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.[1] It is mostly a non-vegetarian cuisine,[2] with even Sindhi Hindus widely accepting of meat consumption.[3] The daily food in most Sindhi households consists of wheat-based flat-bread (phulka) and rice accompanied by two dishes, one gravy and one dry with curd, papad or pickle. Freshwater fish and a wide variety of vegetables are usually used in Sindhi cuisine.[4] Restaurants specializing in Sindhi cuisine are rare, although it is found at truck stops in rural areas of Sindh province, and in a few restaurants in urban Sindh.[5]

Historical influences

The arrival of Islam within the Indian Subcontinent influenced the local cuisine to a great degree. As Muslims are forbidden to eat pork or consume alcohol and the Halal dietary guidelines are strictly observed, Muslim Sindhis focus on ingredients such as beef, lamb, chicken, fish, vegetables and traditional fruit and dairy. Hindu Sindhi cuisine is almost identical with the difference that beef is omitted. The influence of Central Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine in Sindhi food is ubiquitous. Sindhi cuisine was also found in India, where many Sindhi Hindus migrated following the Partition of India in 1947. Before Independence, the State of Sindh was under Bombay Presidency.

The Sindhi "Sai bhaji" is a famous curry
Sindhi biryani, the Sindhi variant of the biryani rice dish
Lola (Lolo in singular) prepared on Thadri in Tharparkar, Sindh
Lola (Lolo in singular) prepared on Thadri festival in Tharparkar

Food for special occasions

Certain dishes are served on special occasions such as Diwali. A Bahji (vegetable dish) called Chiti-Kuni is made with seven vegetables. Special dishes are also served on recovery from serious illness for example when someone makes a full recovery from Chicken Pox, it is common to make an offering and make "mitho lolo", a sweet griddle-roasted flatbread: the dough is wheat flour mixed with oil (or ghee) and sugar syrup flavored with ground cardamom.[6]

  • Sai Bhaji ain Chawar: Sai bhaji a popular dish from Sindh consists of white steamed rice served with spinach curry which is given a 'tarka' with tomatoes, onions and garlic.
  • Daal Pakwan: (mostly consumed by Sindhi hindus).
  • Koki: is another popular Sindhi flat-bread that is prepared with wheat flour and goes well with any dal, sabzi or even curd or chai.[7]
  • Sayun (Vermicelli): typically served as a sweetened (sometimes milk-based) dessert, is popular: Muslim Sindhis serve it on Bakra-Eid and Eid ul-Fitr. On special religious occasions, mitho lolo, accompanied with milk, is given to the poor.
Sindhi Kadhi
  • Sindhi Kadi: is a unique and special dish prepared on festive occasions specially by Sindhis residing in India. It consists of a thick spicy gravy made from chick pea flour unlike buttermilk usually used for kadi preparation along with seasonal vegetables. It is served hot with rice.
  • Mitho Lolo: is also served with chilled buttermilk called Matho on various occasions.
  • Kheer Kharkoon: A special sweet dish called 'Kheer Kharkun' are prepared and served on Eid ul-Fitr, it is prepared by mixing dates and milk, and slowly simmering the mixture for few hours. The dish is eaten hot in winters and cold in summers.
  • Taryal Patata: also called Took Aloo, a staple of Sindhi diet, is a form of thinly sliced, pan fried or deep fried potatoes with local spices. They are consumed in most rural households typically at dinner but can be consumed even for breakfast and lunch alongside other meals. One popular Sindhi way of having "patatas" is to eat it with plain white rice with daal to accompany it.
Sindhi Fish Curry
  • Pallo Machi: is a popular Sindhi delicacy, is Hilsha fish prepared with numerous cooking methods. It can be deep fried and garnished with local spices, can be cooked with onions and potatoes into a traditional fish meal or barbequed. The fish often has roe, which is called "aani" in Sindhi and is enjoyed as a delicacy. Often fried alongside the palla and served with the fish fillets.
  • Palli: is a saag or leafy green from the Chickpeas, and is enjoyed either cooked by itself like spinach or with fish cooked in the palli and called "Machi Palli". The saag has a unique flavor and is quite different from spinach or mustard saag and has a slightly sour and salty taste to it. It can take getting used to for the uninitiated.
Famous Thari Singhrian ji Bhaaji
Famous Thari Singhrian ji Bhaaji
Most popular Kadhi dish Singhrian jo Raabro(Khaatiyo) from Tharparkar
Most popular Kadhi dish Singhrian jo Raabro(Khaatiyo) from Tharparkar

Meals

Sindhi Beeh Ji Bhaji

Bhee ('lotus root' in English). A high quality lotus root is grown in the north of Sindh which is then cooked in clay-pot using various spices, which then results in an excellent delicacy that is famous all over Pakistan. Sindhi Briyani, Sindhi Curry, Sabu Dal Chawal (yellow daal with rice).

Drinks

Thandiay (Thadal)
  • Thadal (famous Sindhi drink made from almonds and poppy seeds - khashkhaash).[8]
  • Khirni (hot drink made with milk, flavours of cardamoms and saffron).
  • Sharbat (drink made from rose petals or sandal wood ).
  • Falooda (vermicelli and ice on top of an ice cream)
  • Lassi (dahi (yogurt)-based traditional drink)

Desserts

Sindhi cuisine has many desserts and sweets like Busri, Mao, Gheeyar, Khorak, Paihu, Tahiri/Tayri bhat, Rabri, Atay ju sayun, Faloodo, Kutti, Sero, Kheerni, Bondi Singhar, Borinda, Lai, Daro, Chulho, Kariyio tikio, [9] [10][11]

Translations

This section provides the translations between Urdu/Hindi, Sindhi and English (British and American) cooking terms of common Sindhi food.

There are occasional differences in Sindhi dialects for instance Hyderabadi Sindhi will refer to an egg as 'bedo' however Sindhis from other parts will refer to it as 'aano'.

Herbs

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Sokha Dhan-ia Sukka Dhaanna (سڪاڌاڻا) Coriander Seed
Hara Dhan-ia Sawa Dhaanna Coriander Leaves
podeena Pudino Mint leaves
methi Hurbo Fenugreek
taez paat Kamaal Pat Bay leaf
Kadhi pata Kari patto Curry Leaves

Spices

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Amchoor Amba-choor dry mango powder
elaichi Photo (ڦوٽا) Cardamon Pods
Badi elaichi Wado photo Black Cardamon
namak Loonn (لوڻ) Salt
kali mirch Kaara Mirch Black Pepper
lah-sun Thoom(ٿوم) Garlic
adrak adrak(ادرڪ) Ginger
Zeera Jiro(جيرو) Cummin Seeds
Haldi Haidda(هيڊ) Turmeric Powder
Heeng Hing/Vagaranee Asafoetida
Zafran Zafran/Kaisar(ڪيسر) Saffron
gur Gud (ڳڙ) Jaggery
mirch mirch(مرچ) chillies
imli Gida-mi-ri(گدامڙي) Tamarind
Khaskhas(کسکس) Khashkhash poppy seeds
Caraway
Raee Rai mustard seeds
Long Lua-nga (لونگ) Clove
Til Tirr Sesame Seed
Garam Masala garam masalo .
Dalchini Mithi Kathi Cinnamon
Sauf Sauf Aniseed
Methi dana Hurbo Fenugreek seeds
Lal mirch Gharo mirch Red Chilli

Fruit, Vegetable and Pulses

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Baingan Vaangann واڱڻ Aubergine (UK) or Eggplant (US).
Band Gobi Band/Pata Gobi Cabbage
Gaajar Gajjar(گجر) Carrot
Daal Daal Lentil
Sag Saagg Mustard Greens (Vegetable)
Khajoor Qatal or Khaarak(کارڪ يا ڪتل) Dates

Nuts

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Moongphali Behi-munga or Munghera(مڱيرا) Kha-ja Peanuts
Kaju Khaaja Cashewnuts
Badaam Badaamyoon(باداميون) Almond
Pista Pista/dodiyun Pistachio
Akhrot Akhrot Walnut

Other

Urdu /Hindi Sindhi English
Ghee Gheehu/Ghay Clarified Butter
Chapati Maani/Phulko/Daggri (ڦلڪو) Thin wrap
Cheeni or Shakkar Khand(کنڊ), Khandra Sugar
Bheja or Maghaz Maghz(مغز), Mejalo Brain
Papar Pa-pper(پاپڙ) Poppodum
double-roti double-roti/Dhabbal Bread
Aata Atto(اٽو) Wholewheat flour (Chappati flour)
Anda Bedo (Hyderbadi Sindhi) or Ando, Ano(آنو) Egg
Murghi Kukkar (ڪڪڙ) Chicken
Paplate Paplet پاپليٽ Pomfret fish
Chhota Gosht Nandho Gosht Mutton
Barra Gosht Wado Gosht Beef
Palla machhli Pallo(پلو) shad/Hilsa (fish)

Vegetarian cuisine

Certain sects of the Sindhi community are vegetarians. The Thathai, Halai and Kutchi Bhatias are followers of Vallabh Acharya, who put forward a way to worship Sri Krishna called Pushtimarg. They are strict vegetarians who do not eat even onions and garlic and are devoted to Srinathji, the child form of Sri Krishna.[12]

See also

References

  1. Reejhsinghani, Aroona (2004). Essential Sindhi Cookbook. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303201-4.
  2. Reejhsinghani, Aroona (2004). Essential Sindhi Cookbook. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303201-4.
  3. Kent, Eliza F.; Kassam, Tazim R. (2013-07-12). Lines in Water: Religious Boundaries in South Asia. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-5225-0.
  4. Reejhsinghani, Aroona (2004-08-04). The Essential Sindhi Cookbook. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-094-4.
  5. Jillani, Maryam (2019-04-02). "Sindhi food: A vibrant cuisine hidden from the Pakistani and Indian public". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  6. "Various Sindhi recipes". www.simplysindhirecipes.com. WordPress. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  7. "Koki". 31 May 2008.
  8. Sindhi Drinks https://pandareviewz.com/sindhi-food-cuisine/
  9. Keswani, Alka. "Sindhi desserts". Sindhi Rasoi.
  10. Naqsh e Zehra. "Sindhi sweets". Youlin Mazgine.
  11. "Sindhi Desserts". Ribbons to Pastas. May 2016.
  12. "panjakhada.com". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
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