Traditional Pakistani and Indian breakfasts

[Colorblind Genius]

I wonder if this is just a cultural thing? I don't really want to eat heavy or spicy food early in the morning, being brought up in Europe has definitely influenced me here. That said, I do love channa puri, which is a Punjabi breakfast - later on in the day, although the stuff you get in the UK wasn't anywhere near as good as what I had in Pakistan last year.

Not really a big breakfast person anyway, it's usually about 11am before I start feeling hungry. Toast, fried egg, marmalade or jam....these are better than desi breakfasts in my opinion.

It's somewhat the same here.
Gots to watch the calories and all that drama, so Paratha and heavy foods are rare in my breakfast.

I usually start with a 16 Oz bottle of spring water, wait for about 15 minutes then pour some caffeine into me that makes me run towards the restroom.

I then wait till I really feel hungry. So the breakfast is usually some fresh fruit, and some nuts. Sometimes I fry an egg or two but no jam or marmalade.

But then if my mother in law is visiting us, it becomes a different story. She gets up early and start making the "Lachay daar" paratha, with Pink Kashmiri tea with crushed pistachio and almonds, and channay and fried eggs and whatnot. I usually skip lunch after this kinda breakfast.

 

[sindhiboy]

We will only progress once we accept the fact that we have one of the unhealthiest diets on earth

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Back in the old days in SC people ate heavy breakfast and very light dinners
That's why these heavy dishes were always considered breakfast food
And honestly I also treat it like breakfast food because it's easier to eat it that way

I just can't sleep properly after eating a plate of nihari for dinner
Even for lunch the whole day kinda slows down because of it

Breakfast is the perfect time to keep you sharp for the whole day after eating a big meal
Atleast that's the way I see it

The old days diet you are describing - heavy breakfast and light dinner - is actually now considered the healthiest way of eating. Mine is the other way round unfortunately, I don't eat in the morning, but the meals get heavier as the day goes on. That's probably why I don't feel like eating breakfast in the morning.

 

[JaDed]

I prefer a typical Gujju breakfast
Chai, Fafda+Jalebi(occasionally) and Spicy 🌶 salad perhaps made from raw papaya and Khaman. Never liked parathas for any meal let alone breakfast.

I also like Marathi( Mumbai special) Usal and Misal pav. Apart from that, I used to enjoy Kheema pav after workout in Mumbai. Damn those were the days

Marathi and Gujarathi bfast are so diff for me , cant have both unfortunately.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Marathi and Gujarathi bfast are so diff for me , cant have both unfortunately.

I have same issues with South Indian food. I can’t handle idli vada sambhar. South India food is always at the bottom of my list for meal. My ex used to drag me to South Indian restaurant which is quite popular( Sarvana Bhavan) but I absolutely hate it. For me, Khaman Dhokla over dosas any day and everyday. Of course Kheema and Biryani is always my first choice.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I have same issues with South Indian food. I can’t handle idli vada sambhar. South India food is always at the bottom of my list for meal. My ex used to drag me to South Indian restaurant which is quite popular( Sarvana Bhavan) but I absolutely hate it. For me, Khaman Dhokla over dosas any day and everyday. Of course Kheema and Biryani is always my first choice.

Yeah we visited that Sarvana Bhavan place in New York City, and not sure what's the hype about?
Just ordinary tasting food with nothing really special about anything.
I guess the only thing that caught my attention was them serving water in steel jugs and steel glasses that gave it a little desi touch.

 

[Bigboii]

We will only progress once we accept the fact that we have one of the unhealthiest diets on earth

Honestly except for Asian foods most diets around the world are unhealthy

Except if you start eating homemade, imo homemade is almost always healthy around the world

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Honestly except for Asian foods most diets around the world are unhealthy

Except if you start eating homemade, imo homemade is almost always healthy around the world

According to a leading cardiologist Dr. Stanley Hazen, the healthiest diet is the middle eastern diet. I think Turkish food should be right there up top with others. They have a pretty good mix of grilled meats with Salads.

And their breakfast items are something else.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

According to a leading cardiologist Dr. Stanley Hazen, the healthiest diet is the middle eastern diet. I think Turkish food should be right there up top with others. They have a pretty good mix of grilled meats with Salads.

And their breakfast items are something else.

Absolutely. I've always found that I never feel sluggish after Turkish food, its quite a lean and healthy diet.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Absolutely. I've always found that I never feel sluggish after Turkish food, its quite a lean and healthy diet.

Damn you Ertugrul Bey. Is there anything you don't excel at???

 

[Nadeemp]

Try Kurdish breakfast. You will not have dinner that day. I had it once in Istanbul. Was amazing but man it was heavy. Double o triple cream, honey, heavy melted cheeses, breads stuffed with creams and cheese.

 

[JaDed]

I have same issues with South Indian food. I can’t handle idli vada sambhar. South India food is always at the bottom of my list for meal. My ex used to drag me to South Indian restaurant which is quite popular( Sarvana Bhavan) but I absolutely hate it. For me, Khaman Dhokla over dosas any day and everyday. Of course Kheema and Biryani is always my first choice.

Sarvana Bhavan is pretty bad atleast in Chennai was good in 90s, personally prefer Sangeeta but i doubt its there in GTA.

 

[JaDed]

I found Dosa, Idlis in North America to be good in Temple -Canteens, at restaurants it has been disappointing till now.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I found Dosa, Idlis in North America to be good in Temple -Canteens, at restaurants it has been disappointing till now.

Agreed.
There is a large Hindu Temple close to my house and I think they have spent at least a million dollars to build an entire new building next to the main temple building where it's a large hall attached to a HUGE kitchen. I occasionally stop by on Sundays to pick dosa and lentil soup. They make it in front of you and it's pretty good. They also sell some coconut based sauces that are very good too.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Sarvana Bhavan is pretty bad atleast in Chennai was good in 90s, personally prefer Sangeeta but i doubt its there in GTA.

Not sure about Sangeeta but there are ton of South Indian restaurants in GTA. I’m sure some of them are very good, but I just don’t have taste bud for it. I can have Dosas or Idli once in a 6month but not something I can do on regular basis. There is one Kerala place in Scarborough I think it’s called Canbe which is quite popular among South Indians in GTA. I like Anjappar Chettinand best among them as it offers much more than idli dosas plus have authentic flavours. We probably should open a separate thread for Indian(From all regions) restaurants in GTA and nearby.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Yeah we visited that Sarvana Bhavan place in New York City, and not sure what's the hype about?
Just ordinary tasting food with nothing really special about anything.
I guess the only thing that caught my attention was them serving water in steel jugs and steel glasses that gave it a little desi touch.

Yea it’s average at best. I’m not even sure what’s the fuss about it. Food was damn average and their cutlery takes me back to 90s in India with steel plates/jugs/glass. Also, no Punjabi food during lunch hours was deal breaker for me. If you ever visit GTA, try Anjappar Chettinand

 

[JaDed]

Yea it’s average at best. I’m not even sure what’s the fuss about it. Food was damn average and their cutlery takes me back to 90s in India with steel plates/jugs/glass. Also, no Punjabi food during lunch hours was deal breaker for me. If you ever visit GTA, try Anjappar Chettinand

I tried Scarborough Anjappar in 2019 and it was underwhelming, - it was my fav south Indian restaurant back in Chennai.. (eventhough am vegetarian) , the mushroom and Paneer recipes are killer but i wouldn’t go for ildi sambhar there, its mostly catered to meat/sea food in Chennai branches atleast.

 

[CanadianG00se]

I tried Scarborough Anjappar in 2019 and it was underwhelming, - it was my fav south Indian restaurant back in Chennai.. (eventhough am vegetarian) , the mushroom and Paneer recipes are killer but i wouldn’t go for ildi sambhar there, its mostly catered to meat/sea food in Chennai branches atleast.

My restaurant was located on same street just two blocks east. I used to dine at Anjappar few times a week. Enjoyed their lunch buffet a lot.

You’re right about their menu includes lot of red meat. I like their beef Biryani South Indian style and Chicken lollypops. Oh man I’m now craving for it.

 

[JaDed]

My restaurant was located on same street just two blocks east. I used to dine at Anjappar few times a week. Enjoyed their lunch buffet a lot.

You’re right about their menu includes lot of red meat. I like their beef Biryani South Indian style and Chicken lollypops. Oh man I’m now craving for it.

Didnt know you owned a restaurant, I’m from restaurant family biz too(Dad is retired now) and I currently am in IT , someday hopefully I’ll own one again but absolutely no family life.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Didnt know you owned a restaurant, I’m from restaurant family biz too(Dad is retired now) and I currently am in IT , someday hopefully I’ll own one again but absolutely no family life.

Restaurant business takes a huge toll on individual, but I enjoyed it. If you plan on going into restaurant business then you have to be prepared to give your 100% attention which could also mean less family time. But once it’s settles down, then you can relax a bit.

Avoid GTA for your business ventures, many business are on verge of bankruptcies.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Channay ki daal, chola masala, aloo ki tarkari, daal, saag, aloo methi, etc.

Lots of vegetarian breakfast items eaten in restaurants and at home, and a lot of home food for lunch and dinner too is vegetable-heavy (baingan, daal, lokki, shaljam, matar, aloo, palak, etc etc).

You’re right that when we go out to restaurants it’s almost always meat-heavy but that’s because you will usually go out for lunch and dinner. For breakfast, the main dish people order at a restaurant will almost always be channay paratha and halwa poori served with lassi, sometimes they’ll go for an anda (but this is less common as you can make a desi omelette easily at home) and only if you’re feeling especially luxurious you go for nihari or paaye but that’s less common.

In general, this food is very similar to breakfast food available in northern India and especially in Punjab.

Yes for breakfast that's the exception, that even in restaurants alot of people will get only vegetarian.

However in the west most Pakistanis places serve breakfast only on the weekends, and therefore have it like a brunch. So people usually do get the nihari or paya in addition to the hawla puri, chole, etc.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

I wonder if this is just a cultural thing? I don't really want to eat heavy or spicy food early in the morning, being brought up in Europe has definitely influenced me here. That said, I do love channa puri, which is a Punjabi breakfast - later on in the day, although the stuff you get in the UK wasn't anywhere near as good as what I had in Pakistan last year.

Not really a big breakfast person anyway, it's usually about 11am before I start feeling hungry. Toast, fried egg, marmalade or jam....these are better than desi breakfasts in my opinion.

Yes. For both Nihari and Paya they used to be cooked over night, and then was eaten at breakfast.

And for Nihari at least the story goes, that the Nawabs used it to eat it right after Fajr, and then go to sleep till Zuhr.

 

[Bigboii]

Yes. For both Nihari and Paya they used to be cooked over night, and then was eaten at breakfast.

And for Nihari at least the story goes, that the Nawabs used it to eat it right after Fajr, and then go to sleep till Zuhr.

Lol ) maybe that's why they were nawabs

 

[KingKhanWC]

Yes. For both Nihari and Paya they used to be cooked over night, and then was eaten at breakfast.

And for Nihari at least the story goes, that the Nawabs used it to eat it right after Fajr, and then go to sleep till Zuhr.

Lol ) maybe that's why they were nawabs

Whats the story behind Das Kulcha? Ashamed to say Ive never tried it.

The kid shows hows its made and the cook mentions a Hindu named person inventing it.

Funny kid, does a good job for his age.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Found a South Indian breakfast called Puttu. Steamed rice flour and coconut log, eaten with a banana. Now that sounds weird for a breakkie, I would try it but doubt I would like such food in the morning.

 

[Slog]

View attachment 106455
This is typical breakfast in South of india.. the sambhar(yellowish daal) type varies between Karanatka and Tamil Nadu, but it is pretty tasty as well once you get hang of it.

As a North Indian, it was very hard for me to adjust to this food in the beginning when I started working in Bangalore, Like I had true cravings. But I slowly started to enjoy above as well. Took me 2 years though lol.

Dosa is breakfast food? In American Indian restaurants dosa is proper lunch/dinner.

I’ve grown to like it a lot

 

[KingKhanWC]

Dosa is breakfast food? In American Indian restaurants dosa is proper lunch/dinner.

I’ve grown to like it a lot

Tried it once, the filling was a strange mix of sweet and sour, not sure what. What is the traditional or original filling for dosa?

 

[Slog]

Tried it once, the filling was a strange mix of sweet and sour, not sure what. What is the traditional or original filling for dosa?

Dunno. The one I have is usually potato with spices and then bunch of chutneys and this thing called sambhar on side.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Tried it once, the filling was a strange mix of sweet and sour, not sure what. What is the traditional or original filling for dosa?

Traditional filling is potato.
Sambhar and coconut chutney on the side.
It’s the staple breakfast of bachelors working in IT in south as in Bangalore you can still get it for 20 rupees.
It is quick to eat when are in hurry for catching morning bus

 

[Slog]

Traditional filling is potato.
Sambhar and coconut chutney on the side.
It’s the staple breakfast of bachelors working in IT in south as in Bangalore you can still get it for 20 rupees.
It is quick to eat when are in hurry for catching morning bus

20 rs. Does that include potato filling, chutneys and sambar as well?? Is the 20rs one hygienic?

Wow. If it does. Here you pay like $9

 

[JaDed]

20 rs. Does that include potato filling, chutneys and sambar as well?? Is the 20rs one hygienic?

Wow. If it does. Here you pay like $9

The ones in American Hindu temple canteen are 5$- 7$, 20rs ones are hygienic, my college canteen 10 years ago had it for 12 rs in Bangalore, 20 -25 probably now but not fine dining

 

[JaDed]

I wouldn’t call Dosa a bfast item, Dinner is apt.

When i wasn’t vegetarian i used to
love egg Dosa esp good in a district called Hosur.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

20 rs. Does that include potato filling, chutneys and sambar as well?? Is the 20rs one hygienic?

Wow. If it does. Here you pay like $9

There are lot of Restaurants, serving hygienic food for cheaper price.
India is pretty diverse with prices of food as well. It depends on the vibe,
hip trendy places will charge 500 Rs for same Dosa.

But lot of small local places in the streets, serving really good quality food.
Just need to tag along a local to find them.

 

[JaDed]

Traditional filling is potato.
Sambhar and coconut chutney on the side.
It’s the staple breakfast of bachelors working in IT in south as in Bangalore you can still get it for 20 rupees.
It is quick to eat when are in hurry for catching morning bus

Not a fan of Bangalore sambhar, Tamil Nadu Sambhar is the best!

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Not a fan of Bangalore sambhar, Tamil Nadu Sambhar is the best!

lol don't drag me into tamil vs kannadiga debate..
I have tried both.. there is slight different in spices and taste but I enjoyed both.
Chennai though was more tough for me in terms of finding good North Indian food as compared to Bangalore. Bangalore scene changed a lot especially post 2010 and it has become really cosmopolitan in terms of food options.

 

[pillionrider]

Not a fan of Bangalore sambhar, Tamil Nadu Sambhar is the best!

Yeah it's bad. The Udupi sambar is pretty good, but overall I prefer Tamil or Andhra sambar. The Mallu sambhar is quite bad too.

I wouldn’t call Dosa a bfast item, Dinner is apt.

When i wasn’t vegetarian i used to
love egg Dosa esp good in a district called Hosur.

Highway mottai dosa. Has been a staple for me whenever I drive to Tamil Nadu.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

I wouldn’t call Dosa a bfast item, Dinner is apt.

When i wasn’t vegetarian i used to
love egg Dosa esp good in a district called Hosur.

Is it not ? All my 10 years in Bangalore fellow South Indian colleagues mostly had it for breakfast.
Though you get it all the time in restaurants. I always thought it was bfast food.

 

[pillionrider]

Is it not ? All my 10 years in Bangalore fellow South Indian colleagues mostly had it for breakfast.
Though you get it all the time in restaurants. I always thought it was bfast food.

He's a bit jaded from turning veggie

Dosas and idlis are eaten traditionally at breakfast. The masala dosa is also eaten for breakfast but it's quite common and popular to eat a masala dosa in the evenings.

 

[JaDed]

lol don't drag me into tamil vs kannadiga debate..
I have tried both.. there is slight different in spices and taste but I enjoyed both.
Chennai though was more tough for me in terms of finding good North Indian food as compared to Bangalore. Bangalore scene changed a lot especially post 2010 and it has become really cosmopolitan in terms of food options.

There was always good Punjabi,Sindhi,Bengali options in Bangalore.. commercial street to Marathahalli ..

Chennai is hard I agree, my family had Punjabi restaurant in Chennai from 1970’s and were first ones and still no good Punjabi restaurants as very few North Indians settle in Chennai compared to Bangalore,Hyderabad

 

[JaDed]

Yeah it's bad. The Udupi sambar is pretty good, but overall I prefer Tamil or Andhra sambar. The Mallu sambhar is quite bad too.



Highway mottai dosa. Has been a staple for me whenever I drive to Tamil Nadu.

Yeah I had to take those local buses man(college life) , sweaty as hell non ac ones but atleast hosur egg dosa was a relief.

I hate that route but man so much of traffic railways, roadways and even air lol.. inspite both cities being so close.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Whats the story behind Das Kulcha? Ashamed to say Ive never tried it.

The kid shows hows its made and the cook mentions a Hindu named person inventing it.

Funny kid, does a good job for his age.

I have had Kulcha, but have never heard of Das Kulcha before.

This article says majority of the bakers were Hindu, which explains why its not that common now.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/567436-cult-kulcha

 

[RajBan]

lol don't drag me into tamil vs kannadiga debate..
I have tried both.. there is slight different in spices and taste but I enjoyed both.
Chennai though was more tough for me in terms of finding good North Indian food as compared to Bangalore. Bangalore scene changed a lot especially post 2010 and it has become really cosmopolitan in terms of food options.

This is true. The food diversity in Bangalore is pretty awesome and is a measure of its cosmopolitan nature. Chennai however have some pretty good North Indian food offering at an affordable price by the British era establishments that one can't find in Bangalore

 

[RajBan]

Is it not ? All my 10 years in Bangalore fellow South Indian colleagues mostly had it for breakfast.
Though you get it all the time in restaurants. I always thought it was bfast food.

It is primarily breakfast in Andhra, Karnataka, Telangana. Sometimes evening snacks as well.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

This is true. The food diversity in Bangalore is pretty awesome and is a measure of its cosmopolitan nature. Chennai however have some pretty good North Indian food offering at an affordable price by the British era establishments that one can't find in Bangalore

oh was not aware of that.. But i guess my Chennai colleagues also would be aware of those to guide me.
I lived in Bangalore for 10 years... around 2006 to 2009 i would say the options were limited.
Not sure what happened in 2010 onwards, it was a boom in all kinds of food.. From Rajasthani Thalis to Bengali and lot of Punjabi Restaurants in HSR layout.. The whole scene changed.. Add to that European food joints and Lots of on the Tap Beer.. it was heaven... Indiranagar was my hangout every weekend.

 

[RajBan]

oh was not aware of that.. But i guess my Chennai colleagues also would be aware of those to guide me.
I lived in Bangalore for 10 years... around 2006 to 2009 i would say the options were limited.
Not sure what happened in 2010 onwards, it was a boom in all kinds of food.. From Rajasthani Thalis to Bengali and lot of Punjabi Restaurants in HSR layout.. The whole scene changed.. Add to that European food joints and Lots of on the Tap Beer.. it was heaven... Indiranagar was my hangout every weekend.

It basically breached that threshold mark in demand for other cuisines with more outsiders settling in. Bangalore's third and fourth highest demographic group is Bengalis and Punjabis. So , no doubt you have huge variance in cuisine now.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Surprised to see no mention of Kachori and khatti bhujiya. It is more of a Karachi breakfast dish. Eventhough I hail from Punjab I get to eat it most weekends because my mom being from Karachi makes the amazing kachoris and khatti bhujiya

 

[King_Kohli]

Onion Dosa with coconut chutney.
Idlee with Ghee and Kara podi.

My favorites

 

[King_Kohli]

oh was not aware of that.. But i guess my Chennai colleagues also would be aware of those to guide me.
I lived in Bangalore for 10 years... around 2006 to 2009 i would say the options were limited.
Not sure what happened in 2010 onwards, it was a boom in all kinds of food.. From Rajasthani Thalis to Bengali and lot of Punjabi Restaurants in HSR layout.. The whole scene changed.. Add to that European food joints and Lots of on the Tap Beer.. it was heaven... Indiranagar was my hangout every weekend.

You must be very rich.

 

[King_Kohli]

Surprised to see no mention of Kachori and khatti bhujiya. It is more of a Karachi breakfast dish. Eventhough I hail from Punjab I get to eat it most weekends because my mom being from Karachi makes the amazing kachoris and khatti bhujiya

These are snacks in India.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

You must be very rich.

Yeah I earned above par for a software engineer in Bangalore.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

These are snacks in India.

Kachori is a snack too here but there’s a special kind made for breakfast. It’s quite good.