Waad: A Story of Salt

Away from today’s highly refined cooking essentials, the people of Pasni continue producing their own salt. This mineral-enriched salt tastes radically different from table salt.

The Pools of waad salt (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Salt Making Process

The production process of Pasni salt is intricately designed. Locals begin by excavating a ten-foot pit in the earth, ensuring the seawater can flood in. This demands a power generator and the establishment of a pipeline system.

The waad salt (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Salt processing quickens at elevated temperatures. In heated conditions, it matures in fifteen to twenty days during summer, while requiring two and a half months in winters.

Pasni Waad Salt (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Salt Protections

The salt must be protected from rain at all times or else its chemical bonds loosen and get wasted entirely. 

This method yields two distinct salt types: one for culinary use and another serving as a preservative for fish and other commodities.

Pasni's Salty Connection (2023)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Pasni's Waad Connection

Watch our film about Pasni and its connection to its waad (salt).

Waad Chicken (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Waad Murgh (Salt Baked Chicken)

While there are many dishes that use the Pasni Waad (locally produced salt) during its preparation, two unique preparations that use this ingredient are Waad Murgh (salt-baked chicken) and Waad Fish qeema (minced fish). They are prepared on special occasions in households in Pasni.

Chef making a layer of salt in the pan (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Step 1

Add a layer of salt at the bottom of the pan.

Using a aluminium foil to cover the waad (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Step 2

The cook layers the surface of a pot with foil paper onto which he places copious amounts of salt. He continues to layer the pot with foil. 

Adding turmeric to the chicken (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Step 3

In a separate pan, local spices and oil are added to the chicken, which is then left aside to marinate.

Waad Chicken cooks with the heat of the dish with Waad underneath it (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Step 4

The marinated chicken is placed on the last layer of foil before it is tightly closed.

Waad Chicken (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Step 5

As the chicken is steamed and cooked till tender, it takes on the unique flavor of the salt underneath.

Waad fish minced meat (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Waad (Salt) Fish

Another example of a dish that especially relies on this type of salt is ‘Waad Machli Qeema’ (Minced Fish).

The chef begins by boiling the fish at high heat and then adds sea salt to the concoction. He drains the water out once the fish is softened and then begins crushing it into a minced state. He then adds different hand-crushed spices and salt after which, the fish meat is sautéed in oil with some green onions.

Surmai Fish being soaked in water, 2021, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Checking the fish with a knife, 2021, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Mincing the fish with hands, 2021, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Adding red spices to the minced fish meat, 2021, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Adding red chilli spice to the pan, 2021, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Adding the fish minced meat to the spice curry, 2021, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Mixing the fish minced meat with the spice curry (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Prepared minced fish.

Waad fish minced meat and Waad chicken (2021)SOCH Outreach Foundation

The Waad Connection

The people of Pasni get these salts for free and use them for their everyday meals. This centuries-old practice might be assisted by technology today but its generous and pure essence remains the same.

Credits: Story

Produced by SOC Films 
Project Director: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy 
Producers: Syed Ayub, Sameer Khan 
Project Manager: Huma Shah 
Director of Photography: Murtaza Ali 
Photography: Asad Amaan, Murtaza Ali 
Photography Editor: Murtaza Ali 
Additional Video & Photography: Khurram Victor 
Exhibits Writer: Raania Durrani 
Exhibits : Syed Ayub, Sameer Khan 
Video Editors: Sourath Behan, Asad Amaan, Nina Zehri 
Color Grade: Sourath Behan, Asad Amaan
Sound Design: Sameer Khan 

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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