Culinary Tales From Balochistan

Travelling solo across Pakistan’s Balochistan province, the author takes us on an extraordinary journey through its diverse landscapes and cultures. The travelogue explores the north, south, and coastal regions of Balochistan, with food serving as a recurring theme.

As we travel through time, the stories humanise the experiences, engaging our senses and revealing the rich tapestry of Balochistan. Each chapter unveils layers of this remote part of Pakistan, offering glimpses into its unique culture and traditions.

The journey is peppered with encounters of unusual ingredients and dishes that are often invisible in mainstream Pakistani cuisine. These tales of nostalgic comfort food and culinary icons invite readers to immerse themselves in the flavours and textures of Balochistan.

More than just a collection of food stories, this travelogue opens windows into the heart of Balochistan, expanding our understanding of the region’s culinary landscape. Readers are invited to feast, feel, taste, and enjoy the essence of Balochistan’s culture and more.

This is a compilation of thirteen stories, each accompanied by recipes that represent Balochistan’s vast palate, documented for the first time.

Nilofer Afridi Qazi is a public policy specialist with a background in film making. Born in Quetta, Balochistan, she has lived in over a dozen countries as a diplomat’s daughter. The 2005 earthquake in Pakistan brought her back home. In 2012 she began her food mapping adventures across Pakistan’s undocumented culinary landscape. Travelling across Pakistan’s remote corners she spent time with many invisible chefs, unaware of their incredible food as heritage treasures, worthy of acknowledgement and above all celebration. Her work resulted in a documentary series called Pakistan on a Plate. All 53 episodes feature on her YouTube channel, niloferscorner. Culinary Tales from Balochistan is her first book. She currently lives in Islamabad.

For customers in Pakistan, the book can be directly purchased from the Publications Section, Islamic Research Institute, Faisal Masjid Complex, Islamabad, Pakistan. (Phone 92-51-9261761 Ext. 307; Fax 92-51-9260769. Email: iri.publications@iiu.edu.pk). Discounts are available for booksellers and trade customers.