Eid dawat menu: 15 festive recipes
Biryani, qorma, kebabs and something sweet: everything you need to plan an Eid lunch or dinner for family and guests.
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1 Pakistani · 1 h 30 min · serves 6
Chicken Biryani
Layers of long-grain basmati and a tangy, spiced chicken masala, steamed together until every grain stays separate. Made with potatoes and dried plums, the way many Karachi homes make it.
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2 Pakistani · 4 h 30 min · serves 6
Beef Nihari
Beef shank slow-cooked in a spiced gravy thickened with toasted flour. A weekend project that mostly cooks itself.
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3 Pakistani · 1 h · serves 6
Chawal ki Kheer
Rice simmered slowly in milk with cardamom until creamy, finished with pistachios and almonds. Serve chilled in clay bowls.
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4 Pakistani · 2 h 15 min · serves 6
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.
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5 Pakistani · 1 h 25 min · serves 6
Chicken Korma
A mild, creamy Pakistani chicken korma built on yogurt, golden fried onions and ground almonds. It is rich but gentle, so it suits family dinners and guests.
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6 Pakistani · 2 h 45 min · serves 6
Sindhi Biryani
A 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.
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7 Indian · 2 h 30 min · serves 6
Lucknowi Mutton Biryani
A fragrant Awadhi-style biryani of tender bone-in mutton and long basmati rice, gently spiced and finished with saffron, kewra and fried onions, then sealed and steamed on dum.
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8 Indian · 2 h · serves 6
Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
Bone-in chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, layered with par-boiled basmati, fried onions, herbs and saffron, then sealed and cooked on dum. Best made for a weekend table; allow 2 hours for marinating.
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9 Pakistani · 2 h 15 min · serves 4
Chicken Sajji
A 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.
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10 Pakistani · 2 h 35 min · serves 6
Beef Biryani
Tender 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.
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11 Pakistani · 3 h · serves 6
Mutton Biryani with Golden Fried Onions and Dum
Tender 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.
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12 Pakistani · 55 min · serves 8
Lab-e-Shireen
A chilled Pakistani dessert of vanilla custard, cream, soft vermicelli, red jelly cubes and fresh fruit, finished with almonds and pistachios. It suits Eid tables and dinner parties.
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13 Pakistani · 1 h 15 min · serves 8
Shahi Tukray
Golden fried bread slices soaked in saffron-cardamom syrup and topped with thickened sweet rabri-style milk and pistachios. A rich dessert for Eid, dawats and weddings.
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14 Pakistani · 1 h 40 min · serves 6
Firni
A silky, chilled milk pudding thickened with coarsely ground basmati rice and scented with cardamom and kewra. It sets softly in small bowls and suits Eid tables and dinner parties.
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15 Pakistani · 1 h 20 min · serves 6
Zarda
Zarda is a golden sweet rice scented with cardamom and kewra, layered with sugar, ghee, nuts and raisins, then steamed on dum. A festive dessert for weddings, Eid and special dinners.
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