These Kebabs Are an Essential Part of My Hospitality

Surprise guests welcome. I’ve always got chicken shami kebabs in the freezer

Khusro Jaleel
Heated

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Chicken shami kebabs. All photos by Khusro Jaleel.

“Hurry up! They’ll be here any minute!” My mother rushed around, getting things ready before the neighbors came over for a visit. The shami kebabs pulled from the freezer were being finished off in a frying pan. The pakora batter was ready to use and we’d start making them when the guests arrived. The chai was simmering slowly on the stove when the bell rang — “She’s here; get the door!”

When I was young, you could never tell when the doorbell at our house would ring or when a neighbor would decide to visit. We were lucky to be living in a close-knit community of families who would casually come over and check in with each other to have a chat or a cup of tea. These were special moments and all the more rare these days.

Always the hospitable type, my mother would accommodate everyone and then proceed to ply them with snacks and a hot beverage. Food was the vehicle my mom used to show love and bring people together.

Here’s a typical list of items that she always had on hand for situations like this. Some of these snacks were always pre-prepared in the freezer and ready to go on demand:

  • Shami kebabs

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