Somethings about Pakistan women

Awareness, inspiration

Pakistani Women have evolved in recent years from stay at home wives, mothers and daughters to working women. Previously, when I was growing up, the acceptable ( by our society ) professions for girls were medicine ( Doctor) and teaching. But now the world has opened up for them. They can go to any profession they like including Air Force, and army. We have women flying combat planes in the army and Air Force.

The girls here are more hard working than boys their age and usually scores the top positions in high school and matriculation exams. In the centralized civil service of Pakistan they also get the top merit positions.

There is hardly any profession in our country where women aren’t leading the field. There are prominent women doctors, surgeons, lawyers, human rights advocates, business women, poets, writers, corporate heads, bankers, and politicians. We had the first woman prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, in 1988.

There are cultural restrictions on women in our society, but our girls are breaking these barriers and marching ahead. Our religion Islam does not bind women to home and hearth. Muslim women can adopt any profession as long as they observe our Canons of decency.

I’m proud to be a Pakistani woman.

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A blogger requested the recipe for haleem that I mentioned in a recent post. So here is my own recipe ;

Haleem

Ingredients;

  • Boneless chicken or any other meat; 1 pound/ 1/2 kilogram
  • Split chickpea; 1 cup
  • Split red lentils; 1/2 cup
  • Split black gram lentils; 1/2 cup
  • Moong daal( yellow lentils) ; 1/2 cup
  • Cracked wheat or oats; 1/2 cup
  • Rice optional; 1/2 cup
  • Oil as required

Spices;

  • Salt per taste
  • Red chili powder; 1- 2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder; 1-2 tsp
  • Black pepper powder; 1/2 tsp
  • Garam masala; 2 tsp
  • Ground cumin powder; 2 tsp
  • Ginger paste; 2 tbs
  • Garlic paste; 2 tbs
  • Onion powder; 2 tbs

Method;

  • Wash and soak the lentils and split chickpeas in warm water for a couple of hours or overnight.
  • in a pot big enough,combine them and add enough water to cook till tender. Don’t add salt as that lengthens the cooking time.
  • In a separate pot, boil the cracked wheat or oats.
  • Cut chicken ( or beef or lamb) into small pieces.
  • Put some oil in a pot and add the meat to it.
  • Add garlic and ginger paste,2 tbs each to the meat and brown it till it is no longer pink.
  • Add onion powder 2 tablespoon to it, salt per taste, 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder and 1 teaspoon garam masala.
  • Add water. Chicken requires less water as it cooks quickly. Lamb and beef require more water.
  • Let the meat cook till tender. When it’s done then break it apart with a potato masker into smaller bits.
  • When the lentils and wheat/oats are soft, mix them and use the potato masher to mash them.
  • Mix the meat and lentil mixture and let it simmer on low heat for a few hours. Season it with as much spice you like when you’ve mixed the haleem.
  • When the dish is ready fry onions and put “tarka” on the haleem before serving.

I know this sounds tedious and time consuming process. There is a shortcut too. On Amazon and in Indian stores, “Shan Easy cook haleem” packets are available. Just follow the instructions on the package and it’s going to be equally good. 😉😋😛

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#Keepitalive

#ProudertobePakistani

Published by Sadje

I am writing to express my opinion, share my experiences and to maybe provide some insight. My blog is addressing women at 50 ( but men are welcome to read my posts) ,their issues and the questions that come up at this stage in life. I don’t aim to teach, but to learn together.

Published

110 thoughts on “Somethings about Pakistan women”

  1. Women have indeed made great strides indeed. I am a big fan of women in non traditional roles which your post speaks to with excellence. Great share.
    Thank your for the very detailed recipe, Much appreciated.
    Question: what is moong daal?

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  2. Oh Haleem is one of my favorite dishes. I made it one time, and didn’t mash the meat, so it was more like nihari with lentils. All the Pakistani women in the neighborhood took pity on my then husband and made us a variety of dishes, haleem included. I did not complain!!

    It is wonderful to hear of the advancements Pakistani women have made.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

  3. We eat a lot of split pea soup and black eyed pea soup etc. Make it in a crock pot. Not as involved as you make but always delicious. We usually just add this and that and plenty of onions, hot sauce, spices etc to it and serve with rice. You have given some new ideas.

    My husband does all the chopping/cooking!! I set the table. 🙂
    And wash the dishes. 😦

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Tarka is fried onions poured on top of the dish with accompanying oil/ ghee. Makes food look good and taste yummy. Meat is not an essential ingredient of every dish. I personally love vegetarian food. But haleem is incomplete without meat. I’m glad too that women here are making wonderful progress. Thanks

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Pakistan has one of the largest populations of tobacco users in the world, with over 22 million adults ages 18 or older smoking cigarettes, waterpipe, bidis, or some other tobacco product and millions more using smokeless tobacco products, including gutka, naswar, and paan.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    1. Yes Maggie, this was a surprise for me when I came to know how few women were in scientific fields. I thought it would be way more. The fact that an advanced society has put hurdles in the way of women is not what it should have been.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Moong is yellow lentils. It’s used to make bean sprouts. Garam masala is a mixture of ground spices like cumin, cardamom, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon. Tarka is made by frying thinly sliced onions in oil and pouring it on top of the cooked haleem

      Like

      Reply

  16. Our current Prime Minister is a woman. But I see it’s still hard earned position that only some women want and make it through the predominantly male ranks. Most seem to have significant family support.
    Which of men have often had the support but don’t realise until the day their significant other walks out on them, and they don’t know how to do a number of destic chores their other did…
    Thanks for sharing about your life.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  17. Sadje, this is a wonderful post–I recall seeing photos of the Prime Minister before–she is SO Beautiful, and exudes such grace!!! Thank you for the recipe! When I give it a try, I’ll report back to you–and thank you so much for the quickie version (Amazon), in case I need it! You’re so thoughtful–and such a lovely woman yourself ❤

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  23. It’s wonderful to know how women in ya country have stretched out their wings and broken off the cage of gender parity, and have now become the leading in most sectors. I agree that women aught not to allow themselves to be denigrated by men when they are equally intelligent. And, what a delicious recipe! 😋 💖💖

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  27. I love this article! In the financial world I have worked with amazing Pakistani women! I have learned so much and really enjoyed the friendships we have made!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. Women everywhere has every reason to be proud for what they do and endure. I feel we women keep a face for the men and soul for ourselves. “ Daughter of the East “ by Benazir Bhutto and “ My Feudal Lord” by Tehmina Durrani are my favourite women writings. Blessings 💐

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
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