IndianButter ChickenTender yogurt-marinated chicken in a silky tomato, butter and cashew sauce. Mildly spiced and creamy, it's an easy family dinner with naan or rice.1 h 25 min·Serves 4
PakistaniChicken Steam RoastChicken pieces are marinated in spiced yogurt, steamed over sliced onions until tender, then roasted with butter until browned at the edges. The result is juicy meat and a small pot of onion gravy on the side.1 h 25 min·Serves 4
PakistaniKaleji MasalaTender cubes of goat liver cooked quickly in a thick onion-tomato masala and finished with fresh ginger, green chilli and lemon. Ready in under an hour and lovely with hot roti.55 min·Serves 4
PakistaniBihari BotiThin beef strips tenderised with raw papaya, marinated in roasted spices, poppy seeds and mustard oil, slow-cooked until soft, then grilled for charred edges. Lovely with paratha or naan.6 h 50 min·Serves 4
PakistaniChicken SajjiA whole chicken rubbed with garlic, pepper and raw papaya, then roasted with a fragrant rice and raisin stuffing until the skin is deep gold. A showpiece dinner made in a home oven.2 h 15 min·Serves 4
PakistaniTawa ChickenYogurt-marinated chicken thigh seared on a flat tawa, then cooked down with tomatoes, green chilli and ginger into a thick, spicy masala. Good with hot rotis.1 h 10 min·Serves 4
PakistaniChicken Malai BotiTender boneless chicken pieces marinated in cream, cheese, cashew and white pepper, then grilled until lightly browned. Mild, rich and juicy, with no red chilli.45 min·Serves 4
PakistaniChapli KababWide, flat beef patties packed with crushed coriander seed, pomegranate seed, tomato and green chilli, then cooked on a hot griddle until crisp at the edges and juicy inside.1 h 10 min·Serves 6
PakistaniBeef BiryaniTender yogurt-marinated beef and soft potatoes in a thick masala, layered with long-grain basmati, mint and fried onions, then steamed on dum. A proper family dinner for a weekend.2 h 35 min·Serves 6
PakistaniMutton Biryani with Golden Fried Onions and DumTender bone-in mutton cooked in a yogurt and tomato masala, layered with par-cooked basmati, fried onions and mint, then steamed on dum until fragrant. A proper centrepiece for weekend dinners.3 h·Serves 6
PakistaniSindhi BiryaniA tangy, herb-heavy mutton biryani from Sindh, layered with fried potatoes, dried plums and green chillies. It's spicier and more sour than most biryanis, and it makes a full dinner for a crowd.2 h 45 min·Serves 6
PakistaniBeef Pulao with Browned Onions and Whole SpicesA 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 min·Serves 4
PakistaniMutton Yakhni PulaoFragrant 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 min·Serves 6
PakistaniChicken Yakhni PulaoA 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 min·Serves 5
PakistaniPrawn KarahiJuicy 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 min·Serves 4
PakistaniFish Tikka with Ajwain and Mustard Oil MarinadeFirm 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 min·Serves 4
PakistaniMasala Fish CurryFirm 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 min·Serves 4
PakistaniLahori Fried FishCrisp, 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 min·Serves 4
PakistaniLahori CharghaChicken 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 h·Serves 4
PakistaniChicken AchariBone-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 min·Serves 6
PakistaniKunna GoshtBone-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 min·Serves 6
PakistaniDum ka KeemaYogurt-marinated beef mince cooked down until rich, then sealed and steamed on low heat with golden onions, mint and ginger. It is dry, deeply savoury and full of aroma.1 h 20 min·Serves 4
PakistaniShimla Mirch KeemaTender 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 min·Serves 4
PakistaniKeema KarelaSalted 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 min·Serves 4