Sindhi cuisine facts for kids

Sindhi cuisine (Sindhi: سنڌي کاڌا) is the special food from the Sindhi people who live in Sindh, Pakistan. This food has been shaped by different cultures like Central Asian, Iranian, and Mughal traditions. Most Sindhi food includes meat, and even Sindhi Hindus often eat meat.

Every day, most Sindhi families eat flatbreads made from wheat called phulka. They also eat rice. These are usually served with two other dishes: one with gravy and one dry. Often, they also have curd, papad, or pickles. Sindhi cooking uses a lot of freshwater fish and many different vegetables. It's not common to find restaurants just for Sindhi food. But you can find it at truck stops in rural Sindh and in some city restaurants.

How History Shaped Sindhi Food

When Islam came to India, it changed the local food a lot. Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol. They follow strict Halal rules for food. So, Muslim Sindhis mostly cook with beef, lamb, chicken, fish, vegetables, and fresh fruit and dairy products.

Hindu Sindhi food is very similar. The main difference is that Hindu Sindhis do not eat beef. Food from Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East has also greatly influenced Sindhi dishes. Many Sindhi Hindus moved to India after the Partition of India in 1947. They took their food traditions with them. Before 1947, Sindh was part of the Bombay Presidency.

Special Foods for Special Times

Some Sindhi dishes are made only for special days. For example, on Diwali, a vegetable dish called Chiti-Kuni is made with seven different vegetables.

When someone gets well after a serious illness, like chickenpox, people often make "mitho lolo." This is a sweet flatbread cooked on a griddle. It's made from wheat flour, oil (or ghee), and sugar syrup with cardamom spice.

• Sai Bhaji Chawal: This is a popular dish from Sindh. It has white steamed rice served with a spinach curry. The curry is cooked with tomatoes, onions, and garlic.

• Dal Pakwan: This dish is mostly eaten by Sindhi Hindus.

• Koki: This is another popular Sindhi flatbread. It's made with wheat flour. Koki tastes great with any lentil dish, vegetable, curd, or even tea.

• Seviyan: This is a sweet dessert made from vermicelli noodles. It's sometimes made with milk. Muslim Sindhis eat it on Bakra-Eid and Eid ul-Fitr. On special religious days, mitho lolo with milk is given to people in need.

• Sindhi Kadhi: This is a special dish made for celebrations, especially by Sindhis in India. It's a thick, spicy gravy made from chickpea flour. It's different from other kadhi dishes that use buttermilk. It's served hot with rice.

• Kheer Kharkun: This is a special sweet dish made for Eid ul-Fitr. It's made by mixing dates and milk. The mixture is slowly cooked for a few hours. People eat it hot in winter and cold in summer.

• Taryal Patata (Took Aloo): These are thinly sliced, pan-fried or deep-fried potatoes. They are cooked with local spices. People in rural areas often eat them for dinner. They can also be eaten for breakfast or lunch. A common way to eat patatas is with plain white rice and lentil soup (daal).

• Pallo Machi: This is a very famous Sindhi dish. It uses Hilsha fish, cooked in many ways. It can be deep-fried with spices. It can also be cooked with onions and potatoes. Sometimes, it's barbecued. The fish often has roe (eggs), which is called "aani" in Sindhi. People enjoy "aani" as a special treat, often fried with the fish.

• Palli: This is a leafy green vegetable from chickpeas. It can be cooked alone like spinach. Or it can be cooked with fish, and then it's called "Machi Palli." This green has a unique, slightly sour and salty taste. It might take some getting used to if you haven't tried it before.

Meals

Bhee means 'lotus root' in English. High-quality lotus root grows in northern Sindh. It's cooked in a clay pot with different spices. This makes a delicious dish famous across Pakistan. Other popular Sindhi meals include Sindhi Biryani, Sindhi Curry, and Sabu Dal Chawal (yellow lentil soup with rice).

Drinks

• Thadal: A famous Sindhi drink made from almonds and poppy seeds.
• Khirni: A hot drink made with milk, flavored with cardamom and saffron.
• Sharbat: A sweet drink made from rose petals or sandalwood.
• Falooda: A dessert drink with vermicelli, ice, and ice cream on top.
• Lassi: A traditional drink made from yogurt.

Food Words: Sindhi to English

This section helps you understand Sindhi cooking words. It shows how they are said in Urdu/Hindi, Sindhi, and English. Sometimes, Sindhi words can be different depending on where you are. For example, in Hyderabad, Sindhis call an egg 'bedo'. But other Sindhis call it 'ando'.

Herbs

Spices

Fruit, Vegetable and Pulses

Nuts

Other

Vegetarian Sindhi Food

Some groups within the Sindhi community are vegetarians. For example, the Thathai, Halai, and Kutchi Bhatias follow Vallabh Acharya. He taught a way to worship Sri Krishna called Pushtimarg. These groups are strict vegetarians. They do not even eat onions or garlic. They are dedicated to Shrinathji, who is Sri Krishna as a child.

Images for kids

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  The Sindhi "Sai bhaji" is a famous curry

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  Sindhi biryani, the Sindhi version of the biryani rice dish

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  Lola (Lolo in singular) prepared on Thadri festival in Tharparkar

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  Sindhi Kadhi

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  Sindhi Fish Curry

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  Famous Thari Singhrian ji Bhaaji

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  Most popular Kadhi dish Singhrian jo Raabro(Khaatiyo) from Tharparkar

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  Sindhi Beeh Ji Bhaji

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  Thandiay (Thadal)