Mealtime Feasts from Pakistan

Explore Pakistan's food culture through the diverse eating traditions of Lahore, Karachi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from breaking fast to hearty dinners.

Freshly baked naan (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Mealtime in Pakistan

The love for good food transcends all walks of life in Pakistan, across every province. From breakfast to lunch and dinner, homes and streets serve an astonishing variety of homemade culinary delights, providing families with an abundance of choices to savor and enjoy.

Murgh channay with naan and salad (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Breakfast in Lahore

Lahore sets the tone for a vibrant breakfast experience, offering an abundance of choices to suit every palate. From sweet to savory, the city presents a plethora of options, ensuring a delightful start to your day. 

Puri being fried (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Breakfast Items

Weekends and holidays witness Lahoris' fondness for Halwa-Puri, a beloved delicacy. The luscious semolina halwa, paired with piping hot fried puris, creates a delightful symphony of flavors, leaving taste buds enchanted.

For those who prefer a more savoury affair, Murgh Chana or Naan Chana (chicken cooked with chickpeas), served with hot kulcha (leavened sesame bread) hits the spot for an early meal.

Equally delicious and hearty are the Phajji Paya (mutton or beef trotters) simmered overnight in a spicy gravy again to be soaked up with hot naan bread on the side, particularly in the winter months.

Murgh channay with naan and salad, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Paye served, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Fresh naan, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Semolina Halwa, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Puri being fried, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Halwa Puri (6), From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Close Up of biryani, grains of rice, chicken and potato pieces (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Lunch in Karachi

As we venture down to the bustling port city of Karachi during lunchtime, a delightful array of rice dishes awaits. From the fiery flavors of biryani to the aromatic allure of kabuli pulao, the choices can be overwhelming, to say the least.

Cooked lentil (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Daal Chaawal

Across all walks of life, the humble combination of daal and chaawal (rice and lentils) enjoys widespread popularity. It holds a cherished place on every household's table, establishing itself as a cherished mealtime tradition, with its comforting flavors .

Daal chaawal & biryani is staple on the streets and the homes of Karachi. It is perhaps the most common lunch dish for most people in the city, specially on Fridays.


Kebab rolls too offer a quick, easy to transport bite of deliciousness in a compact package. With a crisp paratha (fried bread) exterior with your choice of freshly grilled meat (usually chicken or beef) doused in oodles of fresh chutney and thinly sliced onions and cucumbers all in one.

Red split lentils is often eaten in homes with spiced rice and other accompaniments, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Servers scoop up grains of rice from the Biryani Degh, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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A plate of Biryani, Raita & Zarda (sweetened rice), 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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The lunchtime Biryani Degh (large metal pot), 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Roll in the making, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Mixed chaat, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Fried Samosas (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Tea Time Snacks

Indulging in snacks is a beloved pastime for the locals, especially when evening hunger strikes. Chaat becomes the go-to choice, with options like refreshing dahi bara and spicy bhel puri. Equally beloved are samosas and crispy pakoras, satiating hunger pangs until dinner. 

Multiple karahis (vessels) being prepared over high flame (2020)SOCH Outreach Foundation

Dinner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

As the day draws to a close, we delve into the culinary wonders of Khayber Pakhtunkhwa. Here, a remarkable feast of meat dishes awaits, showcasing the region's exceptional flavors and traditions.

In Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, grilled meats and kebabs are legendary across the length and breadth of the sub-continent. From charsi tikkas (lamb or chicken chunks seasoned and grilled with just salt and pepper) to the robust karahi options (meat cooked in special vessels with tomatoes and spices).

Multiple karahis (vessels) being prepared over coal, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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A Karahi (vessel) with braised meat, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Skewered meat cooking over a coal fire, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Close Up of a cooked karahi (vessel), 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Frying the meat, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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Top shot of Chapli kabab, 2020, From the collection of: SOCH Outreach Foundation
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To the eponymous chapli kebab (fried meat patties with dried pomegranate and coriander seeds) – the choices are seemingly endless and a meat coma is definitely on the cards for all visitors and locals alike. The use of spices is more subtle here than other regions of the country, but the farm-raised produce offered here, guarantees succulence and taste in every mouthful and there is no chance of having a bland culinary experience!

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: Karim Baig , Murtaza Ali
Photography Editor: Karim Baig
Additional Video & Photography: Khurram Victor
Exhibits Writer: Nazia Latif , Sameer Khan
Exhibits : Syed Ayub , Sameer Khan
Art Direction : Rahat Niazi  
Associate Producer : Asad Pabani
Video Editors: Nina Zehri, Farhad Jamali 
Color Grade: Sourath Behan
Additional Video Editing: Mishal Adhami 
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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