Culinary Chronicles: Maryam Jillani's Journey with Pakistani Cuisine

Maryam Jillani, a food writer from Islamabad, shares her culinary journey through her new cookbook 'Pakistan'. Highlighting Eid traditions, regional flavors, and family recipes, she explores Pakistan's diverse cuisine. The book aims to make a space for Pakistani food on the global culinary stage.

Maryam Jillani, a food writer from Islamabad, uses her latest cookbook, 'Pakistan', to explore the rich and diverse culinary traditions of her homeland. Having grown up with the colorful and flavorful celebrations of Eid, Jillani remembers the festivities as much more than just breaking a month-long fast.

The traditions, which include receiving cash gifts and wearing new clothes, have culinary counterparts, like her grandmother's signature mutton pulao and her uncle's mutton karahi. These meals, which feature a mix of spices and rich flavors, are shared among family, completing the festive atmosphere.

Jillani's book captures her own discoveries of varied cuisine across Pakistan, from tangy flavors in the east to milder spiced dishes in the west, aiming to put Pakistani cuisine firmly on the global food map. Her journey took her to 40 kitchens and tapped into the deep sentiment of home, even after years away from Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies.)