Sindhi cuisine

Sindhi cuisine (Urdu: سندھی پکوان, Hindi: सिंधी भोजन, Sindhi: سنڌي کاڌا) refers to the native cuisine of the Sindhi people from Sindh, Pakistan. 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. Today, Sindhi food is eaten in many countries including India, where a sizeable number of Sindhis migrated following the Partition of India.

Contents

Historical influences

The arrival of Islam within South Asia influenced the local cuisine to a great degree. Since 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. The influence of Central Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine in Sindhi food is ubiquitous.

Snacks

Meals

Desserts or Sweets or Drink

Pickles

Sindh's city of Shikarpur is famous for pickles all over the world. They produce every kind of pickles

Food for special occasions

There are food that are served during special occasions, such as during Diwali a Bahji called Chiti-Kuni is made with seven vegetabels. If some gets chicken pox and after it is gone, it is common to make an offering and make 'mitho lolo'.

Vermicelli is served on both Eids. On special religious occasions, mitho lolo, accomapanied with milk is given to the poor.

Mitho lolo is also served with chilled buttermilk called Matho on various occasions.

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 Suka Dhana (داڻا) Coriander Seed
Hara Dhan-ia Sawa Dhana Coriander Leaves
podeena phood-no Mint leaves
methi methi Fenugreek
taez paat Kamaal Pat Bay leaf

Spices

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Amchoor Amba-choor dry mango powder
elaichi Photo (فوتا) Cardamon Pods
namak Lhoonu (لوڻ) Salt
kali mirch Kaara Mirch Black Pepper
lah-sun Thooma(ڀوم) Garlic
adrak Adh-rak(ادرڪ) Ginger
Zeera Giro(جيرو) Cummin Seeds
Haldi Haiduh(هيڊ) Turmeric Powder
Heeng hing Asafoetida
Zafran Kesar(ڪيسر) Saffron
gur(ڳڙ) Jaggery
mirch mirch(مرچ) chillies
imli Gida-mi-ri(گدامڙي) Tamarind
Khashkhash(کسکس) poppy seeds
Caraway
Raee mustard seeds
Long Lua-nga Clove

Fruit, Vegetable and Pulses

- Aalu Patata (some parts of northern sindh also calls batala) Potato

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Baigan Vaan-ghar Aubergine (UK) or Eggplant (US)
Band Gobi Pata Gobi Cabbage
Gaajar Gajhar(گجر) Carrot
Dal Daal Lentil
Sag Palak(پالڪ) Spinach
Khajoor Ka-tal(کارڪ يا ڪتل) Dates

Nuts

Urdu/Hindi Sindhi English
Mongphali Behi-munga or Munghera(مڱيرا) Peanuts
Kaju Kha-ja(کاڄا) Cashewnuts
Badaam Ba-da-miyun(باداميون) Almond
Pista Pista/dodiyun Pistachio

Other

Urdu /Hindi Sindhi English
Ghee Gheehu Clarified Butter
Chapati Phulko(ڦلڪو) Thin wrap
Cheeni or Shakkar Khandre(کنڊ) Sugar
Bheja or Maghaz Magaz(مغز) Brain
Papar Pa-pper(پاپڙ) Poppodum
double-roti Dhabalroti Bread
Aata Atto(اٽو) Wholewheat flour (Chappati flour)
Anda Bedo (Hyderbadi Sindhi) or Aano(آنو) Egg
Murghi Cook-ker(ڪڪڙ) Chicken
Paplate Paplet Pomfret fish
Gosht Tivan Lamb Meat
Hilsa machhli Pallo(پلو) shad (fish)

Vegetarian cuisine

Certain sects of the Sindhi community are vegetarians. The Thathai, Halai and Kutchi Bhatias are followers of Vallabh Acharya. He 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. The first ever website on Thathai Bhatia cuisine, http://www.panjakhada.com was launched on June 28, 2010 in Dubai. It contains over 150 recipes in various sections, all of which are vegetarian and have no onion or garlic used in any of its preparations.

See also

References

External links