Pakistani meat dishes facts for kids

A yummy Chicken karahi dish from a Pakistani restaurant.

In Pakistan, meat is a very important part of the food! People there eat more meat than in many other countries in South Asia. The most popular meats are chicken, lamb, beef, goat, and fish. Beef is often used for tasty kebabs or a classic dish called nihari. While seafood isn't eaten everywhere, it's very popular in places near the coast, like Sindh and Balochistan.

Halal Food in Pakistan

Muslims follow special rules about what they can eat and drink. These rules are part of Islamic law. They explain which foods are allowed, called Halal, and how these foods must be prepared. These rules mostly apply to different kinds of meat.

Cooking Meat Dishes

In Pakistan, many vegetable dishes are also cooked with small pieces of meat or ground meat. For example, potatoes can be cooked with cubes of beef, lamb, or chicken. They can also be cooked with ground (minced) meat.

Usually, meat dishes are made by cooking pieces of meat over medium heat. They are often mixed with many different spices. Sometimes, the meat is slowly cooked with potatoes until it's tender and delicious.

Barbecue and Kebabs

Many tasty dishes cooked on a barbecue.

Seekh kebab, a famous Pakistani food.

Meat has been a big part of cooking in the region of Pakistan for hundreds of years. Sajji is a special dish from Balochistan in Western Pakistan. It's made with lamb and spices, and now it's popular all over the country. Another way people in Balochistan cook meat is by making a big outdoor fire. They slowly cook whole chickens on skewers stuck in the ground near the fire. The heat from the fire cooks the chickens perfectly.

Kebabs are a super popular food in Pakistan today. You can find many different kinds all over the country. Each region has its own special kebabs. But some, like Seekh kebab, Chicken Tikka, and Shami kebab, are loved everywhere.

Regional Kebab Styles

Kebabs from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are similar to Afghan-style barbecue. They are usually seasoned simply with just salt and coriander. But in Karachi and the wider Sindh region, kebabs are often very spicy! They are marinated in a mix of spices, lemon juice, and dahi (yogurt). Grilled chicken and mutton are also very popular in cities like Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sialkot in Punjab. Kebab shops are known to be very successful food businesses in Pakistan.

Types of Kebabs

Here are some popular types of kebabs, mostly made from beef or lamb:

• Seekh kebab (Urdu: سيخ کباب) - This is a long kebab made from ground beef mixed with herbs and spices. It gets its name from the skewer (seekh) it's cooked on.
• Shami kebab (Urdu: شامی کباب) - A small, round patty made from minced beef or chicken. It also has ground chickpeas and spices.
• Chapli kebab (Urdu: چپلی کباب) - A spicy and tangy round kebab made from ground beef. It's cooked in animal fat and is a specialty of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Chicken kebab (Urdu: مرغ کباب) - A popular kebab that can be found with or without bones.
• Lamb kebab (Urdu: کبابِ برہ گوشت) - This kebab is usually served as small cubes of all lamb meat.
• Bihari kebab (Urdu: بہاری کباب) - A skewer of beef mixed with herbs and seasonings.
• Shashlik (Urdu: شیشلیک ) - These are grilled baby lamb chops, often from the leg. They are usually marinated before cooking.
• Bun kebab (Urdu: بن کباب) - A special kebab sandwich that can have beef, lamb, fish, or chicken inside.
• Shawarma (Urdu: شاورما) - This dish has thin slices of meat (usually lamb) cut from a tall, spinning grill. These slices are put into a naan bread with chutney and salad.
• Tikka kebab (Urdu: تکہ کباب) - A kebab made from beef, lamb, or chicken cut into cubes. It's marinated in a yogurt mix and grilled over hot coals.
• Boti Kebab (Urdu: بوٹی کباب) - This kebab is made from cubes of beef, lamb, or chicken. It's very popular in Multan. Sometimes, green papaya is used to help make the meat extra tender.
• Kaleji Kebab (Urdu: کلیجی کباب) - A kebab made from grilled and marinated pieces of beef, lamb, or chicken liver. Lamb liver is often used.
• Kala Kebab (Urdu: کالا کباب) - This kebab is made from heavily smoked beef, lamb, or chicken, which gives it a very dark color. It's popular in Mian Channu.