Qatlama

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

A pizza-like savory dish coming from Pakistan, qatlama is a large round flatbread that is smeared with a vibrant red-colored mixture of gram flour, spices, and herbs before getting deep-fried. The dough, usually made with plain flour, water, salt, and oil is then stretched into a huge flat disk before being covered with the spicy mixture and entirely submerged into hot oil to fry until nice and crispy. Typical ingredients used for the topping include gram flour, garam masala, mash dal, chili powder, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dried pomegranate seeds, and artificial food coloring in order to create a more vibrant dish. This spicy and savory flatbread is a typical street food item and a common breakfast meal, but it is also found in Pakistani restaurants worldwide. Often referred to as poor man’s pizza , qatlama is usually eaten on its own or with chutneys, raitas, or a cup of tea on the side. In the Punjab region, the dish is traditionally prepared on special occasions and festivals, especially in rural areas.