Swat cuisine is a Pashtun cuisine which is commonly known as Afghan cuisine. Although swat food remarkably resembles the Afghan, Persian, and Turkish cuisines however the traditional swat food has its own unique taste, aroma, and texture.
Swat cuisine is mild in hotness but is rich in herbs and is largely based on meat dishes that include lamb, beef, chicken, and freshwater fish as well as fresh vegetables and fruits grown locally in Swat.
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Visit Swat Valley For It’s Best and Famous Swat Cuisines
Whether you’re exploring the natural beauty of swat or visiting swat for any other purpose, make sure you take time to dine on Swat’s very best famous food and drink.
We are sure that with our recommended restaurants in swat, your taste and tour adventure will take you to the next level of joy. Let’s have a closer look at some of the best and famous examples of swat cuisines that are not the only favorite of the local people but also famous among the tourists that visit swat valley.
1. Chapli Kebab (Swat Chapli Kabab)
Swat Chapli kabab is a special variety of kebab which is prepared from the meat of beef or mutton. Due to its great taste and aroma, the swat chapli kabab is perhaps the most famous cuisine of the valley. Your appetite for food will significantly increase when you pass by the sizzling chapli kababs as they are being prepared.
The ingredients that are used to make these chapli kebabs are flour, garam masala, red chili powder (according to taste), coriander leaves chopped tomatoes, onions, mashed eggs, ginger, coriander powder, baking powder, lemon juice, cumin seeds, paprika, salt, and oil.
2. Swat Trout Fish
Walk into any high-end supermarket or restaurant across the world and look for Swat Trout Fish. It will be there. Why? Because it is the best. Swat is a prime breeding ground for trout fish in Pakistan, with water that is as fresh as can be. Swat trout fish is very famous in Pakistan and even abroad for its terrific taste and perfect texture.
Make sure to appreciate the greatness while in the heart of Swat and experience it for yourself.
3. Warjalay aka Chukanr (Green Rice)
Warjalay which is also known as Chukanr is a signature dish of Swat, You probably wouldn’t be able to find this dish in its entirety elsewhere in the world. Warjalay is a green rice dish or vegetable rice dish, meaning rice is prepared in finely chopped green leaves.
To prepare warjalay or chukanr different varieties of green leafy vegetables like spinach, garlic, onion, mustard, and other wild edible leaves are finely chopped. This finely chopped mixture is then cooked with locally grown rice called “Swati Rice” with salt to taste.
Warjalay is served with fresh milk cream and desi ghee (Clarified Butter), some people prefer it with milk cream only. The texture of Warjalay (Chukanr) is very creamy and therefore doesn’t go very well with spicy food.
4. Dum Pukht
Dum Pukht is a favorite dish of Swat that is prepared with the meat of mutton or beef. The pieces of meat are cooked in low heat in its individual fat along with onion, cardamom, potatoes, yogurt, red pepper, garam masala, salt, garlic paste, and oil. This tasty dish can be cooked in almost one hour to enjoy it with tandoori roti.
5. Kabuli Pulao
The current Indigenous peoples of swat brought Kabuli pulao with them from the great land of Afganistan when they moved to swat back in history. Like in Afganistan, Kabuli Pulao in Swat is prepared with the highest quality of basmati rice.
The key ingredients that you require to cook this dish include a stew of lamb or beef, onion, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin seeds, cloves, water, salt, pepper, carrots, sugar, raisin, salt, almonds, and oil. It is a nice healthy dish because of different dry fruits and meat in it.
6. Lamb Chops
Lamb chops are marinated with ginger garlic paste, cinnamon powder, salt, black pepper, white vinegar, papaya paste and oil for around 8 to 10 hours in order to get the soft, tender taste. You can girl them, cook in a pan or also bake in the oven as you like. It is a lip-smacking dish that is served with chili yogurt to enjoy.
7. Lamb karahi
Swat lamb karahi is a very delicious dish that is made from the local breeds of lambs. The fat of the lamb is specifically used to cook this with butter or oil.
You can try this dish at home as well for this you must have the meat of lamb, lamb fat, butter, green chilies, tomatoes, and salt. It is a mouthwatering dish that is served with tandoori naan or afghani roti.
8. Mutton Ribs
In Swat, mutton ribs are eaten in both homes and restaurants. To prepare mutton ribs like restaurants do in swat, put mutton ribs and add ginger garlic paste, mustard oil, soya sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce lemon juice, raw papaya, yogurt and other spices in it.
Keep it in the bowl for around 8 hours to marinate it properly after that grill it on charcoal till it’s entirely brown from both the side and then take it out. Heat a pan with the oil and place chopped tomatoes in it. Mix it till it becomes thick and then serve it with grilled mutton ribs.
9. Lamb with Spinach
This dish is an excellent combination of meat and vegetable. It is a healthy dish with good nutrition value. The lamb, Spinach, and other ingredients used in this dish are locally grown in Swat.
To prepare it, you have to make a mixture of garlic and onion in a blender, after that heat the pan with oil, lamb, green chilies, salt, spices, and this mixture. Mix tomatoes and water and cook it for some time. Add the spinach in it and then let it cook for almost 15 more minutes to get ready to serve.