Skip to content

All recipes

Filter by cuisine, meal, ingredient, time and diet. Filters combine, so “Vegetarian + Indian + Dinner + under 30 minutes” works.

Pakistani Clear all

112 recipes

Bowl of creamy pale green mint raita topped with roasted cumin, chilli powder and fresh mint leavesPakistani

Mint Raita

A cooling, pale green yogurt side with fresh mint, roasted cumin and a little green chilli. Serve it beside biryani, pulao or grilled meat to calm the heat.

12 minServes 4
A plate of golden crispy fish pakoras with mint chutney, tamarind chutney and lemon wedgesPakistani

Fish Pakoras

Bite-sized boneless fish coated in a spiced gram flour and rice flour batter, fried until crisp outside and flaky inside. Ideal with tea or as an Iftar starter.

50 minServes 4
Golden fried aloo samosas on a plate, one broken open to show potato and pea filling, with chutneys beside themPakistani

Aloo Samosa

Flaky, blistered pastry filled with spiced potato, peas and crushed coriander seed. Make a batch for iftar, tea time or guests, and fry them slowly for a crisp shell.

1 h 30 minServes 6
Golden crispy Chicken Broast pieces served with fries, garlic mayo, ketchup and lemon wedgesPakistani

Chicken Broast

Brined, yogurt-marinated chicken in a double-dredged, peppery flour crust, fried until deep gold and crisp. It's the Pakistani takeaway favourite, made in an ordinary deep pot at home.

2 h 35 minServes 4
Charred red tandoori chicken legs served with onion rings, lemon wedges and green chutneyPakistani

Tandoori Chicken

Bone-in chicken legs marinated overnight in spiced yogurt, then roasted in a hot home oven until charred at the edges and juicy inside. No tandoor needed.

1 h 15 minServes 4
Whole roasted chicken sajji with spiced rice stuffing, roasted potatoes and lemon wedges on a wooden boardPakistani

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.

2 h 15 minServes 4
Tawa Chicken with green chillies, ginger and coriander served in a cast-iron tawaPakistani

Tawa Chicken

Yogurt-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 minServes 4
Skewers of creamy grilled chicken malai boti with lemon wedges, onion rings and green chutney on a slate boardPakistani

Chicken Malai Boti

Tender 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 minServes 4
Golden grilled reshmi chicken kababs on skewers with mint chutney, onion rings, lemon and naanPakistani

Reshmi Kabab

Silky, pale golden chicken kababs made with a cashew and cream paste, so they stay tender and juicy. Easy to grill on a pan, in the oven or over charcoal.

1 h 5 minServes 4
Skewers of charred, red-orange chicken tikka boti served with onions, lemon wedges, chutney and naanPakistani

Chicken Tikka Boti

Juicy cubes of boneless chicken marinated in spiced yogurt, skewered and grilled until charred at the edges. A weekend barbecue favourite you can make in a hot oven.

4 h 45 minServes 4
Golden shallow-fried shami kababs on a plate with green chutney, lemon wedges and sliced onionsPakistani

Shami Kabab

Soft, well-spiced patties of beef and split chickpeas, with a fresh mint, onion and green chilli centre. Shallow-fried until crisp outside, they suit tea time and Ramadan tables.

1 h 30 minServes 6
Golden brown chapli kababs on a slate board with naan, onion rings, lemon wedges and green chutneyPakistani

Chapli Kabab

Wide, 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 minServes 6
A pot of mixed vegetable curry with potato, carrot, green beans, cauliflower and peas in a red-orange masala, served with rotiPakistani

Mix Sabzi

An everyday mixed vegetable curry with potato, carrot, beans, cauliflower and peas in a soft onion-tomato masala. Simple to make with ordinary vegetables, and it goes well with roti.

1 h 5 minServes 4
A pot of golden tahiri rice with potatoes and green peas, garnished with fresh coriander and mintPakistani

Tahiri

A one-pot vegetarian rice dish of golden basmati cooked with potatoes, peas and whole spices. It is simple, filling and ready in under an hour, ideal for an easy weekday lunch.

56 minServes 4
A plate of golden fried chicken pakoras with mint chutney, lemon wedges and onion ringsPakistani

Chicken Pakoras

Bite-sized pieces of marinated chicken in a spiced gram flour batter, fried until crisp outside and juicy within. Ideal for iftar, tea time or rainy afternoons.

1 h 5 minServes 4
Golden fried vegetable spring rolls on a plate, one cut open to show cabbage and carrot filling, with chilli saucePakistani

Vegetable Spring Rolls

Crisp, golden rolls filled with cabbage, carrot and capsicum in a peppery soy and garlic seasoning. A Ramadan and tea-time favourite that can be rolled ahead and fried when guests arrive.

1 h 5 minServes 6
Golden gol gappay shells on a platter with a jug of green mint pani and bowls of chickpea fillingPakistani

Gol Gappay

Crisp hollow semolina shells filled with spiced chickpeas and potato, then topped with cold mint-tamarind water. A street-food favourite you can make at home for iftar or a party.

1 h 15 minServes 6
Anda shami burger with a golden shami patty, fried egg, fresh salad and chilli mayo in a toasted bun on a wooden boardPakistani

Anda Shami Burger

A street-style burger with a soft chicken and chana daal shami patty, a fried egg on top and a garlicky chilli mayo. Cook the patties ahead and finish in minutes.

1 h 25 minServes 4
Bun kabab with a golden egg-coated beef patty, onion, tomato and green chutney in a toasted bun on a wooden boardPakistani

Bun Kabab

A spiced beef and potato patty, dipped in egg and shallow-fried until golden, then tucked into a toasted bun with mint chutney, onion and tomato. It is the classic Karachi street-side snack, easy to make at home.

1 h 10 minServes 6
Golden shallow-fried aloo tikki potato patties served with mint and tamarind chutneysPakistani

Aloo Tikki

Golden shallow-fried potato patties with a crisp crust and soft, spiced centre. Serve them hot with tamarind or mint chutney for a filling tea-time snack.

50 minServes 4
Chicken roll parathas with one cut open to show spiced chicken, mint yogurt sauce and onionsPakistani

Chicken Roll Paratha

Tender spiced chicken strips, a cool mint-yogurt sauce and crunchy onions rolled inside a flaky, golden paratha. It's a filling street-style snack you can make at home in under an hour.

1 h 15 minServes 4
Golden fried chicken samosas on a plate with one split open showing spiced chicken mince, served with chutneysPakistani

Chicken Samosa

Golden, flaky samosas filled with dry-cooked spiced chicken mince, fresh mint and a squeeze of lemon. Make them from scratch with a simple ajwain dough, ideal for Ramadan iftar or tea time.

1 h 25 minServes 6