gets its name from the black spade-shaped iron pan. It is a curry usually made with goat meat, but it is also often made with chicken or shrimp.
Most Karahi recipes in Pakistan start with tomato, onion, and delicious animal fat. The tomato juice that gives you all the ultra-umami magic of Karahi, soft pieces of meat, and lots of fat will surely bring satisfaction. This is an iconic dish of Pakistan and can be found throughout the country.
TOP 5: Tikka / Seekh Kabab
Seekh Kababs is usually a style of meat in good season. The method of grilling in which they are cooked gives them a serious taste. If you pair them with herb-infused rice, you will never be disappointed. There are only a few dishes that almost every Central Asian people love to eat, and that’s Pakistani tikkas in Pakistan. Tikka is a special type of ‘kabab.’
The main thing about Tikka is that it uses marinated meat in larger chunks (kabab meat is usually minced, marinated, and skewered by hand). Whether it’s a daily meal of ordinary shepherds or a meal of a rich person, everyone loves Tikka in Pakistan. It is also one of the most mind-blowing dishes for anyone traveling from abroad to Pakistan.
TOP 4: Nihari
Nihari is quite possibly the most acclaimed stew in Pakistan. It is served to visitors at significant events and in different company gatherings. In this dish, meat is moderately cooked for the time being to give the curry its flavor. The cooking cycle permits the dish to completely assimilate the seasoned bone marrow, making it one of the most delectable meat dishes on the planet. Nihari begins with a small bunch of dry flavors singed in vegetable and creature oil.
The consistency of curry is overflowing and thick, so excessively delicate bits of meat. It is dim red in shading because of the flavor and its oil. Nihari is decorated with fragrant ginger cuts, hot green pepper, and a couple of lemons. You can try Nihari at Waris Nihari in Lahore, and we strongly suggest Javed Nihari in Karachi.
TOP 3: Mutton Korma
Pakistan’s most traditional dish is Mutton Korma which you need to try at least. You will find this in the menu card from an exemplary feast of Punjabi food to almost every wedding ceremony. Sheep korma is good and rich with amazingly delicate bits of sheep or goat meat and a dull red flavor mix.
From Pakistan’s Himalayan tops to the lower part of the Indian subcontinent, an enormous segment of the population most likely longs for mutton curry at almost every moment of their lives. There have been extraordinary sheep currants in Pakistan, and particularly, if you are in Lahore, don’t miss the lamb Korma at Khan Baba Café.
TOP 2: Sajji
Sajji is a traditional Pakistani dish that originated in the province of Balochistan. It is one of the main fortes of customary Pakistani foods, comprising a huge bit of sheep or chicken loaded with rice and delicious green papaya. It is positioned on a stick and simmered for a couple of hours. Sajji can contain numerous kinds of meat, but it is normally made with chicken.
The imaginative bundling utilized in the presentation will impress you a lot. You ought to be eager to enter a shop that serves Sajji. Like most Pakistani dishes, Sajji is served with hot roti bread that comes from the baked broiler. Sajji is second in our list of the top 10 best traditional Pakistani dishes.
TOP 1: Biryani
Biryani is a delicious mixture of rice, meat, and amazing spices. In addition, there are entirely cooked lemons, tomatoes, and potatoes, which will surely enhance the taste of it. The rice is put in a huge cooking bowl and filtered each time with a blend of dried cumin, nutmeg, cardamom, and turmeric.
Biryani is prepared in different layers to make it a superb dish. If each layer is added independently, the ingredients won’t be mixed until the rice is on your plate. Essentially, they gave you a cross-part of the entire skillet. You can see and appreciate all the kinds of flavors in this dish. As this dish is dry, it is so served with a Raita (light yogurt). Biryani is ideal for lunch while walking around the bustling roads of Pakistan. While in Karachi, you don’t ever think to miss the bone marrow biryani as it is the best, so you need to try at least.
What is the Best Traditional Pakistani Dishes List?
As you see, the Pakistani food culture is just one of the best in the world. There is spicy Pakistani food, and there are a lot of available Pakistani dishes for dinner. You can even try a Pakistani food menu for a week or a month, and it would be very satisfying and worth it!
So, without further ado, here is the list of the Top 10 Best and Greatest Traditional Pakistani Dishes You Should Try:
- Biryani
- Sajji
- Mutton Korma
- Nihari
- Tikka / Seekh Kabab
- Karahi
- Haleem
- Channa Chaat
- Halwa Puri
- Sarson Ka Saag
Without a doubt, Biryani tops the list of our Top 10 Greatest Traditional Pakistani Dishes You Should Try when you visit Pakistan. So, make sure you don’t miss it!
WATCH: Top 10 Greatest Traditional Pakistani Dishes You Should Try
Author: Saumya M.
Saumya M. is a passionate content writer known for her impeccable storytelling and research. She has covered topics ranging from travel and lifestyle to entertainment, community, and education. She helps people live their best lives and reach their full potential.
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