Pakistanis rarely shy away from a challenge. We prefer our molehills to appear like mountains. And when it comes to food, everything is fair game. With Eid just around the corner, let’s take a look at some of the most bizarre Pakistani food items we cook and serve at our tables.
1) Maghaz
Perhaps the only item on this list, yours truly has eaten, just the sight of brain masala is enough to send shivers down your spine. The creaminess of brains, mixed with spicy kerhai masala is actually very delicious. However not really sure if it makes you any more intelligent.
2) Kaleeji
I know what you’re thinking. This item isn’t bizarre enough. However surely there are plenty of people out there like me who cannot stand the thought of chomping down liver. Yes, it is said to be very good for health but the texture of liver and the smell too keeps me miles away.
3) Buttain
My relatives pride themselves on making something from this organ. I, on the other hand wasn’t sure which organ this was and when searched, honestly wasn’t too pleased with the result. Buttain refer to the inside of a cow’s stomach. Usually served in a curry, the texture of Buttain is similar to a towel. That alone made me politely decline this particular Pakistani food item.
4) Kapooray
Didn’t have too much fun searching for this dish, I’ll be honest. The lengths I go to for an article surprise me. Kapooray are made from testicles, usually from a goat. Why anyone would want to eat them is beyond me. Still you pay for your sacrificial animal you might as well get your money’s worth.
5) Khatakhat
Now things are really getting out of hand. If the items above weren’t bizarre enough, here is a dish that is a mixture of all the organs of an animal. Kidneys, brains, testicles, you name it, this dish has it all. Other than the sound the cook makes with his spatulas, nothing about Khatakhat is pretty.
6) Feet
No stranger to paye, we Pakistanis also have a dish called Panjo ka soup, and when looked up is a dish made entirely up from chicken claws. Why, I do not know. Those claws are nothing short of a nightmare, why anyone would make a soup out of them is beyond me.
7) Tongue
Ours are already very long. But that doesn’t stop us from indulging in a cold cut of an animal’s tongue. Said to be a delicacy, Lord knows why, these are mostly served in sandwiches. Their texture is velvety and a dollop of mayo would probably make it a wholesome meal for someone more daring perhaps.
8) The head
No, this isn’t like the brains. This is the actual head of an animal. The dish known as Mundi Salan offers diners a chance to have the entire head of a goat served in a curry. Again I do not know why.
Being a total chicken, I have not and will not try anything on this list save one. Which dishes have you tried or want to try? Let us know in the comments below.
