National Foods

Once a breakfast staple for South Asia’s Muslim royalty and later hearty pre-work day sustenance of the working class, nihari is now an all-day affair in Pakistan, where this slow-cooked meat stew is heralded as the country’s national dish. Often made with beef or lamb shanks and marrow bones, it’s easy to substitute cuts like beef stew meat, oxtail, short ribs, or brisket. At its core, nihari is not that different in concept from its global counterparts goulash, pot au feu, or birria—a lazy, hearty, and heartwarming stew.