Chitrali cuisine

Chitrali cuisine (Urdu: چترالی پکوان) refers to the food and cuisine of the Chitrali people from the northern region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and the bordering Nuristan province in Afghanistan. Chitrali food has a regional variance in contrast to many other cuisines of Pakistan. The food of Chitral is very similar to the cuisine in neighboring Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pilaf, usually of beef which is preboiled until it is extremely tender, is an essential dish at large gatherings; the meat is served lying on top of the rice. Salty buttered tea is popular in Chitral, as are green tea and very bitter black tea called troq chai (bitter tea). Honey, cheese and fresh fruits are also staples of the Chitrali diet, as these products are part of the local mountain agricultural tradition. The influence of Punjab is seen in the popularity of lamb and chicken karahi. Uzbek dumplings or mantu are also very popular. Dried apricots (chambor) and dried mulberries (kitori) are both an important part of the local diet and are also exported to other parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Arab states of the Persian Gulf.