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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 · Desserts
Sheer Pira (شیر پیره) — Afghan Milk Fudge with Cardamom and Pistachio
Sheer Pira is a beloved Afghan sweet made by slowly reducing milk and sugar into a dense, sliceable fudge. Cardamom perfumes the candy, while pistachios add a classic festive crunch often served with tea at gatherings.
70 min 16 165 cal

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Qroot — Afghan Dried Yogurt Sauce over Rice - authentic afghan recipe

easy

Afghan · Main Courses

Qroot (قروت) — Afghan Dried Yogurt Sauce over Rice

Qroot is a beloved Afghan pantry staple: sun-dried sour yogurt balls rehydrated into a tangy, garlicky sauce. Served over warm rice with onions and mint, it’s a thrifty, deeply traditional comfort dish found across Afghan homes.

50 min 4 520 cal

Shola-e Ghorbandi — Afghan Mung Bean and Rice Porridge - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Shola-e Ghorbandi (شوله غوربندی) — Afghan Mung Bean and Rice Porridge

Shola-e Ghorbandi is a comforting Afghan porridge from the Ghorband valley, slowly cooked until rice and mung beans melt into a creamy, hearty bowl. It’s traditionally served with a bright tomato-based topping and a cooling garlic yogurt sauce for balance.

140 min 6 520 cal

Korma-e Nadroo — Afghan Lotus Root Curry with Aromatic Spices - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Korma-e Nadroo (کورمهٔ نادرو) — Afghan Lotus Root Curry with Aromatic Spices

Korma-e Nadroo is a cherished Afghan curry featuring lotus root simmered in a fragrant onion-tomato base. Its gentle spices and slow-cooked texture reflect Kabul-style home cooking, often served with steamed rice for family meals.

80 min 4 345 cal

Palak Gosht — Afghan Lamb and Spinach Stew - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Palak Gosht (پالک گوشت) — Afghan Lamb and Spinach Stew

Palak Gosht is a beloved Afghan home stew where lamb is slowly braised with spinach, aromatics, and warm spices. It’s traditionally served with rice or naan, balancing rich meat with earthy greens in a comforting, everyday-style dish.

110 min 6 365 cal

Naan-e Afghani — Afghan Tandoor-Baked Flatbread - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Breads

Naan-e Afghani (نان افغانی) — Afghan Tandoor-Baked Flatbread

Naan-e Afghani is a beloved Afghan bakery bread, traditionally slapped onto a hot tandoor wall for a blistered crust and soft, chewy center. This home version uses a very hot oven and stone/steel to echo that signature bakery texture and shine.

43 min 6 285 cal

Afghan Sabzi — Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Gentle Spices - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Side Dishes

Afghan Sabzi (سبزی) — Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Gentle Spices

Afghan sabzi is a home-style spinach dish slowly sautéed with garlic and warm spices until silky and deeply green. It’s commonly served alongside rice and kebabs, offering a comforting, savory counterpoint to richer mains.

50 min 4 165 cal

Zarda Pulao — Afghan Sweet Saffron Rice with Cardamom and Rosewater - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Zarda Pulao (زردہ پلاؤ) — Afghan Sweet Saffron Rice with Cardamom and Rosewater

Zarda Pulao is a celebratory Afghan sweet rice perfumed with saffron, cardamom, and rosewater, often served at weddings and Eid. Its golden color and jeweled toppings echo Central and South Asian festive pilafs while staying distinctly Afghan in aroma and balance.

65 min 6 476 cal

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

Afghan · Main Courses

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

Ashak is a beloved Afghan dish of delicate scallion-filled dumplings topped with garlicky yogurt and a gently spiced tomato-meat sauce. It’s especially associated with Kabul home cooking and festive family gatherings, where dumplings are shaped in batches and shared.

120 min 6 560 cal

Sambosa — Afghan Crispy Fried Pastry with Spiced Potato Filling - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Appetizers

Sambosa (سمبوسه) — Afghan Crispy Fried Pastry with Spiced Potato Filling

Afghan sambosa are crisp, triangular pastries often enjoyed as a street snack and a Ramadan iftar favorite. This potato-filled version is warmly spiced, brightened with herbs, and fried until shatteringly golden.

60 min 12 210 cal

Mastawa — Afghan Rice and Yogurt Soup with Lamb Meatballs - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Soups

Mastawa (ماستوا) — Afghan Rice and Yogurt Soup with Lamb Meatballs

Mastawa is a comforting Afghan soup where tender rice simmers in a lightly tangy yogurt broth and is finished with herb-scented lamb meatballs. It is commonly served warm for family meals, especially in cooler seasons, balancing richness, acidity, and gentle spice.

70 min 6 430 cal

Borani Banjan — Afghan Eggplant with Yogurt and Tomato Sauce - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Side Dishes

Borani Banjan (بورانی بانجان) — Afghan Eggplant with Yogurt and Tomato Sauce

Borani Banjan is a beloved Afghan home dish of silky eggplant layered with garlicky yogurt and a gently spiced tomato sauce. It’s often served family-style with warm bread, balancing richness, tang, and slow-cooked sweetness.

80 min 6 320 cal

Chapli Kebab — Afghan Spiced Flat Meat Patties - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Kebabs

Chapli Kebab (کباب چپلی) — Afghan Spiced Flat Meat Patties

Chapli kebab is a beloved street-food patty from Afghanistan and the Pashtun belt, prized for its wide, flat shape and bold spice. Traditionally pan-fried for a crisp edge, it’s served hot with naan, onions, and bright chutneys.

43 min 6 430 cal

Shinwari Karahi — Afghan Frontier-Style Lamb Karahi - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Kebabs

Shinwari Karahi (کڑاہی) — Afghan Frontier-Style Lamb Karahi

Shinwari Karahi is a frontier classic from the Afghan–Pakistan borderlands, prized for minimal spices and maximum meat flavor. Lamb is seared in a hot karahi, then finished with tomatoes, green chiles, and ginger for a clean, smoky, restaurant-style gravy.

75 min 4 640 cal

Qabili Morgh — Afghan Chicken and Carrot Rice with Raisins - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Qabili Morgh (قابلی مرغ) — Afghan Chicken and Carrot Rice with Raisins

Qabili Morgh is an Afghan celebration-style rice dish where fragrant basmati is topped with tender chicken, sweet carrots, and plump raisins. Its aroma comes from cardamom, cumin, and a saffron-like golden hue, often served at family gatherings.

105 min 6 720 cal

Dampukht — Afghan Slow-Steamed Basmati Rice with Cumin and Raisins - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Dampukht (دمپخت) — Afghan Slow-Steamed Basmati Rice with Cumin and Raisins

Dampukht is a beloved Afghan method of slow-steaming rice in a sealed pot so every grain turns fluffy and fragrant. This version layers basmati with cumin, caramelized onion, and sweet raisins for a classic family-style pilaf.

75 min 6 390 cal

Kofta Challow — Afghan Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with White Rice - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Main Courses

Kofta Challow (کوفته چلو) — Afghan Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with White Rice

Kofta Challow pairs tender Afghan-style meatballs simmered in a tomato-onion sauce with fluffy white rice. It’s a comforting home dish often served for family gatherings, where the sauce is spooned generously over the rice.

80 min 4 780 cal

Qorma-e Sabzi — Afghan Green Herb Stew with Lamb - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Qorma-e Sabzi (قورمه سبزی) — Afghan Green Herb Stew with Lamb

Qorma-e Sabzi is an Afghan-style herb stew built on slow-braised lamb, browned onions, and a deep, green herb base. It’s a comforting family dish often served with rice, balancing savory meat with bright herbs and gentle tang.

150 min 6 430 cal

Sheer Yakh — Afghan Rosewater Ice Cream with Pistachio - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Desserts

Sheer Yakh (شیر یخ) — Afghan Rosewater Ice Cream with Pistachio

Sheer Yakh is a classic Afghan frozen dessert, perfumed with rosewater and often finished with pistachios. It’s traditionally churned to a dense, creamy texture and served at gatherings and warm-weather celebrations.

30 min 6 330 cal

Firni — Afghan Milk Pudding with Cardamom and Pistachio - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Desserts

Firni (فرنی) — Afghan Milk Pudding with Cardamom and Pistachio

Firni is a beloved Afghan milk pudding thickened with cornstarch and perfumed with cardamom. It’s commonly served chilled at family gatherings and festive tables, finished with pistachios for gentle crunch.

25 min 6 245 cal

Afghan Lamb Do Pyaza — Lamb and Onion Stew with Double Onions - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Stews

Afghan Lamb Do Pyaza (دو پیازه) — Lamb and Onion Stew with Double Onions

Do Pyaza is a beloved Afghan-style lamb stew built on “double onions,” added in two stages for deep sweetness and body. Gentle spices, tomatoes, and slow simmering create a comforting, home-table dish served with rice or naan.

130 min 6 520 cal

Qabili Uzbeki — Afghan Carrot and Raisin Pilaf with Chicken - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Rice Dishes

Qabili Uzbeki (قابلی اوزبکی) — Afghan Carrot and Raisin Pilaf with Chicken

Qabili Uzbeki is a celebratory Afghan pilaf crowned with sweet carrots and raisins over fragrant, spiced rice and tender chicken. Often served for guests and holidays, it balances savory broth, warm spices, and a jeweled topping.

120 min 6 725 cal

Shorwa-e Gosht — Afghan Lamb and Vegetable Soup - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Soups

Shorwa-e Gosht (شوروا گوشت) — Afghan Lamb and Vegetable Soup

Shorwa-e Gosht is a comforting Afghan soup built on lamb, tomatoes, and hearty vegetables simmered until tender. Often served with naan, it reflects Afghanistan’s home-style cooking where simple spices and slow simmering create deep flavor.

125 min 6 385 cal

Chopan Kebab — Afghan Chargrilled Lamb Chops with Saffron Marinade - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Kebabs

Chopan Kebab (کباب چوپان) — Afghan Chargrilled Lamb Chops with Saffron Marinade

Chopan Kebab is a beloved Afghan grill specialty of lamb chops marinated with yogurt, onion, and warm spices, then cooked over high heat. It’s commonly served with naan, chutney, and crisp onions at family gatherings and kebab houses.

32 min 4 640 cal

Afghan Recipes — Page 3 — Zaffaron