Welcome to Two Cloves in a Pot (TCP) — we’re Sarah Mirza and Vaquas Saleem, the husband-and-wife team behind this flavorful journey into authentic Pakistani cooking. Together, we create, test, photograph, and share recipes that bring the soul of Pakistani cuisine to your kitchen.
Our Story
Our love for food began in two different kitchens — Sarah’s childhood home in Kansas, where her mother made Moong Masoor Dal every week, and Vaquas’s family table, where flavor and laughter always filled the air.
After we got married, we spent the first chapter of our life together in Switzerland, where we learned to appreciate new cuisines while holding tightly to the comfort of Pakistani flavors. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains but craving the warmth of home, we found ourselves cooking our way back to our roots — pot by pot, spice by spice.
Eventually, we settled in Tennessee, where we’re now building our life and raising our family. Here, food has become more than a routine — it’s the heartbeat of our home. What started as a way to preserve family recipes has turned into something bigger: a platform to celebrate our Pakistani heritage, our shared creativity, and the joy of cooking from the heart.
Sarah brings storytelling, photography, Videography — capturing moments and flavors that feel like home. Vaquas adds his creative spark, culinary curiosity, recipe development, and perfectionist streak for getting every spice balance just right. Together, we blend tradition with a touch of experimentation — whether we’re adjusting the layers of Beef Biryani, fine-tuning the masala in Chicken Karahi, or revisiting the creamy Chicken Malai Kabab (a recipe Vaquas created for our daughter’s school lunches that became a beloved family favorite).
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