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Main Course recipes

Every main course recipe on RecipenKitchen. Narrow them down with the filters.

58 recipes

Pot of Pakistani beef pulao with golden basmati rice, beef pieces, browned onions and fresh herbsPakistani

Beef Pulao with Browned Onions and Whole Spices

A everyday-style Pakistani pulao where beef is browned with onions and yogurt, then cooked with basmati in its own rich stock. Fragrant, full of flavour and made in one pot.

2 h 15 minServes 4
A pot of mutton yakhni pulao with golden basmati rice, mutton pieces, fried onions and mintPakistani

Mutton Yakhni Pulao

Fragrant basmati rice cooked in a whole-spice mutton stock, with browned onions and tender bone-in meat. A gentle, aromatic pulao for Sunday dinners and guests.

2 h 20 minServes 6
Golden chicken yakhni pulao topped with fried onions and mint, served in a wide dish with raita and saladPakistani

Chicken Yakhni Pulao

A fragrant one-pot pulao where basmati cooks in a homemade chicken and whole-spice stock. It is milder and more aromatic than biryani, and needs no tomato or heavy masala.

1 h 55 minServes 5
A karahi of prawns in thick tomato masala garnished with ginger and coriander, served with naan and lemonPakistani

Prawn Karahi

Juicy prawns tossed quickly in a tomato, ginger and green chilli masala until the oil glistens. A fast, punchy karahi that suits a weeknight dinner with hot naan.

42 minServes 4
Skewers of golden-red grilled fish tikka with capsicum and onion, served with lemon wedges and mint chutneyPakistani

Fish Tikka with Ajwain and Mustard Oil Marinade

Firm white fish cubes marinated in spiced yogurt, ginger-garlic, ajwain and a little mustard oil, then grilled until lightly charred. It works on a grill, in the oven or on a stovetop pan.

1 h 10 minServes 4
Pakistani

Masala Fish Curry

Firm fish steaks simmered in a bold onion-tomato masala with cumin, fenugreek and green chillies. It's a quick weeknight curry that goes well with plain rice or roti.

55 minServes 4
Golden crispy Lahori fried fish pieces on a platter with lemon wedges, onion rings and green chutneyPakistani

Lahori Fried Fish

Crisp, golden pieces of white fish in a spiced gram flour coating, with ajwain, crushed coriander and lemon. It's a Lahore street-style dinner that comes together in under an hour.

1 h 3 minServes 4
Crispy red-brown Lahori chargha chicken pieces on a steel platter with onions, green chillies, mint and lemon wedgesPakistani

Lahori Chargha (Steamed and Fried Spiced Chicken)

Chicken pieces are marinated in a tangy, spiced yogurt paste, steamed until tender, then fried until deep red and crisp. Juicy inside, crackling outside, and made for sharing.

2 hServes 4
Copper karahi of chicken achari in a golden spiced gravy with green chillies, ginger and coriander, served with roti and raitaPakistani

Chicken Achari

Bone-in chicken simmered in a tangy, onion-yogurt gravy flavoured with the whole spices used in pickling. Bold and sharp, it goes well with plain roti or rice.

1 h 30 minServes 6
A clay pot of rich Kunna Gosht mutton curry topped with ginger and coriander, served with naanPakistani

Kunna Gosht (Sealed Pot Slow-Cooked Mutton)

Bone-in mutton cooked in its own juices with yogurt, ghee and whole spices in a dough-sealed pot until it falls off the bone. A rich Punjabi-style dum dish for weekends.

3 h 25 minServes 6
A karahi of spiced beef mince with green capsicum pieces, ginger and fresh coriander, served with rotisPakistani

Shimla Mirch Keema (Spiced Minced Beef with Capsicum)

Tender spiced beef mince cooked down with onions and tomatoes, then finished with crisp-tender capsicum for a fresh, green bite. A quick weeknight dinner that goes well with hot rotis.

1 h 10 minServes 4
A karahi of keema karela with browned bitter gourd pieces in spiced beef mince, topped with coriander and gingerPakistani

Keema Karela (Bitter Gourd with Spiced Minced Beef)

Salted and browned bitter gourd cooked into a savoury beef mince masala with onions and tomatoes. The keema softens the bitterness, so it suits both karela lovers and doubters.

1 h 20 minServes 4
Bowl of Pakistani paya with tender trotters in a glossy spiced gravy, garnished with ginger, green chillies and coriander, served with naan and lemon.Pakistani

Paya (Slow-Cooked Trotters)

Goat trotters simmered with onions, yogurt and whole spices until the gravy turns silky and the meat slips off the bone. A classic weekend breakfast to eat with naan.

2 h 50 minServes 6
Bowl of beef haleem topped with fried onions, ginger, green chillies, fresh herbs and a lemon wedgePakistani

Beef Haleem

A thick, slow-simmered porridge of tender beef, wheat and mixed daals, finished with fried onions, ginger and lemon. Cook a big pot for family dinners or gatherings.

4 hServes 8
A copper pot of mutton korma with thick golden-brown gravy, garnished with ginger and coriander, served with naanPakistani

Mutton Korma

Tender bone-in mutton simmered in a rich gravy of browned onions, yogurt, whole spices and ground almonds. A special-occasion curry that is mild, creamy and deeply savoury.

2 h 15 minServes 6
A pot of bhindi gosht with mutton pieces and green okra in a thick red-brown gravy, served with rotiPakistani

Bhindi Gosht

Tender bone-in mutton simmered in an onion and tomato masala, finished with pan-fried okra that stays whole and never turns slimy. A hearty dinner curry to eat with roti.

1 h 50 minServes 6
A pot of dark green Palak Gosht with pieces of mutton, topped with ginger matchsticks, served with roti and lemon wedgesPakistani

Palak Gosht

Tender bone-in mutton simmered in a slow-cooked onion and tomato masala, then finished with a bright spinach purée. A rich, deep green curry for roti or rice.

2 h 5 minServes 6
A pot of Pakistani daal gosht with mutton pieces, garnished with coriander, ginger and garlic tarka, served with rotiPakistani

Daal Gosht

Tender bone-in mutton simmered with chana daal in a well-browned onion and yogurt masala, finished with a sizzling garlic and cumin tarka. A hearty one-pot dinner for roti or rice.

1 h 40 minServes 6
A pot of Pakistani aloo gosht with mutton pieces and potatoes in a rich red-brown gravy, garnished with coriander and ginger, served with roti.Pakistani

Aloo Gosht

A everyday Pakistani home curry of bone-in mutton and soft potatoes in a golden onion and tomato gravy. It is comforting, filling and best scooped up with fresh roti.

2 h 15 minServes 6