For Pakistan boys and girls everywhere tired of asking “Khaanay main kya hai” and hearing “mera sur, kha lo” (What’s there to eat?; My head, eat it)
Are you no longer being fed by your parents? Are you above the age of 18? Do you live alone and survive on instant noodles? Has your millennial status ensured that ‘adulting’ (i.e. knowledge of essential life skills) is hard? If you have answered ‘Yes’ to two or more of these questions, then congratulations on finding this post!
We have noted down 10 basic recipes/ dishes that everyone should know how to cook in order to survive and respectfully call themselves an adult.
- Daal Chawal
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This is an absolute staple in any Pakistani household. If you know nothing else, learn how to make daal chawal. The versatility of this lentil and rice dish knows no bounds. Pair it with kababs, fried potatoes, kachumar salad, achaar (pickle), basically anything!
- Chai
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Chai is LIFE. Whether you make chai with loose tea leaves, tea bags or prefer doodh patti, become a master at it!
- Aloo ki sabzi
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Read: Potato Recipes Everyone Loves
The simplest vegetable to work with is the most popular vegetable too- the mighty potato. You can never go wrong with bhurta, aloo ki katliyan, or a simple tomato gravy with potatoes.
Read: Aloo ki tarkari: nostalgia and a recipe
- Pakistani Eggs (khageena)
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When there are no ingredients at home and all you have are some eggs lying around, make yourself a delicious Pakistani omelet with our signature desi spices (salt, red chili powder, onion, coriander) or whip up a khageena (spicy scrambled eggs with veggies) to be enjoyed with parathas.
Related: The Best Khageena Recipe Ever
- Karhai
Chicken karhai may seem daunting, but it is one of those basic dishes that need to be learnt for a change of pace in your weekly menu. Once you learn this, your friends will be flocking over to your house and will be completely assured that you can cook.
- Keema
Aloo Keema, dum ka keema, hari mirch keema; there are so many variations of minced meat that you can make. Added bonus: cooked keema (sans potatoes) freezes really well, so you can easily cook a large batch and freeze some for later.
- Bhindi
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Bhindi or ladyfingers, can be cooked with onions, tomatoes and minimal spices (salt, chili, a dash of turmeric), or they can be sliced thinly, tossed in some spices and chickpea flour and fried to crispy perfection. Once you’ve mastered this basic sabzi, you’ll be able to cook ANY vegetable without trouble.
- Khichdi
For those days when you have an upset stomach or just want to eat something light, khichdi is your best friend. A simple mixture of rice and lentils, this is a no-fuss, easy-to-prepare dish which tastes great with yogurt and kababs
- Chowmein
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Noodles of any kind, really. Chowmein, however, is a basic noodle recipe that you can adapt to your liking. Add chicken/ shrimp/ tofu, vegetables, soy sauce, chili sauce, or anything you enjoy the taste of and stir fry together before adding the noodles of your choice.
- Sheer Khurma
The most basic, basic Pakistani dessert is easily sheer khurma. Absolutely essential for Eid and simple enough to make when you just feel like having something sweet.
Once you’ve mastered these recipes, you will officially be capable of adult-ing (in the kitchen at the very least). What else would you add to this list?
