#have you ever TRIED a pakistani mango before

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Blue are you okay you've reblogged 4 posts about mango in a row 🥭🥭🥭

why thank you for asking snail. i am doing just.

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Skewer This: 19 Kickass Kebabs for Your Cookout

[Photographs: Morgan Eisenberg, Joshua Bousel, J. Kenji López-Alt]

I love putting kebabs on the menu when I'm planning a cookout—they're infinitely variable, easy to prep ahead of time, quick to cook, and pre-portioned for easy serving. We've got plenty of recipes to make sure all your guests are happy, from Thai- and Balinese-style chicken satay to pork kebabs marinated with Cuban mojo and vegetarian skewers marinated with balsamic vinaigrette. That's just the start, though—check out our guide to grilled skewers and you'll be coming up with your own recipes in no time.

A note on equipment: Not all skewers (the sticks themselves) are created equal, so check out our favorites before you settle for whatever's on sale. (And here's a tip for how to assemble your kebabs without pricking yourself.)

Chicken

[Photograph: Emily and Matt Clifton]

Chicken skewers often rely on long marinades to build flavor, but this intense lemon-garlic marinade only needs a few minutes to do its thing. We pair the chicken with tomatoes, which we grill on separate skewers since they cook up a lot quicker. For a hit of freshness, serve the kebabs with a basil chimichurri.

Grilled Lemon-Garlic Chicken and Tomato Kebabs With Basil Chimichurri Recipe »

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[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

If you've never tried making yakitori, negima is the easiest way to start. The simple dish is nothing more than skewers of chicken thigh and scallion that are grilled and brushed with homemade teriyaki sauce. Want something slightly more involved? Check out our recipe for tsukune, or Japanese chicken meatballs.

Japanese Chicken Skewers With Scallion (Negima Yakitori) Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

These skewers also draw inspiration from Japan, but instead of teriyaki sauce they get marinated in a tangy mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, mirin, and sugar known as nanbansu, which is often used as a sauce for fried chicken. You can use either breast meat or thigh meat, or both. Just remember to reserve some of the nanbansu to serve as a dip alongside.

Sweet-and-Sour Grilled Chicken Skewers (Yakitori Nanbansu) Recipe »

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[Photograph: Shao Z.]

In case you hadn't noticed, we're big fans of using chicken thigh for kebabs—it's juicier and more flavorful than chicken breast. Here we give the chicken even more flavor by marinating it with coconut milk, fish sauce (to up the umami), curry powder, garlic, shallot, and red pepper.

Grilled Curry Chicken Kebabs Recipe »

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[Photograph: Morgan Eisenberg]

These sweet and savory Vietnamese-inspired chicken skewers are marinated in orange juice and fish sauce and brushed with a caramel glaze made of light brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, shallots, honey, and more orange juice and fish sauce. For texture we roll the skewers in crunchy sesame seeds and sliced almonds after the final coat of the glaze.

Crispy Caramel Chicken Skewers Recipe »

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[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

Our version of classic Thai satay is made with pieces of chicken thigh marinated in a mixture of coconut milk, fish sauce, palm sugar, and a variety of aromatics and spices. The most time-consuming part of the recipe is making the dipping sauce—if you want to cheat you can make a quick version with just chunky peanut butter, store-bought curry paste, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, and sugar.

Thai-Style Chicken Satay With Peanut-Tamarind Dipping Sauce Recipe »

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[Photograph: Morgan Eisenberg]

These skewers are a riff on chicken saltimbocca, but to balance out the saltiness of the prosciutto, we thread a few chunks of semifirm peaches on for a bit of sweetness. We also double up on the sage; sage leaves go on the skewer, but chopped sage is included in the light white wine marinade, which flavors the chicken and helps it stay juicy while on the grill.

Grilled Chicken and Peach Saltimbocca Skewers Recipe »

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[Photograph: Morgan Eisenberg]

All it takes is some fresh herbs and a handful of pantry ingredients to create the marinade for these flavorful chicken skewers. The punch of Dijon mustard and fresh lemon juice is balanced out by honey, while fresh tarragon keeps the skewers tasting fresh and light.

Grilled Tarragon-Mustard Chicken Skewers Recipe »

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Pork

[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

There's more to satay than the Thai chicken version. To expand your horizons, check out this Balinese pork shoulder satay. The marinade, dipping sauce, and glaze are all made with a spice paste made from lemongrass, dried chilies, garlic, shallots, coriander, white pepper, and sugar. We make the paste with both a mortar and pestle (for the best flavor extraction) and a food processor (to save time and energy).

Balinese Pork Satay (Sate Babi) With Sweet Soy Glaze and Peanut Sauce Recipe »

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[Photograph: Shao Z.]

Thick, sweet, funky gochujang is a great alternative to more ubiquitous chili condiments like Sriracha and chili-garlic sauce. Here we mix it with honey, sake, and soy sauce to make a marinade for pork belly and vegetables. Gochujang is fairly tame in terms of heat—this dish isn't as scary as the color might make you think.

Grilled Pork Belly Kebabs With Sweet-and-Spicy Gochujang Marinade Recipe »

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[Photograph: Joshua Bousel]

These pork kebabs are marinated with Cuban mojo, a tangy sauce made with sour-orange juice and garlic—if you don't have access to sour oranges, a mix of orange juice and lime juice will work. Sweet mangos are perfect for balancing the acidic sauce, but make sure to use firmer, slightly underripe ones so that they don't fall off the skewers.

Mojo-Marinated Pork Kebabs With Mango Recipe »

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Beef

[Photograph: Shao Z.]

While not as well known as the food of Thailand or Vietnam, Cambodian cooking is well worth exploring. Much of the country's cuisine is based on kroeung, aromatic flavor pastes that form the foudnation for all sorts of dishes. In this recipe that means aromatics like lemongrass, bay leaves, thyme, citrus zest, and cinnamon, which we mix with fish sauce and oil and use to coat strips of sirloin or flank steak.

Cambodian Grilled Lemongrass Beef Skewers Recipe »

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[Photograph: Joshua Bousel]

These easy beef kebabs use one sweet-and-savory sauce for both the marinade and the glaze. We start with what is essentially a teriyaki sauce base and add ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and pineapple juice. To go with the juice we add chunks of pineapple to the skewers, along with red onion and bell pepper.

Ginger-Teriyaki Beef Kebabs Recipe »

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[Photograph: Joshua Bousel]

If you're not going to serve steak at your cookout, then how about kebabs packed with all the flavors of a classic steakhouse dinner? These hearty sirloin tip, mushroom, and onion skewers are marinated in a steak sauce-style mix of Worcestershire, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce.

Steakhouse Kebabs Recipe »

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Lamb

[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

Walk into an Indian market and you're bound to find pre-packaged seekh kebab spices, but you're much better off making the mixture from scratch. Our version uses a blend made with spices like black peppercorns, coriander seed, paprika, and amchur powder. Made of dried mango, amchur adds a wonderful sour note to the kebabs—if you can't find it then use citric acid powder, tamarind paste, or lime juice in its place.

Seekh Kebabs (Pakistani Spicy Grilled Ground Meat Skewers) Recipe »

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[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

If you've ever had the cumin lamb burger from New York's Xi'an Famous Foods, then you already know that lamb is very popular in parts of China. Yang rou chuan is a street food favorite in Beijing made by grilling lamb shoulder chop with a mixture of cumin and chili flakes—our version also adds granulated garlic, fennel seeds, and Shaoxing wine.

Spicy Cumin Lamb Skewers (Yang Rou Chuan) Recipe »

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Vegetarian

[Photograph: Joshua Bousel]

These meatless skewers are made with zucchini, red onion, grape tomatoes, and halloumi—a squeaky Cypriot cheese that works wonderfully for grilling. To flavor the cheese and veggies we turn to an olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, and mint vinaigrette.

Halloumi and Vegetable Skewers Recipe »

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[Photograph: Joshua Bousel]

To make vegan-friendly skewers we keep the zucchini, red onion, and grape tomatoes and swap the cheese out for yellow squash and bell pepper. You can add other vegetables if you'd like, but make sure to go with sturdy ones that can hold up to being skewered and grilled.

Balsamic Vegetable Skewers Recipe »

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[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

Yakitori is really all about the chicken, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for a few vegetable sides. Grilled shishito peppers brushed with teriyaki sauce are one of my favorite yakitori pairings. Be sure to double-skewer the peppers—I've learned the hard way that it's basically impossible to flip them otherwise.

Grilled Skewered Shishito Peppers With Teriyaki Glaze Recipe »

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Source: https://www.seriouseats.com/roundups/kebab-recipes

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5 beautiful destinations Pakistanis can travel to on a budget

From island escape­s, Easter­n Europe­an marvel­s and South-East Asian deligh­ts, inspir­e your inner wander­lust on a budget­

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/GIRL WITH THE GREEN PASSPORT/ESLIMAH/AYESHA OMAR

KARACHI: The global travel industry is growing and it’s growing fast. Not only that, more people are travelling now than ever before, thanks to cheaper flights and the ease of planning and booking a trip.

Add to this the new batch of travel bloggers on Instagram and you’ve got hundreds of people jetting off to places they had never heard of before. After all, it’s a most human thing to explore new horizons.

And statistics don’t lie. The travel and tourism sector grew more in 2018 than all other economic sectors, adding a record $8.8 trillion to the world’s combined Gross Domestic Product – up from $8.3 trillion in 2017. It created some 319 million new jobs as well, according to Forbes.

While Pakistan is expected get higher numbers of tourists thanks to the government’s support, what about Pakistanis wanting to go abroad? Everyone is surely feeling the rupee’s present standing against the dollar and this can make travel for Pakistanis at home very expensive.

But don’t worry, we have you covered. Here are our recommendations for some pretty lust-worthy destinations across the globe that will allow you to indulge your wanderlust without draining your pockets. Bon voyage!

Istanbul, the transcontinental escape

Turkey really offers the best of both worlds. Straddling Europe and Asia, its capital Istanbul is hailed as one of the greatest cities in the world with lots of history, heritage, culture and beauty to offer. Not to mention, the Turkish and Pakistanis love each other!

A single entry visa will cost you around Rs8,500 and flight tickets will be roughly Rs80,000 return during peak holiday seasons. Decent 3-star hotels are abundant, right next to the exquisite Sultan Ahmet Mosque. And then, there is the AirBnB option.

Best places to go: Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square…need we go on?

Maldives – the water wonderland 

This island nation is the picture of paradise. Think bungalows hovering over turquoise waters, golden beaches and lots of scuba diving. Oh, and seriously Insta-worthy sunsets! How could you not want to travel to the Maldives?

The best thing is that this dream can be a reality because it’s surprisingly reasonable and also Muslim-friendly.

Located in the Arabian Sea, the capital Malé has a busy fish market, restaurants and shops on the main road, Majeedhee Magu, and 17th-century Hukuru Miskiy (also known as Friday Mosque) made of carved white coral. No wonder it’s a honeymoon staple.

Cheapest flight: Around Rs60,000.

Eastern Europe – the new it place 

You may not think Eastern Europe is cheap area but it actually is! If you want a unique travel experience that truly captivates, this entire region is the place for you.

Take Romania for example. Whatever you think this country is, it probably isn’t. The Transylvanian region, in particular, defies expectations with its quaint medieval towns and spectacular Carpathian mountain range. Many travel bloggers reiterate that it’s a beautiful country with great food and friendly people. The cheapest flight is around Rs60,000 (not to mention once you’re there, eating and sleeping is great value!), making it one of the most inexpensive countries to travel to for Pakistanis.

And, can we please talk about Ukraine. It’s on every traveller’s bucket list as of late and there are raving reviews about it. With flights starting from around Rs50,000, Ukraine is possibly one of the cheapest options for Pakistanis wanting to go beyond the Middle East.

Hotspots: The coastal city of Odessa on the Black Sea is a favourite, while the beautiful city of Lviv (close to the Polish border) is widely tipped as offering some of the best values for money in Europe.

5 Muslim countries that are trending holiday destinations this summer

Azerbaijan and Georgia – easy on the eyes and the wallets

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I burnt my hand in Georgia. . I was rushing to catch the 10 am Mashrukta (intercity mini-bus) from Tbilisi to Signagi. When I reached the bus stop, there was a 10-minute window. I bought some bananas for breakfast & coffee in a flimsy, small cup from a tiny window in a kiosk. I got into the minibus with low roof, my back bent, backpack on, bananas, wallet & phone in one hand and coffee cup in another. As I sat amongst two strangers, and tried to adjust my butt, I shook the coffee cup, it spilled a bit on my hand, it was so hot that in within a second, my instincts had me drop the entire thing, and then it spilled it on my right palm all the way to my right thigh, splashes on left hand; and couple splashes on the stranger sitting next to me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I was first embarrassed on my clumsiness, then guilty for being late & rushing in the first place and then in pain. I had burnt my right palm and it was BURNING. The bus had started. It was a 2-hour ride to this small city, Signagni, reputed to be the city of love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And in burning pain I thought, holy mother of shits I need to see a doctor and finding a doctor in a small city I’m heading to for the first time! I was sure I’m gonna get huge blisters all over my palm and then I won’t be able to touch or hold anything and then the rest of the trip will be a waste. All thoughts crossed my head in the next 15 minutes. I felt like crying. The only thing that comforted me was the reminder that I was medically insured for such accidents, courtesy @jgi.pk (not an ad). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Anyway, I kept a bundle of tissue paper soaked in water, between the palm of my hands, the entire journey. Suggested by the stranger next to me. And that did relieve me to some extent. I reached Signagi, the burning had calmed & I didnt feel the need to see a doctor. I looked at my coffee-stained dress, felt sad; but then I looked at the terra cotta roofs, amidst lush green hills and cobblestone streets of Signagi and I forgot the incident. I headed ahead to explore this tiny quaint town & make the most of my day! Ever spilled coffee & burnt yourself? Outfit courtesy: @qnhstore #Signagi #Georgia

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Travel Lifestyle (@girlwithgreenpassport) on Jun 11, 2019 at 8:52am PDT

Speaking of Eastern Europe, take Georgia for example. Where is it? Right next to the latest Pakistani travellers favourite, Azerbaijan. So  consider going to both countries together and explore this stunning region.

Georgia small country in the Caucasus – one you’ll probably be hearing more about it in the years to come. It all starts in the eccentric capital of Tbilisi. From there, be sure to explore the stunning Caucasian Mountain range, dip your feet in the Black Sea, and visit ancient hilltop monasteries (a few of them are inside caves!) all over the country.

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Welcome to Georgia. Sitting at the crossroads of Asia & Europe, but unfairly, the less talked about country, compared to its neighbouring Turkey. It swept me off my feet with its expansive sights, sounds, experiences and tastes. All of which, I had a heart full of in my 10 days. Tbilisi, the beating heart of the country sits in the lap of lush green hills. It is dotted with old Eurasian architecture on the slopes and decorated with modern and artistic glass shaped buildings and bridges in the centre. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three hours north of the capital & I was in the midst of the Caucasus mountain. The tapestry changed. The little town of Kazbegi welcomed me first with its chilly mountain air & then warmed me with the hospitality. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I drove 2 hours east of Tbilisi, I was in Kaheti, the wine region of the country. Ask a local and they show you with pride, their traditional winemaking methods. With a curious set of eyes and ears, I learnt all I could about 8000-year-old Georgian winemaking tradition. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three hours west of Tbilisi, I reached one of the oldest cities in Europe, Kutaisi. The highlight was the locals I met; they were even more friendly and had all the time in the world for conversations. They enjoyed learning about Pakistan from me as I did about Georgia from them. Nature swayed me even more, as I visited the canyons nearby Kutaisi. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The only thought I had throughout my visit, is that this country deserves more limelight than it has! There is so much I want to pour out, but I gotta save some for upcoming posts. Are you guys with me? Pls let me know what do you want me to tell about the country? . : Old town Tbilisi (picture taken via self timer & remote)

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Travel Lifestyle (@girlwithgreenpassport) on May 28, 2019 at 5:10am PDT

As for Azerbaijan, the capital Baku is an obvious must.  There’s so much you can pack in a few days, including the ultra-modern Heydar Aliyev Center.

Flights: Cheapest air-tickets to either or of these countries are around Rs45,000, usually with one stop somewhere in the Middle East.

Vietnam – a different kind of South East Asia

Forget Thailand and Sri Lanka right now because Vietnam is all that it’s about these days. And for good reason too. From the beautiful chaos of Hanoi’s Old Quarter to the serene Hoi An riverfront adorned with coloured lanterns, this is truly a country full of contrasts.

But Vietnam is not for the faint-hearted. If adventure is what you’re about, be prepared for crazy weather cycles and off-beat exotic scenery. Alas, it’s also among the cheapest places in Asia: eat local and you’ll struggle to spend more than a few hundred rupees per meal. A round trip ticket is around Rs87,000.

What to do: There are a myriad of pristine beaches, such as Mango Bay and Halong Bay. Don’t forget to explore rice-farming mountains where you can go caving. Adventure sports on the beaches are also a must.

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New Post has been published on Toronto Events, Activities and Entertainment

New Post has been published on https://www.torontonicity.com/2018/03/11/naan-and-kabob-restaurant-yonge-bloor/

Naan and Kabob Restaurant Opens at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto

By Lori Bosworth

I have never tried Afghan cuisine before so I was intrigued when I was invited to visit Naan and Kabob’s new restaurant at Yonge and Bloor Street in Toronto for a tasting. This Afghanistan restaurant, located in the former Spring Rolls premises just south of Yonge Street, already has four locations in Mississauga, Scarborough and Markham. My dining partner and I visited on Saturday at lunch and the restaurant was full – always a good sign.

Interior of Naan and Kabob Restaurant at 693 Yonge Street, Toronto

I introduced myself to the owner and chef, Fahim Ahmedi, who came over to our table to explain the menu and a bit about Afghan cooking. Afghanistan is situated between Iran and Pakistan so the influences of both countries are noticeable in Afghan cuisine. There are several distinct differences, which Ahmedi pointed out. Whereas Pakistan and Northern Indian curries are hot, the Afghan palate prefers medium-spiced curries. Iranian food, on the other hand, is very mildly spiced. On the spectrum of spiciness, Afghan fits right in the middle between Iranian and Pakistani cuisine. Another noticeable difference is the moderate use of garlic. While Indian food is heavy on garlic, Afghan cuisine uses garlic in moderation, since too much garlic causes one to become thirsty, Ahmedi advised. Ahmedi also told us that Afghan cuisine uses only the best basmati rice, which is a fine grain that does not stick together. Spices that feature predominantly in Afghan cuisine are cilantro, coriander seed, ginger, cinnamon, garlic and chili flakes.

With that introduction under our belt, we were ready to peruse the menu. We really wanted to try the Chicken Curry Plate and Channa Masala Plates; however, Ahmedi suggested we try the Bolanee and Mantu appetizers, chicken curry and channa masala, along with a Grilled Kabob Plate, which is served with a side order of Naan. I also really wanted to try the Mango Smoothie (I saw a lot of people ordering them at the counter.) While we thought this might be too much food for two people, Ahmedi thought we would get a better idea of what their menu had to offer.

Usually at Naan and Kabob you place your order at the counter and they give you a beeper that lets you know when your order is ready. On this occasion, staff brought the dishes to our table. All of our food was brought at the same time, which was great, since we wanted to place a bit of each dish on our plates.

Bolanee at Naan and Kabob, 693 Yonge Street, Toronto

We started with the Bolanee ($6.99). This appetizer is a lightly grilled naan stuffed with potatoes, green onions and herbs and served with a side of yogourt. We both loved the Bolanee – the naan was thin and the delicious potato filling was pleasantly spiced.

We tried another appetizer, Mantu ($6.99), which is dumplings with a filling of ground beef, sauteed onions and accompanied with seasoned yogourt and split peas. I enjoyed this dish, especially the filling and seasoned chick peas, but I have to admit the dumplings were a bit filling.

Mantu appetizer at Naan and Kabob Restaurant, Toronto

One of my favourite dishes was the channa masala. This was definitely the spiciest dish we tried. I really enjoyed the contrasting cilantro and cinnamon flavours that dominated the channa masala. The chicken curry was also very good – not as spicy as you would get in an Indian restaurant.

Chicken Curry at Naan and Kabob Restaurant at 693 Yonge Street, Toronto

The Mango Smoothie ($3.99) was delicious. Despite the fact that the curries at Naan and Kabob are not super hot, I still find the need for something sweet to offset the spices and this smoothie did the trick. Made with mango and milk, this smoothie is not too thick that you won’t have room to enjoy the kabobs.

Grilled Kabob Plates at Naan and Kabob Restaurant, Toronto

The Grilled Kabob Plate ($16.99) features Tandori Chicken, Shisk Kabob and Classic Chicken, scented basmati rice, house salad and naan. While the Shish Kabob and Tandori Chicken was good, the Classic Chicken was excellent – juicy and delicately spiced. The basmati rice was some of the best I have ever had – its fragrant flavour was further enhanced by raisins. We also both loved the house salad, which featured carrots.

A serving of naan at Naan and Kabob Restaurant, Toronto

The accompanying naan was tasty enough to dip in the delicious curry, but not as crispy and light as I like my naan. I much preferred the naan in the Bolanee.

Overall, we loved the food at Naan and Kabob at 693 Yonge Street! We thought the menu offered great value and the ambiance was airy and comfortable. Our introduction to the flavour profiles of Afghan cuisine was an exciting experience! I definitely recommend visiting Naan and Kabob Restaurant the next time you are in the Yonge and Bloor area.

Naan and Kabob, 693 Yonge Street, Toronto