Disclaimer: I have received products and been compensated for this post by Loblaws as part of the Food Lovers Unite campaign. As always the post may be sponsored, but the opinions expressed are my own. Food is a powerful thing. It is not just about the nutrients or even just about the flavours, the food […]
The Ultimate Dawat Guide: Cracking the Code on Desi Hosting
Note: this book is no longer for sale, but I will update the post with my best tips! I hear I should write something enthusiastically salesy when talking about an eBook. Something that says that I am about to Solve ALL Your Problems or help you be The Best Ever. Turns out I am not […]
Best Basic No Bake Oreo Crust Cheesecake
The easy dreamy family favorite that no one can resist! This NO Bake Oreo Cheesecake is absolutely spectacular on it's own, but you can dress it up in so many ways! The generous part of me wants to make this creamy dreamy Best Basic No Bake Oreo Cheesecake and share it with loved ones. The […]
Instant Pot Salan Masala - Batch Cooking for the Busy Desi
There are two things that I always say. One is that I come from a long line of practical people (Hi Mama!) and the other that I come from a long line of lovable nerds (Hi Abu!). My entire life my mother has batch cooked her curry masala, portioned it off and frozen it for […]
Sesame Fried Chicken
There are things that mamas make. Like Magic. Things that miraculously appear for unannounced guests or that fussy tot who won't eat. A few years ago I was flying back from Karachi to Toronto with a toddler. Although she is a great traveller now let's just say 1.5 was a rocky age. I was so […]
Chilli Ginger Paper Baked Fish
Parchment paper parcels feel fancy. They just do. My brain knows it takes all of two minutes to wrap up what will be the most succulent tender fish, but when it is done I always look at it with pride akin to this patterned cake I made last year. The cake may have taken a […]
30+ Top Rated Pakistani Chicken Recipes!
There are Pakistani Chicken dishes that make me swoon a little, a great masalaicious tikka, a karahi that has all the flavours, the homemade chicken biryani that you can eat for days. You feel me right? We love chicken for how quick and convenient it is and with our transformative spices and techniques there is […]
The BEST One-Pot Chicken Pulao
The MOST loved recipe on this site, this One Pot Chicken Pulao is weeknight friendly and also great for guests! Tips and tricks for perfect pulao, boneless chicken, and cooking rice in the post. My forever go-to recipe for Pulao. Forever and ever love! Quickest fix ever! Thankyou Sarah!! - Maham Ali You know what's […]
Chicken and Rice Soup with Chillies
This light, nourishing soup that is perfect throughout the year! While daal chawal is always the classic comfort food, some days call for soup. Be it this soup which I think of as my rainy day soup, my easy Instant Pot Tortilla Soup, the desi-ish Hot and Sour, or even a delightfully different Carrot Ginger […]
Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jump to the Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe If my husband has one great food love it's Chocolate Chip Cookies. He likes to say that he used to not eat dessert before we were married. While that may be true to some extent his love of cookies far predates his love for me. As […]
Instant Pot Dal Palak - Pakistani Recipe
A reviewer said "my search for the perfect daal recipe is now over, thanks to you! this turned out delicious!" and we couldn't agree more! Hearty, comforting, and undeniably delicious, this daal always hits the spot! If I wrote an autobiography it would be called The Dal Diaries: Stories of a Reluctant Cook. Dal Roti […]
Baked Chicken Fajitas - An Easy Weeknight Dinner
Jump to the Baked Chicken Fajitas Recipe There are some recipes that are of the one of a kind/ you've rocked my world/why didn't I think of that variety. Then there are some that are so part and parcel of how you cook that you just wouldn't think of them as recipes. I am on […]
Meal Planning 101: How to Save Time & Money
"Aaj kya pakaoun" or "What should I cook today?" is many peoples least favourite sentence in any language. It is not one that I enjoyed answering with any regularity and became one of the reasons I started meal planning several years ago. Once I started though I realized that Meal Planning had more positives than […]
Chinese Beef Chilli Dry - Pakistani Recipe
There are expressions that don't translate into English with the same oomph they have in Urdu. "Gari mein thhoosna" is one of them and it is a hallmark of the Pakistani experience. It basically means to stuff yourselves into the car, and I mean stuff. Somehow in English it doesn't capture the enthusiasm of children […]
Kashmiri Chai - Authentic Pakistani Pink Tea
Want to be a Kashmiri Chai maestro? Follow these step by step instructions for a recipe that provides authentic rich flavour with less than ten minutes of active cooking! Also included: my must know tips and tricks, fixes, and a cheat sheet for scaling it up or down! 🔍 Quick Look: Kashmiri Chai Can't believe […]
Chewy Ginger Cookies w/ Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting & Oh Sweet Day Cookbook
Jump to the Chewy Ginger Cookies with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe I learnt something about myself recently that really surprised me. I have always described myself as a Baker, butter and sugar as my primary loves. Then recently I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of this beautiful cookbook called Oh Sweet […]
Walnut Crumb Cake
It's cold here now. Not very cold, but cold enough. Cold enough for me to want to drink more hot drinks, stay ensconced in my ginormous fluffy robe and bake and eat cake. Especially easy peasy cakes. I was hesitant about sharing my Walnut Crumb Cake recipe because it is such a far departure from […]
Smashed Chilli Potatoes with an Instant Pot shortcut
Jump to the Smashed Chilli Potatoes Recipe Remember that Masala-licios Roast Turkey I had made a little while ago? Well, when I was planning that meal I was trying to think through what to make with it. Chutney - duh, Chawal (Rice) - duh, Parathas - definitely not optional. But it seems a crying shame […]
Khageena - Pakistani Scrambled Eggs w/ Onions and Chillies
Jump to the Khageena Recipe Disclaimer: This post has been sponsored by Egg Farmers of Canada. While I have been monetarily compensated for this blog post, the opinions and love for eggs are my own 🙂 Khageena reminds me of Karachi mornings. Of the still silent heat punctuated by the whirring of the fan, my […]
Quick Whole Wheat Chocolate Muffins
I have scoffed at Chocolate Muffins for a long time because to me they have always sounded like cake for breakfast. Cake for breakfast, pfft. Actually my eldest brother does just that (eat cake for breakfast) every single day and I may have scoffed at that too. Then the other day I woke up and […]
My Desi Roast Turkey with Lahori Chargha Masala and Green Chutney
Jump to the Desi Roast Turkey with Lahori Chargha Masala Recipe "Mama are we really really having a feast today?!" exclaimed my 4 year old when she saw this big gorgeous bird on the table. My 8 year old ran out and followed suit with an enthusiastic "woohoo Thanksgiving!" Since we are all friends here […]
Pakistani Chicken Keema - Methi & Matar
Chicken Keema or Chicken Qeema is quick and convenient and with my tips below you can make a complex tasting one in under 30 minutes! Although I love so very many Pakistani Chicken Recipes, Chicken Keema hasn't always been a natural favourite for me. I grew up with good ol' beef Aloo Qeema and all […]
Kid Friendly Instant Pot Pulled Beef for EVERYTHING
Jump to the Instant Pot Pulled Beef Recipe The kids are back in school now. I want to wax lyrical about the bitter sweetness of that first day back, but somehow two days in that first day seems to be a distant memory. We have quickly gotten back into a routine. The only difference perhaps […]
Shrimp and Coconut Curry in 15 Minutes!
Jump to the 15 Minute Shrimp and Coconut Curry Recipe There is a kind of summer afternoon that is almost magical. The afternoon that is neither too hot nor too cold, pleasantly breezy, and magically mellow. As I sit and type this I hear the gentle swishing of leaves and branches, the lake water lackadaisically […]
Nihari - A Classic Pakistani Dish
A one pot authentic Nihari recipe that simplifies cooking Nihari! Keep reading for everything you need to do about making your masala, buying your meat, and cooking it stove top or in the Instant Pot! There are a few Pakistani recipes that can stand on their own. That don't need a second fiddle, a side, […]
Pakistani Dum ka Keema - Spicy Smoked Ground Beef
A traditional, authentic, deep, rich, smoky dum ka keema or smoked ground beef recipe that wows! There are foods that I think of as Paratha foods, the kinds where even the tenderest chapati does not have the same oomph. A good Dum ka Keema, spicy, smoky, heady punctured with the brightness of mint, the boldness […]
No Oil Lemon Pickle (Achar) - Khattay Leemoo
Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Bernardin and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. Looking for a simple, easy to make, clean tasting no oil lemon pickle? This is it right here! This easy no oil lemon pickle belongs to the category of things that elevate humble delicious "ghar […]
Chawal ki Kheer - Pakistani Rice Pudding
Jump to the Chawal ki Kheer Recipe In Urdu there is this expression - "haath ka maza" - it literally translates to the taste in someones hand, but is a nod to the idea that there is an intrinsic style to everyone's cooking. My MIL is our resident expert chawal ki kheer maker, while this […]
Beautiful Vanilla Bean Buttercream Ala Prairie Girl
Jump to the Vanilla Bean Buttercream Recipe Some of you may already know this, but my husband and I have two daughters. After the birth of my older one my husband would often say that when she wants something he is eating he doesn't feel any resentment. I feel that way too - most of […]
Kala Chana or Kalay Chanay in an Instant Pot
Kalay Chanay that are full flavored, easy to make, delicious on their own, with rice or served along side Dahi Baray! What are Kalay Chanay? Kalay Chanay which literally translate to Black Chickpeas come from a variation on the chickpea plant that produces a protein rich legume. They have a hardy outer skin and an […]
Homemade Pakora Mix for Perfect Pakoras
The perfectly spiced Homemade Pakora Mix to simplify your life! Pakoras are a classic Ramadan Recipe (and rainy season too!). Prepping a big batch of the mix means you can fry a few whenever the urge strikes! Details on How to Make (and heat) Pakoras in the post. I have said it before and I […]
The BEST Easy Marble Cake with Oil
A lovely tender crumbed Marble Cake made extra easy and moist with oil! Why Use Oil in a Cake? Oil. Marble Cake with Oil. Yes, I know, I know, that just sounds... meh. Stay with me a minute though. Oil is not as sexy sounding as butter, I know this, but there is a method […]
Roasted Mushrooms with Spicy Thai Dressing
Jump to the Roasted Mushrooms with Spicy Thai Dressing Recipe So, quick show of hands, where are we at on the subject of swearing in blog posts? Because let me tell you, I have spent the last week of spring dealing with freezing rain, snow, and ice. Turns out the groundhog was right. On the […]
Thai Fish Tray Bake
An easy thai green curry inspired flavorful fix that's no fuss with incredible results! It's getting warmer. I left the house without my puffer the other day. It felt quite liberating. Don't laugh. Not unless you get winters like ours in which case it is a laughter of commiseration and I sort of want to […]
A No Tomato Smoky Highway Karhai Chicken
Jump to the No Tomato Karhai Chicken Recipe If you had asked me if I had ever had a Karhai Chicken without tomatoes I would have firmly insisted no. And then I did and it all came back to me. Cramming into cars to go to the highly recommended highway restaurant, the charpoys and takhts […]
Yakhni Pulao Recipe Made Quicker with an Instant Pot
Jump to the Yakhni Pulao Recipe I recently ran a poll on my Insta Stories where I said cooking for me ranges from feeling like therapy to full on torture and asked where you stood. Most people leant towards therapy, but the bulk of you that messaged me said that it is compulsion that kills […]
Classic Creamy Chocolate Mousse
Jump to the Classic Creamy Chocolate Mousse Recipe I learnt how to make this Creamy Chocolate Mousse from Betty Crocker. I wish I was kidding, because hell that's way uncool, but it is the truth. Growing up I had this Betty Crocker recipe book, it was the size of a drugstore paperback and some 600 […]
"Phitti Hui Coffee" or Whipped Coffee - a Pakistani Latte
Whipped Coffee, Dalgona Coffee, Expresso, a Latte - a coffee called by many names, this is and will forever be Phitti Hui Coffee for me. Read below to learn how to make the fluffiest mix for a crowd! (or to save for the week!) Do you remember the 2002 Football World Cup? I do. Brazil […]
Gobi Gosht - a Meat and Cauliflower Stew for the Soul
Jump to the Gobi Gosht Recipe There are some foods that have a visceral appeal, where even before you take a bite, every sense of yours knows what to expect. The tender tear of the paratha, the firm delicate swoosh into the masala, a piece of bread picking up heady spiced beef and the gentler […]
Strawberry Jam Bars - Only 6 Ingredients!
Jump to the Strawberry Jam Bars Recipe My 7 year old is a Jam Snob. When I made these Strawberry Jam Bars she politely ate one then after our friends had gone she looked at me and said "So I wasn't a big fan of the bars. You see, I liked the top and the […]
Shallots with Coconut and Tamarind
Jump to the Shallots with Coconut and Tamarind Recipe If you start cooking Pakistani food somewhere in your teens, out of compulsion more than passion, then at some point it is starts feeling mundane. Like you're running through the motions to achieve a certain result, but none of it excites you. Maybe you're cooler than […]
Chanay ki Daal ka Halwa
Ultra rich and flavorful chana dal halwa that is luxurious in texture and taste - tips and tricks in post! If you're in the mood for a rich, comforting dessert that marries tradition with flavor, look no further than Chanay Ki Daal Halwa. This sweet dish, made with chickpeas (chanay ki daal), whole milk, and […]