Archive for shaggysthefoodvilla

Well, it turns out Pilau / Pulao (how do you spell it?!) isn’t really that difficult. It’s actually quite simple, now that I have the hang of it. I can probably name 5 other Pakistani dishes I find more difficult than Pilau. Which is a relief, because A. my husband really likes my Pilau, B. […]

Bhuna Gosht Masala, or Lamb Bhuna as it more commonly known as, is a delicious and rich dinner which takes minimal effort and provides such a maximal return of flavours! It requires a basic set of ingredients and spices, so no jumping through hoops of fire for this one. But truly, this is such a […]

What is Zarda? Zarda is a traditional Pakistani sweet dish made with rice, sugar, nuts and cardamom seeds. The name Zarda comes from the Urdu word ‘Zard’, which means yellow – this is why Zarda is often a very bright hue of yellow or orange!. How do you make Zarda? The recipe I’ve seen the […]

Name me one thing that doesn’t taste better with a few dollops of cream, a knob or so of butter, a splash of milk, a lashing of ghee. I’ll bet you’re having a hard time thinking up something. It’s no secret these things all enhance the awesome-factor of pretty much anything you’re cooking – and […]

Often, she would reply ‘Yes, we have kheer/halwa/sawaiyan/gajrela/xyz Desi dessert in the fridge’ and I would sigh, wishing there was a decadent slice of chocolate cake waiting for me instead. I still would like a decadent slice of chocolate cake, mind you, but now a serving of kheer magically sounds a lot more appealing than it did before. In […]

What is urad daal? Urad daal is black gram lentils, split and husked, revealing a smaller, white variety of lentils. Black gram lentils are, rather confusingly, also sometimes called urad lentils, but the proper Urdu word for it is ‘sabut urad daal’, or ‘whole urad daal’. The white lentils we’re cooking with in this recipe are […]

What makes this Kofta Curry so good? Using a number of family resources, my own taste testing and just general desire to cook an out-of-the-ordinary dinner, I’ve developed this recipe and I think it has that ‘wow’ factor. This is thanks to: the freshly roasted and ground spices – the warm and earthy undertones of […]

There are some dishes in Pakistani cuisine that really don’t need an introduction. Biryani, Pilau, Korma… they all speak for themselves. A delicious, well made mutton Karahi is also in this elite category. Often found on the menus of dhabbas and restaurants all around Pakistan, served on special occasions and get-togethers, Karahi is just the epitome of good Pakistani […]

Traditionally, Roghni Naan are Naans which are made using white flour, yogurt, milk and butter in a super hot clay oven, called a tandoor. They’re sprinkled with a hearty helping of sesame seeds and nigella seeds (kalonji) which leave a delicious, savoury aftertaste. There are some curries with which only a good Naan will do. A […]