KANWAL, PAKISTAN

 

“I cook from my heart. It’s to do with family and love, and how you connect and bring people together. A shared meal is always a uniting factor.”

 
 
 
 

Hailing from Lahore, Pakistan, Kanwal remembers her grandmother (Baree ami) using any occassion – often even making up occasions – in order to get the family together to laugh, eat, and share the delicious and deeply-spiced meals she’d been working on. Her grandmother always wanted her around to keep a close eye on what she was doing. “She would show me how to roast the spices, how to knead the flour for roti, basically how to pour love in the dishes,” says Kanwal. “It was like she was serving us – all the time making us eat. It was her way of showing us how much she loved us and I miss that so much.”

 
 

  • In many ways, Kanwal’s recipes are an ode to her grandmother. Within her menu, there’s her Papri Chaat, a moreish street food featuring crispy crackers served with a crunchy chickpea salad, a sprinkle of chaat masala, tamarind chutney and a dollop of yoghurt - the perfect way to start your journey to Pakistan! Then there’s your new favourite condiment - Kanwal’s Mint Chutney - loaded with fresh mint, coriander and hot green chillies for an extra burst of heat and freshness. For the sweet-tooths, there’s Kanwal’s Seviyan Ki Kheer, a creamy dessert made with wheat vermicelli, cashew nut powder and a hint of cardamom, the centerpiece of every childhood celebration. Of course the real star of this menu is Kanwal’s Chicken Dum Biryani, a hearty dish she has taught herself over the years, adding new ingredients with each new chapter of her life. As Kanwal says, ‘this is my version - Kanwal’s version,’ a decadent layering of chicken, rice, potatoes, fried onions, hard-boiled eggs, sliced lemons, herbs and masala spice mix. Amongst it all, is the love.

    “I cook from my heart,” she says, and when you taste Kanwal’s food, you’ll know exactly what she means.

  • Papri chaat | Crispy Chickpea Crackers (vegan)
    Rooh afza | Rose-petal Drink (vegan, GF, NF)
    Chicken Dum Biryani (GF, NF)
    Kachumber Salad     (vegan, GF, NF)
    Boondi Raita |     Yoghurt Sauce (vegetarian, GF, NF)
    Mint Chutney     (vegetarian, GF, NF)
    Seviyan ki kheer |     Creamy Dessert (contains all allergens, vegetarian)

    *Please note; our menus are subject to change without notice.

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Images: Learncy Paul