Chicken Nihari Recipe (Quick Karachi Style)
Make chicken nihari with homemade nihari masala, tender bone-in chicken and a silky toasted atta gravy. Ready in about an hour with a fiery ghee tarka.
Pakistani home cooking, written so it works the first time: karahi that is thick not watery, biryani with separate grains, nihari that turns silky, and kebabs that hold together. Every recipe shows heat levels, timings, a doneness check and a fix for the usual mistakes.
Recipes developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan
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The recipes to cook first
Pakistani Chicken KarahiThe fastest way into Pakistani cooking- Pakistani Chicken BiryaniOur most-cooked biryani
- Beef NihariWeekend slow-cook project
- Chicken SalanEveryday ghar ka salan
- Chapli KababPeshawar's famous kabab
- Gulab JamunEid's favourite mithai
Learn the technique
Guides behind these recipes
10 Essential Pakistani Spices and How to Use ThemHow to Make Garam Masala at HomeHow to Make Ginger Garlic PasteHow to Fry OnionsHow to Tenderise Meat5 Traditional Desi Cooking Techniques Every Cook Should Know
Quick answers
Pakistani Recipes FAQ
What are the most popular Pakistani dishes?
Chicken karahi, biryani, nihari, haleem, chapli kabab, korma and aloo gosht are among the most cooked dishes in Pakistani homes and restaurants.
Is Pakistani food the same as Indian food?
They share many techniques and spices, but Pakistani home cooking leans more on meat, wheat breads and dishes like karahi, nihari and chapli kabab.
What spices do I need for Pakistani cooking?
Start with red chilli, turmeric, coriander, cumin, garam masala and ginger garlic paste. Our Pakistani spices guide explains each one.
Which Pakistani recipe should a beginner start with?
Chicken karahi or chicken salan. Both cook in under an hour and teach the bhuna technique used across Pakistani cooking.
Every recipe
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Beef Nihari Recipe (Delhi and Karachi Style)
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