Zainab Shah

Streamlining preparations for this celebration makes gathering in community even more meaningful.

Bell peppers provide a sweet, crunchy freshness that perfectly complements spiced ground chicken in this winning mix of textures, flavors and convenience A weeknight staple in many Pakistani households, this dish includes lemon juice, garam masala and fresh cilantro for a layer of brightness and war…

Funky, salty and exceedingly sour, nimbu pani is a cool reprieve from the sweltering summer days in Lahore and across most parts of South Asia It also makes for an excellent iftar drink: It’s instantly nourishing, and the salt hits differently after a long day of fasting Kala namak, or Himalayan bla…

Black pepper, garam masala, Thai green chiles and Kashmiri red chile powder make this shrimp masala a multi-layered delight of spices — fiery and smoldering simultaneously — while lemon juice and cilantro add brightness and bring some relief In coastal cities of South Asia like Karachi and states like Goa, this preparation is typical and perfectly suited for crunchy, sweet shrimp That such complexity comes together in 30 minutes feels like a small miracle.

Ready in less than 30 minutes, bhindi masala is a hot and spicy vegetarian main dish perfect for any weeknight Okra often gets a bad rap, but in this recipe, searing it in ghee preserves its structure, adds texture and seals any potential stickiness Onion, tomato, red chile powder, ginger and garlic…

Traditional dal takes about an hour to cook This recipe cuts that time in half by using high heat throughout the cooking process, removing extra water once the dal is tender and simultaneously cooking the masala This kind of efficiency does require the use of two utensils, and it means watching a co…

As is the case with every South Asian dish, variations of hara masala murgh abound In the south of India, fresh desiccated coconut is used in place of yogurt, which is a common ingredient in the northern parts of Pakistan and India The stalwarts of the dish across regions are copious amounts of fres…

The intoxicating bitterness of karelay (also known as bitter melon or bitter gourd), is either loved or hated This divisive vegetable needs a bit of coaxing to truly shine, and, in this recipe, marinating the peeled and cored melon in salt draws out the lion’s share of its bitterness The result is a…

Vegetable biryani may be the underdog of biryanis since it’s often overshadowed by meatier varieties But like other formidable yet unsung dishes, this one’s adaptability helps it hold its own Recipes vary across South Asia: Hyderabadi versions are known for their fieriness, while milder, nuttier var…

Keep a stash, made from scratch, in the freezer, and fry them up as a quick snack to break fast, to host surprise guests or to just feed yourself.