Clay pots, also known as matka, have historically been known to be a part of Pakistani and Indian households for cooking purposes. A matka is a form of earthenware which is made up of clay. Food is slowly cooked, rather than baked, inside the matka, which retains the original taste and nutritious value of the food while also keeping it tender and evenly cooked.
Numerous renowned clay-pot cooked cuisines are famous among Pakistanis and a food lover’s dream! What are some of the best clay-pot dishes to try, what makes matka cooked dishes so special and as the best Pakistani restaurant in Chicago, why has Usmania introduced these mouth-watering dishes in its menu? Read on below to find out!
1. MATKA BIRYANI
Biryani is perhaps the most famous Pakistani and Indian rice-and-meat dish. For its preparation, meat is cooked with curry of onion and tomato paste, loaded with flavorful and aromatic spices in a clay pot. This mixture is layered upon boiled rice and is covered to be cooked on very low heat so that the rice is infused with the flavor and savory aroma of the meat curry. There are many variations of biryani. One can use the type of meat of their preference with chicken, beef, mutton, and fish being used the most. Additionally, meat can also be skipped and one can use vegetables instead.
2. MATKA NIHARI
Nihari is one of the most loved dishes in Pakistan. It is prepared by stir-frying spices and meat (beef or mutton) in lots of oil or desi ghee (clarified butter) and then left to cook on low flame in a matka. Since the meat used is high in fat content, the gravy is thick and full of flavors. Paired with naan bread and condiments like lemon, ginger, and fresh coriander, its essence stays with you for quite a while.
3. MATKA QORMA
A rich, flavorsome, and full of spices curry, usually made using mutton but can also be made using beef. It is made by frying thinly sliced onion in oil and then adding meat, spices, and yogurt for stir-frying. Then the matka is covered and the contents inside are cooked on low flame until the meat is tender. This thick, bright red colored curry is paired with naan bread and is something any Pakistani will happily eat any day of the week.
4. MATKA KUNNA GOSHT OR MATKA GOSHT
A delicious meat curry cooked in a clay pot using very few spices. An authentic matka gosht recipe uses mutton, ideally from the hind leg, and cooked in a matka that is bound (to its lid) by flour dough so that no steam escapes. The result is meat so tender that it melts in your mouth. It can also be paired with naan bread or boiled rice garnished with lemon wedges, chopped green chilies, and freshly chopped coriander.
5. PAAYA OR PAAYE
It is a unique curry that uses very few ingredients to be prepared but is rather complex to master. It is prepared by frying onion in oil and then adding bone-in legs and feet of goat, cow, sheep, etc., and spices. The broth is cooked on low flame for as long as the tendons and cartilage surrounding and inside the player become so soft that it almost falls off the bone. Served with hot naan bread with lemon wedges and fresh coriander, this thick, slimy gravy is one of the most favorite dishes of Pakistanis.
6. CHICKEN WHITE HANDI
This dish is different from those mentioned above because most Pakistani dishes use spices that give them a bright red color, however, as the name suggests, this dish is white. It is prepared by sautéing chopped onion in butter, adding in chicken and other spices, yogurt, and cream. It is left on low heat in a covered matka till the chicken is tender and the oil separates. Usually served with naan bread or plain boiled rice, the creamy and buttery taste of Chicken White Handi will leave you craving more
CULINARY BENEFITS OF COOKING IN A MATKA
There are various benefits of using a matka for cooking. Firstly, food cooked in a clay pot is much more flavorful than food cooked in utensils made of any other material such as aluminum, iron, and steel. The reason behind this is that a matka requires low heat and slow cooking of the food which holds and regulates moisture and heat evenly throughout the pot. This results in aromatic, lip-smacking, and delectable food that keeps you asking for more and more.
In addition to its quality of making flavorful food, cooking in a matka also has various health benefits. The alkaline nature of the clay lowers the acidic content of the food cooked in a matka. The food not only tastes good but is very easy on the stomach.
Due to the earthy nature of a clay pot, it contains important minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Cooking in a matka means that all that earthy goodness is mixed with the food, making it a healthier choice. Matka also requires very little oil usage. Since food cooked in a matka retains all the oils and moisture, there is very little need to add more oil.
CONCLUSION
Pakistani matka cuisines are a blend of unique flavors, and if you are a food lover, you must try these foods. As the best Pakistani restaurant in Chicago, Usmania Fine Dining has introduced a variety of scrumptious matka dishes, comprising a wide range of biryani dishes and curry dishes. Biryani dishes include Matka Mutton Biryani, Matka Mutton Qorma Biryani, Matka Vegetable Biryani, and Matka Chicken Biryani, whereas, curry dishes, include Matka Gosht, Matka Achar Gosht (beef), and Matka Achar Gosht (Chicken).
If you ever happen to be in Chicago, especially Devon Street, do visit Usmania Fine Dining, we would love to serve you the best of Matka Cuisines and a variety of scrumptious Pakistani delicacies.
