Hi there! My name is Sarah (pronounced Saa-Ra) and I am a Pakistani Food Blogger and mom of two living in Canada who shares her love for cooking Pakistani "ghar ka khana" and baking at Flour & Spice. Whether it is traditional Pakistani recipes, the best desserts or that fantastic burger, I believe in simplifying cooking without sacrificing flavor.
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A Lifetime of Pakistani Kitchens
I have often said I come from a long line of practical women, but as I get older I feel privileged to have also been educated in a wide variety of Pakistani kitchens. In each and every one I learnt something that stayed with me.
In my mothers Jeddah years I watched and learnt how to cook smarter, where to cut corners and where not to. In my nanis (grandmothers) kitchen I learnt about balance, when to use a heavy hand, when to let the ingredients speak for themselves. From my aunts I learnt how flavour varies as each created a different kind of magic out of thin air.
To this day the everyday magic wrought in these Pakistani kitchens holds me in it's thrall.
My approach: authentic flavor, zero unnecessary fuss. My family has always cooked smart, not hard - freezer-prepped masalas, shortcuts that don't sacrifice taste, and "adjust to taste" as a genuine rule, not a disclaimer because the goal here is to help you recreate a palate that speaks to you, not just one that mimics mine. I had enough teachers to know that even within a family palates vary and that's something I truly appreciate.
One of my favorite emails from a reader said that she loved my blog not just for the recipes, but because it taught her to cook Pakistai ghar ka khana and make it her own. That friends is the dream. Thank you for being here and allowing me to share it with you.
What you'll find here: a deep library of Pakistani recipes - a one pot pulao that embodies flavorful comfort, aloo gosht just like mamas, homestyle daals, the perfect shami kebabs - explained the way someone who actually lived this food would explain it, plus the bakes and desserts I love just as much (hello, you dreamy caramel custard). Also what is tea time without a fantastic cake, right?
Happy Cooking!
Sarah
Happily Featured In
- CBC Life for Eid Recipes
- CBC Life for Iftar Recipes
- Brown Girl Mag
- Le Creuset
- NPR
- CBC Sports: Opinion
- Panelist at She Ate Toronto
- Featured in Express Tribune
Note: All the pictures shared on this Pakistani food blog and content in it are my own unless clearly stated otherwise. Reproducing in part or whole without my permission is a violation of my intellectual property. If you would like to include my content in something then reach out and I am happy to work with you!
For questions about that and collaborations email me at flourandspiceblog@gmail.com
Sara says
Sarah- I would love a daal makhaani recipe from you. Have you ever made it? In England, a restaurant called Dishoom makes the best daal makhaani but would love to try other versions that work. Love your website- it helps complete newbies like me so much. Keep up the amazing work.
Sarah Mir says
Hi Sara! Thank you SO much! I have definitely eaten absolutely phenomenal daal makhanis at restaurants but I can't say that I have ever made one! Wish I had!
samina mariani says
Hello Sarah,
My husband and I've lived in Toronto for almost 4 decades, recently moving to the burbs when our sons moved out. I've read many blogs on our food, but no one comes remotely close to yours - not just how well you write, but the few recipes I've tried are amazing, the numerous I mean to try are mouth-watering and I can tell they're delicious just by reading them - maybe bc I love to cook (tho' I don't come close to my family's great cooking when it comes to desi food), .
Sarah, I'd love to have you and your hubby over for a meal one day or treat you to a coffee somewhere if you're ever so inclined to spend time chatting with an older lady like me, as you feel like a kindred spirit. Regardless, I will continue to admire your blog and thank you for such a wonderful effort!
Sarah Mir says
I am so touched that I don't have words. Any one who has met me can attest to how rare an occurrence that is. Bowled over by your kindness of spirit!
barbara R. A berkheiser says
Hello, I truly love your puff pastry recipes. May I ask what brand of puff pastry you use as all the recipes look GREAT. Thank you Barbara
Sarah Mir says
thanks! I use anything that is marked as all butter - I am in Canada and both Selection and PC Brand All Butter Puff pastries are good!
Kebab near me says
Hello Sarah,
I'm truly inspired by your blog, Flour & Spice! Your passion for traditional Pakistani cooking and how you share it so beautifully is incredible. The photo of you pouring chai really captures the essence of warmth and heritage. I'm eager to try your pulao, daal, and kulfi recipes. Could you share more about how these dishes connect you to your roots?
Thank you for such a delightful culinary insight!
playdesi says
nice site
Mahmud Ansari says
Assalam-O-Alaikum.
I was introduced to your blog by my daughter, Nida. I looked at your Masoor Daal recipe. While it is available for the Stove Top, the instant pot version is not available. Could you please add it? Thanks.
Wassalam.
Sarah Mir says
Absolutely! I’ll add that in next week IA but masoor cooks fast so I’d say around 6 minutes and natural release!
Sue salim says
Sarah: I came across your blog it seems to have fantastic recipes. Do you have any sugar free desert recipes? I can only have fruit sugar. Thanks ! Also do you have any videos about recipes?
Sarah Mir says
Hi there and welcome! I am so sorry I don't have sugar free recipes!! I hear that monk fruit sugar works well in the caramel custard and also the kheer, but I have not tried them myself!
Zohair says
Hi Sarah,
On the Hanifia Sauce, by flour - do you mean all-purpose flour ? Maida ?
Please reply ASAP, as I plan to try your recipe tomorrow !
Thanks
Zohair
Cypress TX
Sarah Mir says
Oh gosh! SO SO sorry and yes AP Flour!
Kiran Lakhani says
Hi Sarah!
Happily stumbled across your blog upon searching for a very Pakistani masala fried fish recipe. Since then I've relished 3 of your recipes, all of which have been a treat! So nice to run into you again after so many years this way... over food, which is so fitting 😀
Still remember those amazing brownies we used to make - the recipe of which I've been trying to look up for years but no luck.
Somehow I recall you moved to Toronto. Are you still there? Asking because I'm visiting TO in a couple weeks and would love to meet and catch up if you're down.
Love and hugs,
Kiran
Sarah Mir says
Kiran!!! I can't believe I missed this! I am in Toronto now and am guessing you're not - if you are Id love to meet up. It's been far tooooo long!