Cups, chamach and pao: Pakistani kitchen measures
The conversions Handi uses in every recipe. Weights per cup are kitchen averages for a spooned and levelled cup; they vary a little with how you fill it.
| Measure | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 chai ka chamach (tsp) | 5 ml |
| 1 khane ka chamach (tbsp) | 15 ml = 3 tsp |
| 1 cup | 240 ml = 16 tbsp |
| 1 pao | 250 g |
| ½ kg (adha kilo) | 500 g = 2 pao |
| 1 kg | 1000 g = 4 pao |
| 1 seer (old measure) | about 933 g (80 tola) |
| 1 tola | about 11.66 g |
| 1 pinch (chutki) | about ⅛ tsp |
| Item | About |
|---|---|
| 1 medium onion (Onions) | 120 g |
| 1 medium tomato (Tomatoes) | 120 g |
| 1 medium potato (Potatoes) | 170 g |
| 1 egg (Eggs) | 50 g |
| 1 clove (Garlic) | 3 g |
| 1 inch piece (Ginger) | 10 g |
| 1 chilli (Green chillies) | 4 g |
| 1 lemon (Lemon (lemon juice)) | 50 g |
| 1 medium capsicum (Capsicum (shimla mirch)) | 120 g |
| 1 medium carrot (Carrots) | 70 g |
One medium item, as used in Handi recipes.
| Ingredient | 1 cup | 1 tbsp |
|---|---|---|
| Whole wheat flour (atta) | 120 g | 7.5 g |
| Plain flour (maida) | 125 g | 8 g |
| Gram flour (besan) | 92 g | 6 g |
| Semolina (sooji) | 167 g | 10 g |
| Basmati rice | 185 g | 12 g |
| Red lentils (masoor daal, washed) | 192 g | 12 g |
| Split chickpeas (chana daal) | 200 g | 12 g |
| Sugar | 200 g | 12.5 g |
| Cooking oil | 218 g | 13.6 g |
| Desi ghee | 205 g | 13 g |
| Yogurt (dahi) | 245 g | 15 g |
| Milk | 244 g | 15 g |
| Cream | 238 g | 15 g |
| Onions | 160 g | 10 g |
| Tomatoes | 180 g | 11.3 g |
| Green peas | 145 g | 9.1 g |
Kitchen averages for a spooned, levelled cup or spoon. Liquids by volume.
Questions
How many grams is 1 cup of atta?
About 120 g, spooned in and levelled. Pressed down it can be 150 g, which is why our recipes give grams too.
How much is a pao?
A pao is a quarter of a kilo: 250 g. Half a kilo is 2 pao, and 1 kg is 4 pao.
What is a chai ka chamach and a khane ka chamach?
In recipes a chai ka chamach (teaspoon) is 5 ml and a khane ka chamach (tablespoon) is 15 ml, so 3 chai ke chamach make 1 khane ka chamach. Household spoons vary, so level measuring spoons are more reliable.
What size is a cup in Pakistani recipes?
Handi uses a 240 ml measuring cup. A typical tea cup holds about 150–200 ml, so it is smaller.