Karachi cuisine ( ur, کراچی پکوان) refers to the food found mainly in the city of

Karachi Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former c ...

Sindh Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. It is a multicultural cuisine as a result of the city consisting of various ethnic groups from different parts of Pakistan. Karachi is considered the melting pot of Pakistan. The cuisine of Karachi is strongly influenced by the city's Muhajir population, who came from various parts of British India and settled primarily in Karachi after the

independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...

in 1947. Most

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

s have traditionally been based in

, hence the city is known for multi cultural tastes in its cuisine. These

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

s maintained their old established culinary traditions, including variety of dishes and beverages. Karachi cuisine is renowned for its cultural fusion, due to various empires and peoples living in this mega city. As a result many multi ethnic cuisines collaboratively had an influence on the style of Karachi food. The

Pakistani cuisine Pakistani cuisine ( ur, , romanized: ''pākistānī pakwān'') can be characterized by a blend of various regional cooking traditions from South Asia, Central and Western Asia, as well as elements from its Mughal legacy. The country's va ...

s such as

Sindhi cuisine Sindhi cuisine ( Sindhi: سنڌي کاڌا) refers to the distinct native cuisine of the Sindhi people from Sindh, Pakistan. Sindhi cuisine has been influenced by Central Asian, Iranian, Mughal food traditions. It is mostly a non-vegetarian c ...

Punjabi cuisine Punjabi cuisine is a culinary style originating in the Punjab, a region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, which is now divided in an Indian part to the east and a Pakistani part to the west. This cuisine has a rich tradition o ...

Pashtun cuisine Pashtun cuisine ( ps, پښتنۍ خواړه) refers to the cuisine of the Pashtun people and is covered under both Afghan and Pakistani cuisines. It is largely based on meat dishes including mutton, beef, chicken, and fish as well as rice and so ...

, Kalash cuisine, Saraiki cuisine,

Kashmiri cuisine Kashmiri cuisine is the cuisine of the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent. Kashmiris have developed the art of cooking to a very high degree of sophistication and evolved a cuisine quite distinct from that of any part of the world. Rice ...

Balochi cuisine Balochi cuisine is the food and cuisine of the Baloch people from the Balochistan region, comprising the Pakistani Balochistan province, the Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Iran and Balochistan, Afghanistan. Baloch food has a regional varianc ...

, Chitrali cuisine and other regional cuisines have also influenced the cuisine of Karachi.

Historical influences

The arrival of

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...

within

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...

influenced the local cuisine to a great degree. The influence of the

Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes the fo ...

n and

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

ern cuisine in Pakistani food is ubiquitous. Since

s are forbidden to eat pork or consume alcohol and the

Halal ''Halal'' (; ar, حلال, ) is an Arabic word that translates to "permissible" in English. In the Quran, the word ''halal'' is contrasted with '' haram'' (forbidden). This binary opposition was elaborated into a more complex classification k ...

dietary guidelines are strictly observed, Pakistanis focus on other areas of food such as

Beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). In prehistoric times, humankind hunted aurochs and later domesticated them. Since that time, numerous breeds of cattle have been bred specifically for the quality or quantit ...

Lamb Lamb or The Lamb may refer to: * A young sheep * Lamb and mutton, the meat of sheep Arts and media Film, television, and theatre * ''The Lamb'' (1915 film), a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in his screen debut * ''The Lamb'' (1918 ...

Chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adu ...

Fish Fish are Aquatic animal, aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack Limb (anatomy), limbs with Digit (anatomy), digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and Chondrichthyes, cartilaginous and bony fish as we ...

, and

Vegetables Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems ...

as well as traditional

Fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in partic ...

and

Dairy A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting or processing (or both) of animal milk – mostly from cows or buffaloes, but also from goats, sheep, horses, or camels – for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on ...

Dishes

* Aloo (potato) cholay (peas) * Aloo (potato) chaat * Aloo (potato) paratha ( ur, آلو پراٹھا) * Anda (egg) paratha *

Bakarkhani Bakarkhani or Baqarkhani, also known as bakar khani roti, is a thick, spiced flat-bread that is part of the Mughlai cuisine. Bakarkhani is prepared on certain Muslim religious festivals and is now popular as sweet bread. Bakorkhani is almost ...

or Baqerkhani *

Bihari kebab Kebab (, ; ar, كباب, link=no, Latn, ar, kabāb, ; tr, kebap, link=no, ) or kabob (North American) is a type of cooked meat dish that originates from cuisines of the Middle East. Many variants of the category are popular around the wor ...

Bun kebab Bun Kebab ( ur, ) is a sandwich native to Pakistan, but now available all over the Indian subcontinent. Bun kebabs are a signature in Pakistani metro cities like Karachi and Lahore, but they can be found all over Pakistan. In India, it is e ...

* Chargha *

Chicken karahi Chicken karahi (known as gosht karahi when prepared with goat or lamb meat instead of chicken), or kadai chicken, is a chicken dish from South Asia. It is noted for its spicy taste and is notable in Pakistani and North Indian cuisine. The dis ...

* Chicken tikka *

Dalcha Dalcha, is an Indian lentil-based stew originating from Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Its origins may lie with a similar middle eastern dish Harees which is more of a gruel with cooked meats. Primary ingredients are lentils, can be Chana Dal or s ...

(also called Dal gosht) *

Double ka meetha Double ka meetha (also known as '' Shahi Tukra'', is an Indian bread pudding sweet made of fried bread slices soaked in hot milk with spices, including saffron and cardamom. Double ka meetha is a dessert of Hyderabad. It is popular in Hyderab ...

(also called Shahi tukra) *

Falooda A ''falooda'' is a Mughlai Indian version of a cold dessert made with noodles. It has origins in the Persian dish '' faloodeh'', variants of which are found across West, Central, and South Asia. Traditionally it is made by mixing rose syrup, ...

( ur, فالودہ) * Firni *

Gajar ka halwa Gajar ka halwa, also known as gajorer halua, gajrela, gajar pak, and carrot halwa is a carrot-based sweet dessert pudding made by placing grated carrots in a pot containing a specific amount of water, milk and sugar, cardamom and then cooking wh ...

* Gobhi (cauliflower) paratha * Golgappay * Haleem *

Halwa poori Chole bhature () is a food dish popular in the Northern areas of the Indian subcontinent. It is a combination of chana masala (spicy white chickpeas) and bhatura/puri, a deep-fried bread made from maida. Although it is known as a typical Punja ...

* Hyderabadi biryani ( ur, حیدرآبادی بریانی) *

Jalebi ''Jalebi'' (, , , Urdu: جلیبی‎, , , si, පැණි වළලු, ), is a popular sweet snack in south and west Asia, Africa, and Mauritius. It goes by many names, including ''jilapi'', ''zelepi'','' jilebi'', '' jilipi'', ''zulbia'', ...

* Kachori *

Karri ''Eucalyptus diversicolor'', commonly known as karri, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tall tree with smooth light grey to cream-coloured, often mottled bark ...

or karhi ( ur, کڑھی) * Kata-kat *

Kheer Kheer, also known as payasam, is a sweet dish and a type of wet pudding popular in the Indian subcontinent, usually made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice, although rice may be substituted with one of the following: daals, bulgur wh ...

Kofta Kofta is a family of meatball or meatloaf dishes found in Balkan, Middle Eastern, South Caucasian, South Asian and Central Asian cuisines. In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced meatusually beef, chicken, pork, lamb or mutto ...

(Urdu:كوفته) * Kulcha (Urdu: کلچه) *

Lukhmi Lukhmi ( ur, ) is a typical mince savoury or starter of the cuisine of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is a local variation of samosa. The snack's authentic preparation includes stuffing with mutton-mince kheema (ground meat). It is a non-veg ...

(Urdu: لقمی) *

Namak para Nimki or nimkin (or namkin), also Namak para (or namakpare) is a crunchy savoury snack eaten in the Indian Subcontinent. It is similar to Mathri from Rajasthan and parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Namak para is ribbon-like strips of pastry (m ...

* Nargisi kofta * Nihari, a popular national dish in Pakistan, was originally brought by Muhajirs (immigrants) from

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

, India. * Paan (Urdu: پان), a traditional Muhajir betel leaf stimulant * Pakora (Urdu: پکوڑا) *

Pasanda Pasanda ( ur, , hi, पसन्दा), also called Parche ( ur, پارچے, hi, पारचे), is a popular dish from the Indian subcontinent, notably North India, Rampur, Hyderabadi and Pakistani, derived from a meal served in the ...

(Urdu: پسندے) * Pulao (Urdu: پلاؤ) * Qorma (Urdu: قورمه) *

Rabri ''Rabri'' (IAST: Rabaḍī) ( ur, ) is a sweet, condensed-milk-based dish, originating from the Indian subcontinent, made by boiling milk on low heat for a long time until it becomes dense and changes its colour to off-white or pale yellow. Ja ...

Raita Raita is a side dish in Indian cuisine made of dahi (yogurt, often referred to as curd) together with raw or cooked vegetables, more seldom fruit, or in the case of boondi raita, with fried droplets of batter made from besan ( chickpea flour, ...

Ras malai Ras malai, rasamalai, or rossomalai is a dessert originating from the eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent. The dessert is called ''rossomalai'' in Bengali, ''ras malai'' in Hindi, and ''rasa malei'' in Odia. It is popular in India, Bangla ...

Sajji Sajji ( Balochi and Urdu: سجی) is a Balochi dish originating from the Balochistan province of Pakistan. Traditional and authentic sajji consists of lamb, marinated only in salt with a few spices. Sajji is considered done when it is at the ' r ...

Samosa A samosa () or singara is a fried Indian pastry with a savory filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, and peas. It may take different forms, including triangular, cone, or half-moon shapes, depending on the region. Sam ...

* Seekh kebab *

Shami kebab Shami kabab or shaami kabab is a local variety of kebab, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It a popular dish in modern-day Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisines. It is composed of a small patty of minced meat, generally beef, but o ...

Shawarma Shawarma (; ar, شاورما) is a popular Middle Eastern dish that originated in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of meat cut into thin slices, stacked in a cone-like shape, and roasted on a slowly-turning vertical rotisserie or spit. Tradition ...

Sheer korma Sheer khurma or sheer khorma ( fa, , shîr xormâ "milk and dates") is a festival vermicelli pudding prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and parts of Central Asia. It is a traditional Muslim ...

or Sheer khurma *

Sheermal Sheermal ( Persian/Urdu: , hi, शीरमल), also spelled shirmal, is a saffron-flavored traditional flatbread eaten in Iran and the Indian subcontinent. The word sheermal is derived from the Persian words شیر ( translit. sheer) meaning mi ...

or Shirmal (Urdu: شیرمال) * Siri paya *

Taftan Taftan (in Persian: تفتان ''Taftân'') may refer to: * Taftan (volcano), located in Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran * Taftan, Balochistan Taftan ( ur, ) ( bal, ) is a trunk road and railway town in Chagai District, Balochistan, ...

(Urdu: تافتان) * Ajwain Paratha * Anday wala Burger ( Egg Burger) * Chana Chaat * Boti Kebab * Channa Dal paratha * Dahi Baray * Dhaniya Paratha * Fry Kebab * Galawati Kebab * Gil e firdaus * Gola Kebab * Habshi Halwa * Kache Qeema Kebab * Kaleji (liver) Kabab * Kebab roll * Lamb karahi * Lamb Tikka * Lauki ka Paratha * Lauki Ka Halwa * Mashed dal Paratha * Mattar (peas) Paratha * Methi (fenugreek leaves) wala Paratha * Mooli (Reddish ) Paratha * Murgh -e- Musallam * Pyaz (onion) ka Paratha * Qeema Naan * Qeema Paratha * Reshmi Kebab * Rizala * Rumali Roti (Urdu: رومالی روٹی) * Shab Daig * Sultani Dal * Tandoori Paratha * Tahihri (rice colored yellow with potato) * Warqui (layered) Paratha * Zamin Doz Macchli (fish stuffed with spices and sealed in earthenware case which is then cooked for 8 hours)

Gallery

File:Bakar Khani.JPG, Baqerkhani File:Bun Kabab.JPG,

File:Tikka 2.JPG, Chicken tikka File:Dalcha.JPG, Dal Gosht File:Double Ka Meetha.JPG,

File:Karachi Falooda.jpg,

File:Gol Guppas-Noida-UP-SP001.jpg, Golgappa/

Panipuri Panipuri (originally known as ''jalapatra'' from Mahabharata times) (), phuchka (), gupchup, golgappa, or ''pani ke patashe'' is a type of snack originating in the Indian subcontinent, where it is an extremely common street food. Ingredients ...

File:Pakistani Haleem served with garnish.jpg, Haleem served with garnish File:Chole puri halwa.jpg,

File:Hyderabadi Dum Ki Biryani.JPG,

Sindhi biryani Sindhi Biryani is a special meat and rice biryani dish originating from the Sindh province of Pakistan. Owing to its popularity, it forms one of the most consumed dishes of Pakistani cuisine and Sindhi cuisine. Ingredients The following are t ...

File:Amrati or Jalebi.jpg,

File:Aaloo Ki Kachori.JPG, Kachori Sindhi Kadhi.JPG, Sindhi Kadhi File:Katakat.JPG, Kata-kat File:Kheer Special.JPG,

File:Nargisi Kofta.JPG,

/ Nargisi kofta File:Kulchachole.jpg, Kulcha with Choley File:Lukmi.JPG,

File:Namak Paray.JPG,

Namak Paray ''Namak Paray'' is a Pakistani sitcom that premiered in 2013. The sitcom is directed and produced by Zeeshan Khan and written by Saba Hassan. Series was broadcast on Hum TV and starring Urwa Hocane, Salma Hassan, Ahmed Zaib and Mohsin Gillani. ...

File:Beef Nihari.JPG, Nihari File:Betel-leaf and Areca-nut.JPG, Paan File:Pakora.JPG, Pakora File:Punjabi Yakhni Pulao.jpg, Pulao File:Degi Korma.JPG, Qorma File:Homemade Rabri.jpg,

File:Ras Malai.JPG,

File:Sajji.JPG,

File:Samosa fried.JPG,

File:Shami Kabab.JPG,

File:Shawerma Roll.JPG,

File:Sheermal bread made in Iran.jpg,

File:Siri Paye .JPG, Siri paya File:Punjabi Chana Chaat.JPG, Chana Chaat / Cholay File:Bihari Boti.JPG, Bihari Kebab File:Lahori Charga.JPG, Chargah File:Chicken Karahi.JPG,

Chicken Karahi Chicken karahi (known as gosht karahi when prepared with goat or lamb meat instead of chicken), or kadai chicken, is a chicken dish from South Asia. It is noted for its spicy taste and is notable in Pakistani and North Indian cuisine. The dis ...

File:Dahi Bara.JPG, Dahi Baray File:Gajar Ka Halwa.JPG, Gajer Ka Halwa File:Picture of tasty Gobi paratha.JPG, Gobhi Paratha with

Yoghurt Yogurt (; , from tr, yoğurt, also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as ''yogurt cultures''. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bact ...

File:Gola Kabab 1.JPG, Gola Kebab File:Mutton Dil Kaleji Phephra.jpg, Kaleji (liver) Kabab Lahore Tikka House (2) - Plain Rice and Lahori Lamb Kabab, Take Two.jpg, Lamb Tikka with Plain Rice File:Loki Ka Halwa.JPG, Lauki Ka Halwa File:Pasanda Curry.JPG, Pasanday File:Reshmi Kabab.JPG, Reshmi Kebab File:Shab Daig.JPG, Shab Daig File:Seekh Kabab.JPG, Seekh Kabab File:Shahi Tukray (Shahi Tukda)..JPG, Shahi Tukray

References

{{Reflist, 30em Muhajir history Food watchlist articles

Historical influences

Dishes

Gallery

See also

References