Backyard Barbeque is Back

For many Americans, a backyard barbeque means hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and beer.  Recently in our hometown of Perrysburg, Ohio our friend Haseeb invited us to an American barbeque at his home that is just a little bit different.

I learned early on that an offer to have dinner at the Ahmed’s home is not to be missed.  During high school I would often have dinner here.  Fragrant spices filled the air in the house as stews of goat, beef, and lamb simmered on the stovetop.  Buttery aromas of fresh roti bread and basmati rice wafted as dinner time approached, calling Haseeb and I to the table.

This time was no exception.  Mrs. Ahmed, with the help of her younger sons, Najeeb and Areeb, created many wonderful dishes, including spinach and potatoes, grilled marinated fish, marinated chicken, basmati rice, beef kabob, salad, pita bread, and mint sauce, yellow lentils, some pickled sour mango,and one special occasion dish that I have never had before called “pie!”

In terms of Pakistani food, pie is a stew of delicious and sticky cow’s feet which is stewed in a rich red broth.  The feet are cut into rough 1 inch cubes, bones and all.  Most pieces contain some bone (which add great flavor to the broth), some tender meat and some of the wonderfully gelatinous beef tendon and marrow.

For dessert, the Ahmed family often eats fruit which they keep in a wonderful display in their kitchen.  On this particular night we had a coconut-pistachio cake with cream cheese frosting to celebrate a birthday!

Chai is served at the end of an evening.  In the Ahmed house this means black tea steeped with a couple of cardamom pods, sweetened with sugar and enriched with milk.  To sit on a pillow with some friends and drink a cup of chai is a very nice way to end great meal!