Afghanistan, a landlocked country located in Central Asia, has a rich and diverse culinary tradition that has been influenced by its neighboring countries, such as Iran, Pakistan, and India. Afghan cuisine is known for its bold flavors and use of fresh ingredients, and many of the dishes are hearty and suitable for a cold climate. Some of the most popular Afghan dishes include kabuli pilau, a rice dish with lamb or chicken, and mantu, a type of steamed dumpling filled with meat and vegetables. If you're looking for a taste of authentic Afghan food, here are some of the best recipes to try.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHICKEN KABULI PULAO (AFGHANISTAN)
Make and share this Chicken Kabuli Pulao (Afghanistan) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by UmmBinat
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 2h
Yield 4 , 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Place chicken pieces, onions and hot water in a large pot.
- Cover and simmer for about 1 hour.
- Add salt to taste.
- Remove chicken, reserving stock & discard cooked onions.
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Heat 2 tbs of the butter over medium high heat and fry chicken pieces containing bones, salting as needed.
- Boil a large amount of water with sea salt and cook the rice in it for exactly 8 minutes. Set aside in a pot until ready to assemble.
- Make stock sauce:
- Brown onions in butter and remove from heat.
- Add cardamom cumin, freshly ground black pepper & saffron liquid and mash with onion to form a paste.
- Add about 1/2 pt of the chicken stock; simmer for 5 minutes and taste for seasoning.
- Combine cooked rice, stock sauce as needed (I don't find it became a sauce so I added the onion paste with some broth as needed to finish cooking the rice) and chicken; place in a buttered casserole. Cover.
- Fry carrot matchsticks in 1/2 tbs butter and add dark raisins to them at the very end.
- Sprinkle partially cooked carrot matchsticks and raisins on top of chicken and rice and cover tightly with aluminum foil or cover.
- Place in oven for 35 minutes.
- Chopped toasted pistachios or slivered almonds may be added over the dish just before serving if so wished.
- There most probably will be left over stock that is very good even as a soup on it's own and probably served that way in an Afghani household.
- Enjoy!
AFGHANI KABLI PULAO
This is a delicious kabli pulao made in a pressure cooker. The rice gets infused with flavor and has the perfect texture. This is a must-try! You can also prepare this on your stove top.
Provided by chanty475
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 1h39m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Soak the rice in cool water for 5 minutes. Rinse until water runs clear.
- Place 4 cardamom pods on a cutting board and lightly crush using the flat side of a knife; transfer to a pressure cooker. Add halved onion, garlic head, 4 cloves, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin seed, salt, sugar, cinnamon stick, paprika, and coriander seeds. Pour in water to cover.
- Seal pressure cooker lid and turn heat to high. Cook until pressure cooker whistles once, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Wait for 2 more whistles, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pressure to release naturally, about 10 minutes.
- Strain broth into a bowl. Clean out the pressure cooker and heat it over medium heat. Add oil and chopped onion; cook and stir until softened and browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add carrots; cook until soft, about 3 minutes more. Add raisins, almonds, and strained rice. Add remaining 1 teaspoon black pepper, remaining 1 teaspoon cumin seed, and remaining clove.
- Crush remaining cardamom seed to a powder and add to the pressure cooker. Mix to combine; pour in enough broth to cover the rice.
- Increase heat to high and seal the pressure cooker. Cook until the first whistle, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Let rest for 7 minutes; release the pressure naturally, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked rice to a serving dish immediately to prevent overcooking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 378.3 calories, Carbohydrate 70.7 g, Fat 8.2 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 8.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 401.5 mg, Sugar 10.1 g
RICE FROM AFGHANISTAN
Found on ricegourmet.com. I don't know how authentic this recipe is to the rice served in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the directions were incomplete and ingredients were missing from the list. I made do with what I had to work with here.
Provided by COOKGIRl
Categories Rice
Time 33m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Soak the rice for 15 minutes. Wash well and drain. (I try to remember to soak and drain the rice first thing in the morning.).
- Heat the oil in a skillet or pot on medium and fry the onions until brown; about 5 minutes.
- Add the cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves and mace, and sauté a few minutes or until the spices start to smell fragrant. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the sugar; let the sugar caramelize about few minutes.
- Add the rice and sautè for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping up any rice that sticks to the bottom of the pan. Add salt to taste.
- Stir in 2 cups boiling water; bring to a boil, cover and simmer on low for 18 minutes or until the rice is perfectly cooked and the water has completely absorbed.
- Transfer rice to a serving platter.
- Remove the whole cloves before serving or at least warn the diners.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: This is especially important for Afghan cuisine, which relies heavily on the flavors of fresh herbs, spices, and vegetables.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices: Afghan cuisine is known for its complex and flavorful spice blends. Experiment with different combinations of spices to create your own unique dishes.
- Use a variety of cooking techniques: Afghan cuisine includes a variety of cooking techniques, from grilling and roasting to stewing and braising. Experiment with different techniques to find the ones that you like best.
- Serve your dishes with traditional Afghan accompaniments: Afghan dishes are often served with a variety of accompaniments, such as yogurt, chutney, and naan bread. These accompaniments help to balance the flavors of the dish and add a touch of authenticity.
Conclusion:
Afghan cuisine is a delicious and flavorful cuisine that is sure to please everyone at your table. With its variety of dishes, cooking techniques, and spices, Afghan cuisine is a great way to explore the rich culinary traditions of Afghanistan. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting cuisine to try, be sure to give Afghan food a try.
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