By Hasan Sangrami
THOUGH continental breakfast of bread, butter and eggs have become common in Pakistan, the majority of people still prefer traditional breakfast of chholay-puri-halwa or chai (tea) paratha for breakfast, some, of course, add fried egg or omelette to these.
Chholay-puri and halwa is usually available at sweetmarts, where crowds of customers can be seen in the morning. Sales are so brisk that the sellers’ stocks are almost exhausted by 8 a.m., and one can hardly find crisp puris and delicious halwa and chholay an hour later.
So is the case with eating-houses selling crisp parathas. There is great demand for breakfast items, particularly on weekends, when there is rush at these places since the early hours of the morning and there will not be much left for those coming in at nine or ten in the morning. At some eating-houses chholay-puri is available on Sundays and other holidays only.
Considering the prices of things in general and the overall increasing inflation, the prices of these breakfast items are relatively low and the common man can afford these. In most places of the city, a puri is available for Rs 2 and no extra cost is charged for the chholay and halwa. One person usually consumes four or five puris for breakfast. A crisp paratha sells for Rs 3 a piece, and a cup of doodh-patti tea costs Rs 6 per cup. So, one can have a good breakfast for Rs 12. In some places, together with chholay there is aaloo (potato) ki bhaji and puri are also available. This potato dish is equally delicious. Most of the sellers also give pickles with it which adds to the taste of the food.
In four-star hotels, too, chholay-puri breakfast is served together with the continental variety. However, people who stay up late in the night or work in the night, usually, forego breakfast and have brunch instead, either late in the morning or in the afternoon.
People prepare this tasty food at home also. And some love this kind of food so much that even during Ramazan they have it for Sehri, and even in Iftar! These hot and tasty food items are enjoyed more in the chilly winter mornings that are just around the corner. Happy eating!
