For today’s recipe, I am going for one ultra delicious curry from Pakistan.
The funniest thing is; for a very long time, I had thought Indian and Pakistani food were one and the same! Simply because the namings are the same, and the overall flavour range, for my then inexperienced palate, were almost identical. The look of the food, the colours, the aromas… all were one to me! With time, especially once my palate got a little more used to the heat – which was the only thing I could experience at first! – I realised that the two cuisines are very different, each being unique and exquisite in different ways. I love both cuisines with passion, and at times find that no other food can put the crave to rest!
My flavour detectives always welcome the more delicate Indian curries, biryanis, and grills. There is a soothing side to the creaminess, the aroma and the melt in your mouth quality. However the bolder, spicier, perfumed quality of Pakistani food fascinates me! The food is pungent, present and full of character. This is the type of food that demands your attention. One that has you wonder: what is in it? One that makes you think, how did these cooks come up with these flavour combinations? Then after all, leaves you thinking you had one heck of a meal!
This talk is reminding me of a chat I had with Saba Wahid, a Pakistani chef and presenter, who was telling me that “most people mistake Pakistani cuisine with Indian cuisine, which has resulted in Pakistani cuisine to become somewhat underrated. You hear many people describe an exquisite Indian meal, which by description turns out to be Pakistani!”. She was saying that “it is disappointing that due to this mix up Pakistani cuisine is not getting the attention it should be getting”. I could not agree more with her, because Pakistani food is one that should be acknowledged on its own. It is brilliant!
This chicken curry is delightful. I love it! I am not exactly the expert on Pakistani food, but I do know some tricks 😉 So this is my take on this Pakistani Chicken Curry. Do try it, here is how it’s made…