Pakistan – Roasted Spicy Batair

by Dahiza Umar

To Eat is a necessity, but to Eat intelligently is an art

INTRODUCTION

Batair is a word used for QUAIL in urdu. It is a bird usually found in northern areas of Pakistan and is legally allowed to hunt it and cook in our own traditional way. This dish is so unique in its own way because of the use of this bird meat to spice it up with the authentic spices like red chilies, cumin, traditional aromatic garam masala, yogurt and some herbs.

VARIETIES OF DISHES MADE FROM THIS BIRD, BATAIR

There are many dishes made from this unique meat like

• Tandoori batair
• bar b qued batair
• batair curry
• batair karai
• spicy roasted batair etc

TRADITION OF PAKISTAN

In Pakistan, there is craze of hunting like young generation have hobbies like to hunt in the forest and cook there in fire from woods and than enjoy the great aromatic dish made by the authentic cooking method and spices to enjoy the every bite with traditional flavors.

This is the way of family outing like to hunt by boys and to cooked by the girls from the spices made by home freshly prepared and than serve it in the way to enjoy it with full feast.

There is another way in Pakistan to enjoy this unique meat in the way like here in Punjab, Pakistani enjoy any thing cooked in bar b qued so this meat is also cooked on coals when spices up and than cooked over the coals. This is very small bird so it is easily cooked in 5 to 8 minutes and it takes about 2 minutes to eat it.

HUNTING IN PAKISTAN

To hunt in Pakistan is legally allowed but not that which is going to be distinct. Pakistan is Islamic country and in Islam meat of Halal animal or bird is allowed to eat so as per Islamic perspective it is allowed to cook and hunt.

TIME REQUIRED

• Preparation time : 10 minutes
• Cooking time : 20 minutes
• Total time : 30 minutes

NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS

• Calories : 165
• Protein : 31 grams
• Fats : 6 grams
• Carbohydrates : 15 grams

INGREDIENTS

• Bataire ( quail ) : 10
• yogurt : 1 cup
• cream : 1 cup
• lemon : 4
• garlic paste : 2 tbsp
• ginger paste : 2 tbsp
• green chilies : 2 tbsp
• salt : 1 tsp
• red chili powder : 1 tsp
• cumin powder : 1 tsp
• coriander powder : 2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
• oil : for drizzling
• coal : for smoke

METHOD OF COOKING

• Take meat and dipped in water with salt for 20 minutes.
• Now take yogurt in a bowl with cream and add all the spices into it to make a thick paste of spices.
• Than remove the meat from the salted water and marinate it with yogurt spices and let it set to make sure the spices invaginat into it.
• Now put in low heat in a bowl and roast it for 10 minutes so the juices went into the meat.
• Now heat up the coal and smoke the meat to give it a tandoori flavor.
• Enjoy !

COURSE : MAIN DISH / SIDE COURSE

CUISINE : PAKISTANI, ASIAN

SERVINGS : 4 TO 6