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Afghan Recipes — Zaffaron

Home›Afghan Recipes

🇦🇫Afghan Recipes

Discover Afghan cuisine — hearty rice dishes, tender lamb, savory dumplings, and the legendary Kabuli Palaw.

77 recipes

Afghan cuisine is the unsung hero of Central Asian cooking. Sharing deep roots with Persian and Indian traditions, it has a distinct identity built around generous rice dishes, slow-braised meats, and hand-crafted dumplings (mantu, aushak). Kabuli Palaw — fragrant rice with carrots, raisins, and lamb — is the national dish and a symbol of Afghan hospitality.

🧂 Essential Pantry

CardamomCuminCorianderBasmati riceLamb/goatDried fruits (raisins, apricots)CarrotsFresh cilantroYogurtGreen chutney

📂 Browse by category

All (77)Main Courses (14)Desserts (12)Rice Dishes (12)Stews (12)Kebabs (8)Side Dishes (7)Breads (5)Soups (4)Appetizers (1)Drinks (1)Salads (1)

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Afghan · Stews
Murgh-e Qorma (مرغ قورمه) — Afghan Chicken in Onion-Tomato Gravy
Murgh-e Qorma is a beloved Afghan home-style chicken dish where onions are slowly caramelized, then braised with tomatoes and warm spices. It’s traditionally served with challow rice and a bright salad for a comforting, family-table meal.
95 min 4 520 cal

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🌍 Related Cuisines

🇮🇷 Persian 🇮🇳 Indian 🇺🇿 Uzbek 🇹🇯 Tajik

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Afghan · Main Courses

Lawang (لاونگ) — Afghan Stuffed Chicken with Raisins, Nuts, and Warm Spices

Lawang is a celebratory Afghan roast chicken filled with a fragrant sweet-savory stuffing of raisins, nuts, and spices. It reflects the Afghan love of dried fruits and warm aromatics, often served at family gatherings with rice.

120 min 6 640 cal

Khichiri Qorooti — Afghan Rice and Mung Beans with Dried Yogurt Sauce - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Khichiri Qorooti (خچری قروتی) — Afghan Rice and Mung Beans with Dried Yogurt Sauce

Khichiri Qorooti is a beloved Afghan comfort dish pairing gently spiced rice and mung beans with a tangy sauce made from qurut (dried yogurt). It’s often served family-style, topped with fried onions and mint for a satisfying, everyday meal.

90 min 6 560 cal

Seekh Kebab — Afghan Grilled Minced Meat Skewers with Cumin - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Kebabs

Seekh Kebab (کباب سیخی) — Afghan Grilled Minced Meat Skewers with Cumin

Afghan seekh kebab is a street-food favorite made with spiced minced meat pressed onto skewers and grilled over high heat. Cumin, coriander, and onion create a deeply savory aroma, often served with naan and fresh herbs.

37 min 4 430 cal

Kulcha-e Kandahari — Afghan Thick naan, Kandahar-style bakery bread - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Breads

Kulcha-e Kandahari (کلچهٔ کندهاری) — Afghan Thick naan, Kandahar-style bakery bread

Kulcha-e Kandahari is a thick, oval Afghan bakery bread from Kandahar, known for its sturdy crumb and glossy, seed-studded top. Traditionally baked in a tandoor, it’s ideal for scooping kebabs, qorma, and rich stews.

43 min 6 356 cal

Sheermal — Afghan Saffron Milk Bread with a Gentle Sweetness - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Breads

Sheermal (شیرمال) — Afghan Saffron Milk Bread with a Gentle Sweetness

Sheermal is a saffron-scented milk bread enjoyed across Afghan and neighboring cuisines, prized for its soft crumb and subtle sweetness. It’s often served warm with tea, kebabs, or festive spreads, and its golden top comes from saffron and egg glaze.

43 min 8 285 cal

Sabzi Challow — Afghan Spinach Stew with Rice - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Sabzi Challow (سبزی چلو) — Afghan Spinach Stew with Rice

Sabzi Challow is a comforting Afghan home-style spinach stew served with fluffy white rice. Gently spiced with turmeric and finished with lemon, it’s a simple, nourishing dish common at family tables.

90 min 4 635 cal

Qabili Gosht — Afghan Lamb and Rice Pilaf, Aromatic and Hearty - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Qabili Gosht (قابلی گوشت) — Afghan Lamb and Rice Pilaf, Aromatic and Hearty

Qabili Gosht is a celebratory Afghan pilaf where fragrant basmati rice steams over tender lamb and a sweet-savory carrot-raisin topping. It’s closely related to Kabuli-style pulao and is prized for its aroma, balance, and generous hospitality.

130 min 6 740 cal

Sheermal — Afghan slightly sweet saffron-tinged soft bread - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Breads

Sheermal (شیرمال) — Afghan slightly sweet saffron-tinged soft bread

Sheermal is a festive Afghan-style milk bread, lightly sweet and perfumed with saffron. Traditionally baked for gatherings and served warm with tea, it bridges everyday comfort and special-occasion hospitality.

43 min 8 285 cal

Haleem — Afghan Slow-cooked wheat and meat, silky and rich - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Haleem (حلیم) — Afghan Slow-cooked wheat and meat, silky and rich

Afghan haleem is a slow-cooked porridge of wheat and tender meat, beaten until silky. Often made for gatherings and Ramadan nights, it’s finished with fragrant spices and a glossy oil topping.

240 min 6 520 cal

Dopiaza — Afghan Onion-rich Meat Stew with Warm Spices - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Dopiaza (دو پیازہ) — Afghan Onion-rich Meat Stew with Warm Spices

Dopiaza is a beloved Afghan-style meat stew built on two stages of onions for deep sweetness and body. Warm spices and a gentle simmer create tender lamb in a glossy, richly onioned sauce served with rice or naan.

110 min 6 520 cal

Sheer Khurma — Afghan vermicelli milk dessert with dates and nuts - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Desserts

Sheer Khurma (شیر خرما) — Afghan vermicelli milk dessert with dates and nuts

Sheer Khurma is a festive Afghan milk dessert of toasted vermicelli simmered with dates, nuts, and fragrant spices. Commonly served for Eid mornings, it balances creamy richness with gentle sweetness and warm aromatics.

50 min 6 520 cal

Chaka — Afghan Thick Strained Yogurt with Herbs - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Side Dishes

Chaka (چکه) — Afghan Thick Strained Yogurt with Herbs

Chaka is a classic Afghan strained-yogurt dish served cool with fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil. It’s common alongside kebabs and rice, offering a creamy, tangy contrast that feels both rustic and refined.

15 min 6 110 cal

Kabob Barg — Afghan Grilled Marinated Lamb Skewers, Tender and Smoky - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Kebabs

Kabob Barg (کباب برگ) — Afghan Grilled Marinated Lamb Skewers, Tender and Smoky

Kabob Barg is a celebrated Afghan-style grilled lamb skewer, prized for its saffron-kissed aroma and smoky char. Thin slices of lamb are marinated with onion, yogurt, and warm spices, then grilled fast over high heat for tenderness.

37 min 4 520 cal

Shir Berenj — Afghan Milk Rice Pudding with Cardamom - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Desserts

Shir Berenj (شیربرنج) — Afghan Milk Rice Pudding with Cardamom

Shir Berenj is a beloved Afghan milk-and-rice pudding, gently simmered until creamy and perfumed with cardamom. It’s commonly served warm or chilled for family gatherings and festive tables, often topped with nuts and rose petals.

65 min 6 318 cal

Shola Goshti — Afghan Wheat and Lamb Porridge Comfort Food - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Shola Goshti (شوله گوشتی) — Afghan Wheat and Lamb Porridge Comfort Food

Shola Goshti is a beloved Afghan comfort dish of slow-cooked wheat and lamb, simmered until creamy and spoonable. Often served in winter and for gatherings, it showcases patience, gentle spices, and hearty hospitality.

205 min 6 515 cal

Landay — Afghan Sun-dried Meat Stew - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Landay (لاندې) — Afghan Sun-dried Meat Stew

Landay is an Afghan tradition of sun-drying salted lamb for winter, then simmering it into a nourishing stew. This version softens the intensely savory meat with onions, tomatoes, and warm spices for a hearty, rustic bowl.

140 min 6 430 cal

Kichiri Qoroot — Afghan mung-bean rice with tangy dried-yogurt sauce - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Kichiri Qoroot (کیچری قروت) — Afghan mung-bean rice with tangy dried-yogurt sauce

Kichiri Qoroot is a beloved Afghan comfort dish of rice and mung beans, finished with a sharp, creamy qoroot sauce. Often served family-style, it balances earthy legumes with garlic, mint, and a bright tang unique to Afghan dried yogurt.

90 min 6 520 cal

Sabzi Chalaw — Afghan Herb Rice with Meat Stew - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Sabzi Chalaw (سبزی چلو) — Afghan Herb Rice with Meat Stew

Sabzi Chalaw is an Afghan-style herb rice where fragrant basmati is layered with fresh greens and served alongside a comforting meat stew. It’s a family table favorite, balancing bright herbs with warm spices and tender meat.

130 min 6 735 cal

Qabili Shola — Afghan creamy rice with lamb and warm spices - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Qabili Shola (شولا قابلی) — Afghan creamy rice with lamb and warm spices

Qabili Shola is a comforting Afghan rice dish where tender lamb and fragrant spices cook into a creamy, spoonable texture. It’s often associated with Kabuli flavors, echoing the aroma of cardamom, cumin, and saffron-like warmth at family gatherings.

135 min 6 585 cal

Shami Kebab — Afghan Lentil and Meat Patties - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Kebabs

Shami Kebab (شامی کباب) — Afghan Lentil and Meat Patties

Afghan Shami Kebab blends lentils and minced meat into crisp, pan-fried patties served with chutney and flatbread. It’s a beloved home-style snack and tea-time dish, often made in batches for guests.

70 min 6 360 cal

Kabuli Pulao — Afghan Aromatic Lamb Rice with Carrots and Raisins - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Kabuli Pulao (قابلی پلو) — Afghan Aromatic Lamb Rice with Carrots and Raisins

Kabuli Pulao is Afghanistan’s signature festive rice, prized for its fragrant basmati, tender lamb, and sweet carrot-raisin topping. The balance of warm spices and caramelized sweetness makes it a centerpiece for gatherings and family meals.

130 min 6 780 cal

Sheer Yakh — Afghan Rose and Cardamom Ice Cream - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Desserts

Sheer Yakh (شیر یخ) — Afghan Rose and Cardamom Ice Cream

Sheer Yakh is a beloved Afghan-style ice cream perfumed with rosewater and cardamom, often served at family gatherings and summer outings. Its creamy base and gentle floral aroma echo the region’s love of fragrant desserts.

35 min 8 260 cal

Ashak — Afghan Leek Dumplings with Yogurt and Tomato Sauce - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Ashak (آشک) — Afghan Leek Dumplings with Yogurt and Tomato Sauce

Ashak is a beloved Afghan dumpling dish filled with tender leeks, then topped with garlicky yogurt and a warmly spiced tomato-meat sauce. Often served at gatherings, it balances tangy dairy, sweet tomato, and aromatic spices in one plate.

120 min 6 610 cal