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
Aiswarya @ My Kitchen Moments says
Hi Sara, Thank you for stopping by my blog and the follow. I have been looking for baking recipes and your blog inspires me a lot to try baking. And also to learn more about Pakistani food too!
sarahjmir says
Thanks so much for your kind words, much appreciated!
RamanDeep Singh says
hey, your food is damn good.i m from india 🙂 and because i eat beef i love your recipe
sarahjmir says
haha thanks! glad you stopped by 🙂
Ayesha says
Hello!! I've nominated your lovely blog for two awards... check em out here! 🙂 http://kitchensmitten.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/gettin-awardy/
sarahjmir says
Thank you much much Ayesha!!!!
Faaiza.O says
Love your work!!
sarahjmir says
Thank you so much Faaiza! Thrilled you stopped by 🙂
Sadaf F K says
AoA Sarah! You've got such a yummy blog here. Thanks for coming over my place. I'm so glad to discover another PAKISTANI Food Blogger! 🙂 Be in touch! 🙂
Love & Blessings,
Sadaf F K.
sarahjmir says
Thank you so much Sadaf!!!
Sadaf F K. says
Hello again. Just hovering here to tell you that I select you for an Award with some muffins to serve you. Enjoy!
chefinframe.blogspot.com/2014/08/easy-coconut-muffins-with-crumbs.html
Namrata says
Lovely introduction! Thanks for stopping by my blog and in turn leading me to yours... I love what I see here. I am a miserable baker but your site inspires me to try and experiment. Looking forward to much more. Happy Blogging Sara.
sarahjmir says
Thanks so much Namrata!
SaQa (@Goonerette23) says
Hello Sarah! I’m new to your blog and i must say the simplicity of this theme and detailed recipe instructions with a tinge of humor had me at once! Keep posting 😀 Love x
sarahjmir says
Thank you thank you thank you! Sorry for the late reply, just got back from an extended vacation!
SaQa (@Goonerette23) says
Hello Sarah! I'm new to your blog and i must say the simplicity of this theme and detailed recipe instructions with a tinge of humor had me at once! Keep posting 😀 Love x
Rukmini Roy says
I stumbled upon your blog looking for food bloggers from pakistan for an event of ours and I tell you this is so good. Following you here on! Great recipe Sarah... Hope to see more.
sarahjmir says
Thanks so much Rukmini! sorry about the late reply, if you are following my blog then by now you probably know what's been keeping me away!
Sabeen says
Hi sarah , lovely blog 🙂 Hope to see more x
sarahjmir says
Hi Sabeen - thanks so much for your kind words!
Jahangir Alam says
Marvellous dishes
Sarah Mir says
thank you!
Liz says
I see I have been here before. Thank you for stopping by my blog.....I appreciate!
Liz says
I love your sense of humour and oh yes I did find your blog. Thanks for stopping by. I like the roasted tomato soup, must try it sometime, and the Biryani!
sarahjmir says
Thanks for hunting me down 🙂 I really need to make that a lot easier - am very new to all this!
Zubaida says
I have a 15 month old and I just went from working full time to part time because I wanted to spend more time with my son. My biggest challenge has been brainstorming and preparing dinner well. I just came by your great website today and I’ve already used 4 of the recipes for my meal prep for this week. Thank you! Let’s see how it all turns out. 😀
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
That is SO SO nice to hear! please do keep me posted on how the recipes turn out!
Murtaza Jafri says
I saw we put on skype, get some pots and pans and do a top chef throoooow down.
sarahjmir says
Thanks so much G!!! Good thing you aren't close by otherwise you would get lots of sloppy cuddles hehe
Jahangir Alam says
Outstanding dishes best wishes for you
Jahangir Alam says
Magnificent dishes and my best wishes for you and your family
Sarah Mir says
thank you so very much!
One of the Three Musketeers. says
This blog is my dream come true. So many years of eating your yummy desserts and hearing about the ones I didn't get to try, I am finally getting the chance to attempt some of them!! Your writing is so true to you that I feel like I'm in the kitchen with you, cracking up at your little comments. Can't wait to visit you again and wake up to Carrot Cake Pancakes or Mixed Vegetable Quiche... heaven.
LoveYouLots!
AG