Chitrali cuisine facts for kids
Chitrali cuisine (Urdu: چترالی پکوان) is the special food of the Chitrali people. They live in the northern part of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and near the Nuristan province in Afghanistan. Unlike some other foods in Pakistan, Chitrali food is quite unique to its region. It's very similar to the food found in nearby Gilgit-Baltistan.
A popular dish for big gatherings is Pilaf, often made with very tender beef. The meat is served on top of the rice. People in Chitral enjoy salty buttered tea, green tea, and a very bitter black tea called Troq Chai (sour tea). Honey, cheese, and fresh fruits are also important parts of their diet. This is because these foods come from their local mountain farms.
You can also see the influence of Punjab in the popularity of lamb and chicken karahi. Uzbek dumplings, called mantu, are also very popular. Dried apricots (chambor) and mulberries (kitori) are key foods. They are also sent to other parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Arab countries.
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Breads: Delicious Daily Staples
Chitrali cuisine features a variety of unique breads. These breads are often eaten at different times of the day.
Tikki: A Long-Lasting Loaf
Tikki is a thick, leavened bread. It is baked over hot coals in a special mold. Because of its hard crust, tikki can stay fresh for many weeks. People often eat it for breakfast or in the afternoon.
Khesta: The Spongy Griddle Bread
Khesta is a bread made from a liquid batter. This batter is allowed to ferment, which gives the bread a slightly sour taste. It is cooked on a griddle and has a soft, spongy texture.
Phulka: The Everyday Flatbread
Phulka is the common flatbread found across South Asia. It is similar to what many people know as chapatti.
Rishiki: Thin Pancakes for Any Meal
Rishiki are thin pancakes, much like crepes. They are made from a batter of whole wheat flour, water, and eggs. Rishiki can be either savory or sweet. Sweet rishiki is often served with honey and cottage cheese.
Dry Meat Dishes: Savory and Crispy
Meat is an important part of the Chitrali diet. Here are some popular dry meat dishes.
Rondijhzu: Simple Barbecued Meat
Rondijhzu is barbecued or spit-roasted goat or lamb. It is seasoned simply with only salt. This method brings out the natural flavor of the meat.
Taaw Kahak: Pressure-Cooked Chicken
Taaw Kahak is chicken roasted on a griddle. Extra pressure is applied, usually by placing a heavy rock or pot on top. This makes the chicken very dry and crispy.
Taaw Machhi: Griddle-Cooked Fish
Taaw Machhi is fish cooked using the same pressure-grilling method as taaw kahak. Popular fish for this dish include brown trout, rainbow trout, and schizothorax.
Soups: Warm and Hearty Meals
Soups are very important in Chitrali cuisine. They are often eaten as the main meal, along with bread and fruit. The cold weather in Chitral makes warm soups a popular choice.
Kalli: A Noodle Soup Delight
Kalli is a noodle soup made with minced beef and hand-cut whole wheat noodles. It is very similar to the Central Asian dish laghman. It likely has its origins in Chinese cuisine.
Leganu: Spicy Lentil Dumpling Soup
Leganu is a soup made with tiny dumplings from lentil flour. Unlike most Chitrali dishes, legnu is often quite spicy.
Lajhaik: Thick Grain and Meat Soup
Lajhaik is similar to the Kashmiri dish hareesa. It is a thick soup made from whole wheat and barley grains. These grains are slowly cooked together with lamb, beef, or duck for many hours.
Khhamalogh: A Unique Bone Broth
Khhamalogh is a soup made from the skulls of sheep, goats, or cattle. These are crushed and slowly simmered for many hours. This creates a rich and flavorful broth.
Kawirogh: Light Summer Soup
Kawirogh is a light soup made with dried wild capers and meat. It is very popular in the summer. People believe it has a cooling effect and helps thin the blood.
Indigenous Dishes: Traditional Chitrali Flavors
These dishes show the unique cooking traditions of the Chitrali people.
Ghalmandi: Layered Bread with Cheese
Ghalmandi is a dish of layered flatbreads. It has a filling of cottage cheese, coriander, and chives. It is covered in melted butter and walnut oil.
Cheer Aa Shapik: Ghalmandi with White Sauce
Cheer Aa Shapik is similar to ghalmandi. However, it uses a white sauce, like béchamel, instead of cottage cheese.
Qalaibat: Wheat Flour and Lamb Fat Dish
Qalaibat is a dish made by cooking whole wheat flour with lamb fat. This creates a rich and hearty meal.
Shroshrp: Unsweetened Wheat Halwa
Shroshrp is a type of unsweetened halwa. It is made from flour from germinated wheat grains.
Pushur Tikki: Meat-Filled Bread
Pushur Tikki is a loaf of tikki bread baked with a mince meat filling. It is a type of meat pie.
Other Tikki Variations
- Phhenak Tikki is filled with cottage cheese.
- Pandir Tikki is filled with matured cheese.
- Shaakh Mujhzi is a vegetarian version with a spinach filling.
