Pairing Daal Chawal correctly — a note on chai

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Daal Chawal. I ordered it with chai and the rich with slow-cooked depth elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. Kashmiri chilli in particular became more prominent in a good way.

Pakistani cuisine draws from Mughal court traditions combined with local Punjabi and Sindhi cooking. The a Lahore dhaba is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Daal Chawal with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.