Maygu Sabzi – Herbed Shrimp with Saffron Butter in the Persian Manner

Shrimps (1 of 1)-2

My father loves inviting people over for dinner. Throughout my childhood, I remember he would often call my mother in the morning from his office desk, telling her that his friend from work will join us for dinner that night. That was easy enough for my Ami to accommodate, because we always had a Pakistani spread on our dining table at home – meat, vegetables or lentils and rice or bread – which made for fun, communal eating. A few hours later, Baba would call again at noon and tell Ami that we need to add place settings for two additional guests.Read More

Kheer – Cheat’s Rice Pudding with Caramel Candy Swirls and Brown Buttered Walnut Crumbs in the Pakistani Manner

Cheat's Kheer

Rice dishes have always been a special treat in my maternal grandparents’ home. Most Punjabis eat a lot of flatbread, versus rice. My mother, being the daughter of Punjabi parents, has always preferred flatbread over rice. Despite the fact that she married into a family which devours rice on a daily basis – my father’s family is originally from Afghanistan – Ami loves her chapati, a Pakistani flatbread which beautifully puffs up like a balloon as it cooks over a naked flame.Read More