In the Heart of Chitral's Kitchens

Mishi, a Chitral specialty, offers a unique take on salad. This delightful dish combines roughly mashed, small, local kidney beans with freshly crushed walnuts, chopped tomatoes, onions, and coriander. The ingredients are bound together with a generous drizzle of walnut oil.

Ghalmandi consists of layered flatbreads (chapatis) stacked with a scrumptious filling of freshly prepared paneer cheese, finely chopped coriander, and chives, all crowned with a generous drizzle of walnut oil.

The process for making the filling for the Cheera shapik is similar to making béchamel sauce. Milk is heated in a pan to which flour or whole wheat flour is slowly added and mixed thoroughly till it reaches the right consistency.

Once the white sauce is cooled, a thick layer is spread on each flatbread.

The sauce for the Cheera Shapik is spread to cover its entire surface.

Another flatbread of similar size is placed on top of the sauce-covered flatbread and the process repeated.

Finely chop tomatoes, onions, coriander, and crush walnuts. Keep them separate with kidney beans in individual dishes for easy access and organisation during cooking.

Hand-crush freshly milled walnuts using a mincer, releasing their vibrant flavors and creating a delightful texture.

Soak small red kidney beans overnight, then boil them to perfection. Process the boiled beans through a mincing machine until a velvety smooth texture is achieved.

Combine kidney beans and crushed walnuts in a mixing bowl. Add freshly pressed walnut oil to lubricate and enrich the mixure. Season with salt for a perfect balance of flavors and a harmonious blend that tantalizes the taste buds.

Gently mix together all the finely chopped and crushed ingredients in a bowl. Stir together, ensuring that all elements are incorporated thoroughly to create a cohesive mixture bursting with flavors.

Mishi salad is ready to be served.

Combine the freshly prepared cheese and herb filling for Ghalmandi with a small amount of milk and a pinch of salt, ensuring a creamy and well-seasoned mixture.

Place spoonfuls of the cottage cheese mixture generously on the surface of a flatbread.

Delicately spread the cheese in a smooth layer, ensuring it covers the entire surface of the flatbread, resulting in a delectable and evenly distributed cheese coating.

Position a second flatbread atop the cheese-covered base, and repeat the layering process to build upon the flavorful foundation. This step ensures a harmonious stack, allowing the delectable components to meld together perfectly.

Place the final flatbread atop the layered stack. Cut the assembled bread into sections. Finish the dish with a drizzle of walnut oil over the top to coat the bread, infusing it with a touch of richness and enhancing the overall presentation.