Food editor
Eats for a living. Based in Karachi, always somehow in Lahore by Thursday.
112 stories in the magazine
Selected stories
Page 1 of 7
A practical chicken karahi for home cooks, built around browning chicken, cooking tomatoes down properly and finishing with ginger, chilli and coriander rather than turning the pan into gravy.
Hassan Raza · 27 Oct 2026
Good keema matar needs enough fat to fry the masala, not a slick on every spoon. Brown the mince, reduce the tomato properly, then add peas late so they stay sweet and green.
Hassan Raza · 22 Oct 2026
Qurbani creates an unusual food-safety challenge because families often expect meat soon after slaughter, before the full commercial chilling process is complete.
Hassan Raza · 21 Oct 2026
Soft dahi baray depend on properly soaked dal, an aerated batter, medium frying heat and enough time in the water bath before yoghurt and chutney are added.
Hassan Raza · 21 Oct 2026
The defining step in suji halwa is not the sugar syrup. It is roasting semolina patiently in ghee until the grains smell nutty and lose their raw flour character.
Hassan Raza · 18 Oct 2026
Rinsing and soaking solve different problems. Rinsing removes surface material; soaking hydrates the grain before heat and can change cooking time, texture and water uptake.
Hassan Raza · 18 Oct 2026
Yoghurt marinades work differently from a squeeze of lemon. Their mild acidity, minerals and dairy matrix can influence tenderness and moisture without the harsh surface effect of strong acid.
Hassan Raza · 18 Oct 2026
Freeze the parts of Pakistani cooking that improve with reheating: cooked meat bases, daal, chana and masala. Add potatoes, herbs, fried toppings and fresh roti later.
Hassan Raza · 17 Oct 2026
Mustard greens are the heart of saag, but diaspora kitchens can combine them with spinach or other leafy greens when supply is irregular. Texture matters more than forcing one supermarket bag to do everything.
Hassan Raza · 17 Oct 2026
You do not have to give up evening chai to take sleep seriously. Start by noticing timing, strength and habit, then move the cup earlier or make the late one gentler.
Hassan Raza · 15 Oct 2026
Kheer needs low heat and patience, not a blender. Use a small amount of rice, reduce the milk gradually, and stop while the pudding is looser than you want to serve.
Hassan Raza · 13 Oct 2026
The difference between a calm aloo paratha and a split one is mostly moisture and pressure. Cool the potatoes, keep the filling dry, seal cleanly and roll from the centre.
Hassan Raza · 12 Oct 2026
Seekh kebab needs a mixture that clings to the skewer without being worked into rubber. Keep onion dry, mince cold and shaping pressure firm but brief.
Hassan Raza · 12 Oct 2026
Tea does not 'remove iron from your blood', but its polyphenols can reduce absorption of non-haem iron from a meal. Timing matters most when iron stores are already low.
Hassan Raza · 10 Oct 2026
The useful aloo gosht question is timing: tenderise the meat first, bhuno the masala, then give potatoes enough time to soften without dissolving into the shorba.
Hassan Raza · 8 Oct 2026
Sheer khurma tastes richer when the vermicelli and nuts are toasted separately, dates soften in the milk and sugar is added only after the pot has begun to reduce.
Hassan Raza · 6 Oct 2026
Red lentils cook quickly enough for a weeknight. Simmer them simply, mash only as much as you like, then let a fresh onion or cumin-garlic tadka provide the final aroma.
Hassan Raza · 6 Oct 2026
Nihari rewards patience more than complexity. This home guide focuses on browning, slow tenderness, lump-free flour thickening and the ginger-lemon garnish that keeps a rich bowl alive.
Hassan Raza · 6 Oct 2026