Top 10 Delicious Pakistani Recipes & How to Cook Them

Pakistani cuisine is a flavorful mix of spices, rich gravies, and aromatic rice dishes. Whether you’re craving something spicy, savory, or comforting, these recipes will bring Pakistani flavors to your kitchen!

 Chicken Biryani – The King of Pakistani Cuisine

Aromatic basmati rice layered with spiced chicken, tomatoes, and caramelized onions, giving it a bold and irresistible flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 500g chicken (cut into pieces)
• 2 onions (thinly sliced)
• 2 tomatoes (chopped)
• 1 cup yogurt
• 2 tbsp biryani masala
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• ½ cup oil
• Saffron or yellow food color

Cooking Instructions:

1. Sauté onions in oil until golden brown, then add ginger-garlic paste.
2. Add chicken, tomatoes, yogurt, and biryani masala. Cook until the chicken is tender and fragrant.
3. Boil the rice separately until 70% cooked.
4. Layer rice and chicken in a pot, sprinkle saffron or food color, and let it steam for 10-15 minutes.
5. Gently mix and serve with raita and salad.

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2 Chicken Karahi – A Spicy & Tangy Delight

This is a quick, one-pot dish made with juicy chicken, tomatoes, and a mix of spices.

Ingredients:

• 500g chicken
• 3 tomatoes (pureed)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tbsp yogurt
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup oil
• Fresh coriander & green chilies

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat oil, sauté onions, and add chicken.
2. Stir in ginger-garlic paste, tomato puree, and spices. Cook until the oil separates from the gravy.
3. Add yogurt and let it simmer until the chicken is fully cooked.
4. Garnish with fresh coriander and green chilies, then serve hot with naan or roti.

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3 Nihari – A Slow-Cooked Meat Stew

A rich, spicy beef stew that is traditionally cooked for hours to achieve a deep, hearty flavor.

Ingredients:

• 500g beef/mutton
• 2 onions (sliced)
• 2 tbsp wheat flour
• 2 tbsp Nihari spice mix
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• ½ cup oil
• Fresh coriander & ginger slices

Cooking Instructions:

1. Sauté onions, add meat, ginger-garlic paste, and Nihari spice mix.
2. Pour in 5-6 cups of water, cover, and let it simmer for 4-5 hours on low heat.
3. Mix wheat flour in water to make a slurry, then add it to the stew to thicken it.
4. Garnish with fresh coriander, ginger slices, and serve with naan.

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4 Haleem – A Hearty Blend of Meat & Lentils

A comforting and creamy dish, perfect for special occasions.

Ingredients:

• 500g beef/mutton
• ½ cup wheat grains
• ¼ cup mixed lentils (chana dal, masoor dal)
• 1 onion (fried)
• 2 tbsp Haleem masala
• ½ cup yogurt
• Fresh coriander & ginger slices

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook wheat and lentils until soft.
2. Cook meat separately with onions, spices, and yogurt until tender.
3. Blend the lentils into a paste and mix with the meat.
4. Let it simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally.
5. Garnish and serve with lemon, fried onions, and naan.

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5 Chapli Kabab – Crispy & Juicy Minced Meat Patties

Perfect for a BBQ night or served with fresh naan.

Ingredients:

• 500g minced beef/mutton
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 tomato (chopped)
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp gram flour (besan)
• 1 tsp crushed coriander seeds
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• Fresh coriander & green chilies

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients well and shape into flat round patties.
2. Heat oil and fry each kabab until golden brown.
3. Serve with chutney and naan.

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6 Aloo Keema – Minced Meat with Potatoes

A classic homestyle dish, easy to make yet packed with flavor.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Sauté onions, add minced meat, tomatoes, and spices.
2. Once the meat is cooked, add diced potatoes and simmer until soft.
3. Serve with roti or paratha.

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7  Dal Tadka – Spiced Lentil Curry

A simple, nutritious, and flavorful lentil dish.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil lentils until soft.
2. In another pan, heat butter, sauté onions, and add tomatoes.
3. Mix in the lentils and simmer.
4. Serve with steamed rice or chapati.

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8  Saag & Makki Ki Roti – A Punjabi Favorite

 

A healthy and earthy dish, made with mustard greens.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil mustard greens, mash them, and cook with garlic and spices.
2. Serve with Makki (corn) roti and butter.

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9  Paya – Flavorful Bone Broth

A slow-cooked trotter soup, rich in collagen and nutrients.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook trotters with ginger-garlic and spices.
2. Add water and simmer for 6-8 hours.
3. Serve hot with naan and lemon slices.

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10 Kheer – Creamy Rice Pudding

A sweet, milky dessert topped with almonds and pistachios.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Simmer milk, add soaked rice, and cook until thick.
2. Stir in sugar and cardamom.
3. Chill and serve with nuts.

These Pakistani dishes bring  taste and tradition to your table.
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