GrubGirl.

Remember Shake ‘n Bake from the 70’s? Well, a friend has introduced me to Shan spice mixes, which remind me of Shake ‘n Bake. These are pre-mixed spice packs for different Pakistani dishes. So although you aren’t really coating meat with these spices, you are just adding a few key ingredients to produce a legit-tasting South Asian meal.

(Here in San Francisco, you’ll notice that many Indian restaurants bill themselves as Indian & Pakistani cuisine. There are many similar dishes but Pakistani dishes do not contain pork…and they do eat beef. Think Shalimar.)

I went to a South Asian grocery tucked away in Foster City and purchased a bunch of these packs for 99 cents a box. What a bargain! Buying the spices individually takes up a ton more room and money. If there’s enough interest, I’ll dig out the exact location and post it. Stay tuned for exciting Shan recipes that my friend has taught me! A true time-saver and a bargain…

(Chef’s Note: If you do buy Shan mix and can only read English, like me, IGNORE the cooking directions on the back of the box! I have followed these directions with no success until my friend told me that they were not accurate. The recipes call for a whole bag of spices to be added, but really, you only need about 1-2 TABLESPOONS. Otherwise the dish will be way too salty or spicy!)

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Filed under: South Asian, Kitchen, Meals under $5 per main course, Recipes