‘Mota Chawal’ Draws Food Lovers to Peshawar Despite Cold Snap

APP
Peshawar: A special variety of rice known as ‘Mota Chawal’ (large rice) from the Charsadda district has attracted numerous food enthusiasts to the Peshawar Valley, despite the cold wave that has gripped the region for the past two days.
Rice aficionados have been flocking to outlets in Peshawar’s Firdous market to savor the delectable taste of this special rice variety.
Many have been taking parcels home to enjoy during the rainy weather.
Pir Muhammad, a retired teacher from Nowshera district, expressed his fondness for Charsadda’s mota chawal, citing its grilled, spicy meat as particularly flavorful and filling.
Pir mentioned enjoying the cuisine at Qissa Khwani whenever he visits Peshawar, often taking home about Rs 300 worth of their delicious food for his family.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, known as the land of hospitality, boasts a rich array of traditional cuisines, including Mota Chawal, Chapli Kabab, Roush, Mutton Karahi, Pate Tikka, and Chicken Painda, which have been drawing an influx of foodies to Peshawar despite the continued torrential rains.
In addition to the outlets in Firdous area, Board, Namak Mandi, and Qissa Khwani, vendors of Mota Chawal can also be spotted on both sides of the GT between Peshawar-Charsadda-Mardan.
A seller of Mota Chawal at Pabbi bazaar, Riaz Khan, shared his expertise in preparing Charsadda Chawal, which involves marinating the meat with ginger-garlic paste, salt, tomatoes, red chilies, black cardamom, turmeric powder, coriander, cumin, curry leaf, and garam masala before cooking.
He emphasized serving the rice with yogurt, raita, or pickles
Hazrat Ullah, a shopkeeper at Firdos bazaar, highlighted the popularity of Mota Chawal and Chapli Kabab among visitors from across the country, especially during the winter months.
He noted the increased sales of other dishes like Mutton Karahi, Dumba Karahi, Balti Ghost, and Dumpukht Karahi due to the rainy weather.
Kamal Khan of Nowshera, another food enthusiast, reminisced about frequent visits to Charsadda with family members to indulge in Mota Chawal and lamb’s Karahi cooked over a medium flame of firewood.
Charsadda Mota Chawal is favored by low-income groups for its affordability compared to Peshwari rice pulao, making it a popular choice for marriages, birthday parties, and other functions.