A Lahore Qalandars Match Viewing in a Lahori House with a Lahori Menu

Lahore – the city with spectacular architecture,  cultural diversity, rich heritage and a love affair with food that cannot be matched.As the saying goes: “Jine Lahore ne vekhya o jamya nai” (Who has not seen Lahore hasn’t been born yet) and rightly so, because if you’re missing out on Lahore, you’re missing out on alot.

The city is full of life and festivity and Lahoris always find a reason to celebrate. Lahoris  welcome and embrace festivity with full craze and fervour. From Lakshami Chowk to Anarkali to the busy MM Alam Road, the city is full of the spirit induced by the Pakistan Super League. The Lahoris are all pumped up and supporting  their home team, the Lahore Qalandars. The streets are always bustling with children playing cricket in their Lahore Qalandar outfits and emulating their favourite cricket stars.

The cricket fever in Lahore is unlike anywhere else.  Although there have been several screenings scheduled around the city and people are gathering around in huge crowds to watch the Mobilink Kay Sikandar play their best. Nothing can beat a good family gathering in a Lahori house  for the purpose of watching our favourite Lahore Qalandars do their best.

My family and I have been thorough supporters of the Qalandars from day one. Being true Lahoris at heart we celebrate cricket with friends and family, cheering at every boundary and sighing at every wicket taken. The entire experience of watching the Lahore Qalandars play is made even more  awesome when you have friends and family around.

Keeping my family tradition alive, I invited our best friends for dinner to enjoy a desi tarka of Lahori classic cuisine along with a thrilling game. Now what Lahore Qalandars match is complete without a hearty Lahore style feast?  I decided to treat my fellow Qalandar fans with some Palak Ghost, Chicken Tikka, Paneer Butter Masala, Pulao Podina Raita and fresh salad followed by Shahi Tukrae for desert.

Chicken Tikka Boti

Ingredients

•  Chicken Boti – ½ kg – 12 pieces
•  Yogurt – ½ kg
• Ginger Garlic Paste – ½ tablespoon
•  Lemon Juice – 2
• Salt – 1 teaspoon
•  Red Chili Powder – 1 tablespoon
•  All spice powder (cloves, cardamom, mace, cinnamon, black peppercorn) – 1
• tablespoon
•  Cumin Powder – 1 teaspoon
• Coriander Powder – 1 teaspoon
•  Yellow food color – ½ teaspoon
• Nutmeg – ¼ teaspoon
• Fenugreek Seeds (Kasthori Methi) – 1 teaspoon
• Oil– 2 tablespoon

Method

•  Pre heat the oven at 180 C
• Wash chicken thoroughly and slightly make one or two diagonal cuts on the fleshy part of the meat.
• Marinate chicken with lemon juice and salt, rub it well all over and let it rest in the fridge.
• Meanwhile in a big bowl mix all the spices with yogurt.
• Take chicken out of the fridge and add to this yogurt marinade.
•  Cover the chicken in an air tight container and let it rest in fridge overnight.
•  Place the chicken pieces on a greased grilling tray and bake in oven for 20 – 30 minutes or until golden.
• Turn the chicken pieces upside down after 10 minutes
• Once chicken is cooked on both sides apply butter / ghee/ oil on the chicken pieces and bake for another 3- 4 minutes to get the beautiful shiny golden colour on top.

Delicious chicken Tikka is ready.

Palak Ghost

Ingredients

•  Spinach (Palak) – 1 kg
•  Green chilies – 6
•  Cumin – 1 teaspoon
•  Cinnamon – 1 – 2 sticks
•  Mutton – ½ kg
•  Onion – 1
•  Garlic Ginger Paste – 1 tablespoon
• Salt – 1 teaspoon
• Red chili Powder – 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder – ½ teaspoon
• Coriander Powder – ½ teaspoon
•  Cream – 3 tablespoon
•  Oil – ½ cup

Method

•  Thoroughly wash spinach. Boil it for 10 minutes and then blend it in a blender with a dash of water (if needed) cumin seeds and green chillies
•  In a frying pan, add ¼ cup of oil and add the blended spinach. Add a pinch of salt and
• cinnamon sticks.
•  Let is simmer well in the oil until water from the spinach is dried completely. Remove
• from stove and keep aside.
• Meanwhile in a pressure cooker, add meat, onion, garlic and ginger along with 1 cup of water. Let it cook on pressure for 10 minutes or until meat it well done (know how much time your pressure cooker takes)
• Now add oil in the meat and let it the meat cook. Add chilli powder, salt, turmeric coriander powder and one small chopped tomato or ¼ yogurt (either of the two).
•  Cook the meat well until the oil is about to come on top. At this point add fried spinach in
• the meat and keep cooking nicely so all of the oil comes on top.
•  At the end add cream, mix slightly and let the palak ghost simmer on lowest flame on dam for another 5 – 10 minutes.
• Serve with simple rice or pulao.

Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer Butter Masala is another option that you can enjoy during dinner, you may think this is a bit heavy. But, you will need the energy during the match. It can get pretty exciting and draining at one point. Get the recipe here.

Shahi Tukrae 

A Lahore Qalandar match and no desert? Ho hi nahi sakhta (Not possible). Since, Lahore Qalandars represent such a royal heritage, Shahi Tukrae is an excellent option for the dessert and also a great way to celebrate if the Qalandars win. you can get an easy recipe for Shahi Tukrae here.

Lahore Qalandars embody the spirit of true cricket and they represent a city that is ready to back them up no matter what! We are rooting for Mobilink Kay Sikandar to spread that Dama Dam Mast magic on the pitch and win!!