ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Afghanistan
Five dishes to try in Afghanistan, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Afghanistan
Kabuli palaw قابلی پلو
Steamed rice with lamb, caramelised carrots, raisins and almonds.
How to have it: The centrepiece of feasts and guest meals, served on a large shared platter.
Mantu منتو
Steamed dumplings of spiced minced meat topped with yoghurt and lentil sauce.
How to have it: Made for gatherings and sold in Kabul restaurants; eat it with naan and green tea.
Bolani بولانی
Thin flatbread stuffed with potato, leek or pumpkin and pan-fried.
How to have it: Sold hot by street vendors; dip it in yoghurt or green chutney.
Aushak آشک
Leek-filled dumplings topped with garlic yoghurt, mint and a minced meat sauce.
How to have it: Made for Eid and special occasions; vegetarian versions simply skip the meat sauce.
Chapli kebab چپلی کباب
Flat, spiced minced beef patty shallow-fried in fat.
How to have it: A specialty of Jalalabad and the east; eaten with naan, raw onion and chutney.
What to eat next door
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Questions
What food is Afghanistan famous for?
Kabuli palaw (steamed rice with lamb, caramelised carrots, raisins and almonds) comes first on our list, followed by Mantu, Bolani, Aushak and Chapli kebab.
What is the national dish of Afghanistan?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Afghanistan is Kabuli palaw: steamed rice with lamb, caramelised carrots, raisins and almonds. The centrepiece of feasts and guest meals, served on a large shared platter.
Which dishes in Afghanistan are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Bolani. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Afghanistan?
Bolani (thin flatbread stuffed with potato, leek or pumpkin and pan-fried) and Chapli kebab (flat, spiced minced beef patty shallow-fried in fat).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Afghanistan
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.