simple, clean recipes with bold flavors
Dal is such an important part of my Dad's side of the family. Everyone knows how to make it, and they make it fast. So naturally, I had to come up with my own quick version of instant pot dal. When I think of Dal, I think of my paternal grandmother, who we all called Bibi Ji. Bibi Ji was the queen of the family, and she always got what she wanted. Besides her affinity for McDonald's fish fillets, she loved dal. We had it almost daily.
Chicken Jalfrezi is a testament to how one ingredient can transform a dish completely. If you look through the ingredients you can see they consist of ingredients used in any chicken curry. The only difference is a bell pepper, also known as shimla mirch. Such a poetic name, no? This is the story of how one shimla mirch changed everything. Another thing to love is that Jalfrezi is classically cooked with boneless chicken, so it's not just me switching out the bone-in chicken for my convenience. But don't be fooled. This recipe delivers on all fronts. Flavor, texture, and looks, because that fresh pop of green does so much for this dish.
...I had made the mistake of not learning how to cook classic Pakistani recipes before I moved to another continent. Needless to say I spent the first year on the phone with my Mom and Khala, asking for recipes, or learning how to cook every trip home. This recipe came from countless tries to simplify the never ending recipes and instructions I got from family. I translated every vague measurement and took out the excess ingredients to get this delicious and easy chicken biryani...
This classic street food found in many cities across Pakistan is loved by all. A greasy soft bun is topped with a lentil and beef patti, doused in ketchup and chutney and topped with an omelette and charred veggies, squished down so nothing falls out and devoured in less than a minute flat.