Cooking & Markets

1. کیا آپ مجھے ترکیب بتا سکتے ہیں؟

   Kya aap mujhe tarkeeb bata sakte hain?

   Can you tell me the recipe?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask someone to share a recipe.

   Grammar Note

   "Tarkeeb" is Arabic-origin meaning recipe or method, usable beyond cooking.

2. یہ کھانا کیسے بنتا ہے؟

   Yeh khaana kaise banta hai?

   How is this dish made?

   Usage

   A natural way to ask how a particular dish is made.

   Grammar Note

   "Banta hai" is a passive-like present form meaning "is made/becomes." Urdu naturally expresses this.

3. اجزاء کہاں سے ملتے ہیں؟

   Ajza kahaan se milte hain?

   Where can I find the ingredients?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to buy or find cooking ingredients.

   Grammar Note

   "Ajza" is the Arabic plural of "juz" (part/component), used for cooking ingredients.

4. کتنی دیر پکانا ہے؟

   Kitni der pakaana hai?

   How long does it need to be cooked?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the cooking duration for a dish.

   Grammar Note

   "Kitni der" is an idiomatic expression for "how long." "Der" means delay or time duration.

5. کیا آپ کو مسالے دار کھانا پسند ہے؟

   Kya aap ko masaledaar khaana pasand hai?

   Do you like spicy food?

   Usage

   Used to check someone's spice preference. Pakistani cuisine is known for rich spices.

   Grammar Note

   "Pasand hai" means "is liked/preferred." Literally "is in (one's) preference."

6. آئیں مل کر کھانا پکائیں

   Aaen mil kar khaana pakaaen

   Let's cook together

   Usage

   Used to invite someone to cook together.

   Grammar Note

   "Mil kar" means "having joined together," used adverbially to mean "together."

7. اس مصالحے کا نام کیا ہے؟

   Is masaale ka naam kya hai?

   What is the name of this spice?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar spice or seasoning.

   Grammar Note

   "Masaala" (singular) becomes "masaale" (plural). Pakistani cuisine uses diverse spices including cumin, coriander, and turmeric.

8. کیا کوئی سبزی خور کھانا ہے؟

   Kya koi sabzi khor khaana hai?

   Is there any vegetarian food?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether vegetarian options are available.

   Grammar Note

   "Sabzi khor" combines "sabzi" (vegetable) + "khor" (one who eats), meaning "vegetable-eater/vegetarian."

9. میں روایتی کھانا سیکھنا چاہتا ہوں

   Main riwaayati khaana seekhna chahta hoon

   I want to learn traditional cooking

   Usage

   Used to express interest in learning traditional cooking methods.

   Grammar Note

   "Riwaayati" derives from the Arabic-origin "riwaayat" (tradition/narration).

10. آپ کون سا برتن استعمال کرتے ہیں؟

    Aap kaun sa bartan istimaal karte hain?

    What cookware do you use?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the cookware or utensils someone uses.

    Grammar Note

    "Istimaal" is Arabic-origin meaning "use." "Istimaal karna" is the verb form "to use."

11. لہسن

    leh-san

    Garlic

    Usage

    Point to it when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

12. پیاز

    pi-yaz

    Onion

    Usage

    The base of nearly every Pakistani dish; also point to it when asking for it to be left out

13. مرچ

    mirch

    Chilli

    Usage

    Point to it to ask for less heat; with "kali" in front it becomes black pepper, so keep it on its own

14. ہرا دھنیا

    ha-ra dha-ni-ya

    Coriander leaf

    Usage

    "Hara" (green) marks the fresh leaf; without it the word means dried coriander seed

15. ادرک

    ad-rak

    Ginger

    Usage

    For buying at a market; "adrak lehsan paste" (ginger-garlic paste) is a kitchen staple

16. دہی

    da-hi

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Plain unsweetened yoghurt; also point to it to ask for some to cut the chilli heat

17. مکھن

    ma-khan

    Butter

    Usage

    Also useful for checking when avoiding dairy; clarified butter is a separate word, "ghee"

18. پنیر

    pa-nir

    Paneer (fresh cheese)

    Usage

    Aged cheese is uncommon, so this is what "cheese" means in Pakistani cooking; it is also the centrepiece of vegetarian dishes

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