{"product_id":"the-best-of-afghan-cooking-9780781887434","title":"The Best of Afghan Cooking","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe most comprehensive collection of authentic\nAfghan recipes published in English, this cookbook brings the legendary\nhospitality and foods of the Afghan table to readers everywhere.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSince\nancient times, Afghanistan’s location in the heart of Central Asia has made it\na crossroads for multiple cultures and culinary influences. The ancient city of\nKabul was a hub for European, Chinese and Indian merchants as well as\nintellectuals and spiritual leaders. In this context, Afghanistan’s rich and \u003cspan\u003emultifaceted \u003c\/span\u003eculinary identity\nevolved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTo this day, Afghans retain the tradition of preparing food\nwith freshly harvested ingredients. In most villages, flour is still ground in\nlocal mills and cows are milked daily, and the milk is then processed into\nfresh butter or yogurt. Kabobs, ranging from chicken, beef, lamb and fish, are\nseasoned with delicate spices before grilling. A variety of fresh vegetables, fruits,\nand herbs, along with lentils and meat, are used to prepare traditional stews\ncalled \u003ci\u003equrmas\u003c\/i\u003e.  Considered Afghanistan’s\nnational food, rice dishes called \u003ci\u003epalow\u003c\/i\u003e\nare cooked with meat, onions, and distinctive spices such as cumin, cardamom,\ncinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. Dough prepared with fresh\ningredients is shaped into bread, cookies, and cakes before being baked in a\npreheated ground oven called a \u003ci\u003etandoor. \u003c\/i\u003eAromatic spices and crunchy roasted\nnuts combined with fresh milk and wheat create unique desserts that are simple\nto prepare but deliver impressive results \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eKabul native Zarghuna Adel brings a lifetime of cooking experience\nand years of research into this unique cookbook, which features authentic\nAfghan recipes that were lost or forgotten in the course of four decades of war\nand displacement. This volume features over 225 recipes, each with easy-to-follow\ninstructions and a color photograph. Fifteen chapters cover the range of Afghan\nculinary offerings, from appetizers, soups, salads, and main dishes to condiments\nand desserts, and each chapter includes a detailed introduction to the history,\norigins, and cultural traditions that surround the recipes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSample recipes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAshak\u003c\/i\u003e (leek dumplings with yogurt and ground\nbeef)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eKabob Teka\u003c\/i\u003e (marinated lamb and\nvegetable kabobs)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBadenjan Borani\u003c\/i\u003e (eggplant appetizer\nwith tomatoes and yogurt)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eChapli Kabob\u003c\/i\u003e (fried spicy ground beef patties)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eQabeli Palow \u003c\/i\u003e (long grain rice with onions, spices and\ntender meat)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eHalwa Ardi \u003c\/i\u003e(wheat flour halwa\nwith cardamom and nuts)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eRout\u003c\/i\u003e (fluffy sweet bread with sesame and nigella seeds)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e·\u003cspan\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eChai Chawa\u003c\/i\u003e (green tea with ginger,\nfennel and walnuts)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Zarghuna S. Adel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48284041773307,"sku":"9780781887434","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/3917\/9771\/files\/9780781887434.jpg?v=1772482330","url":"https:\/\/indiepubs.com\/products\/the-best-of-afghan-cooking-9780781887434","provider":"IndiePubs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}