Afghan recipe collection

Baked eggplant strips smothered in a fiery Indonesian sambal of crushed tomatoes, garlic, onion and red chili peppers. Terong Balado is a bold, spicy vegetable dish that's naturally vegan.

Knead ground beef with onions, peppers, and coriander into oval kofta, skewer with vegetables, and grill until charred for juicy Afghan-style meatballs with smoky flavor.

Tender lamb chunks braised with turmeric, cardamom, and nutmeg, then folded with wilted spinach and tangy yogurt. This Afghan stew packs warm spice and bright citrus over fluffy rice pilaf.

Aush is a hearty Afghan noodle dish layered with split peas, kidney beans, spinach, spiced lamb keema, and tangy mint yogurt. Handmade noodles meet bold Central Asian flavors in this soul-satisfying one-bowl meal.

Silky eggplant slices fried golden, then chilled in a spiced tomato bath with cinnamon, mint, and red pepper flakes. This Afghan salad tastes bright, tangy, and just a little bit dangerous.

Golden half-moon pastries stuffed with garlicky leeks and a hint of chili, crimped into little crescents and fried until they shatter. Afghan street food that's vegetarian, crunchy, and completely addictive.

Traditional Afghan eggplant layered with tomatoes, peppers, and onions, then draped in tangy garlic yogurt sauce (chakah). Serve with flatbread for a vegetarian feast.

Gado Gado (Mixed Vegetables with Peanut Sauce) recipe

Kare Ikan, an Indonesian fish curry simmered in coconut milk, tamarind and a fragrant spice paste of lemongrass, turmeric, ginger and chili. Finished with cool cucumber and fresh mint.

Sajor bayam - Indonesian spinach and creamed corn puree with coconut milk, shrimp paste, garlic, and bird's eye chili. A rich, spicy Southeast Asian vegetable side dish.

Creamy saffron yogurt rice, short-grain arborio cooked with milk, tangy yogurt, and aromatic onion, garlic, and ginger. Saffron bloomed in warm milk tints it gold for a rich, comforting vegetarian side.

Orak Arik is an Indonesian cabbage and egg stir-fry with shrimp, garlic, and scallions. A fast wok dish that comes together in 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Homemade ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) from dark brown sugar, soy sauce, molasses, galangal, and cilantro. Stores for months at room temperature.

Indonesian chili peanut sauce with garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, and red pepper flakes. A versatile satay-style dipping sauce ready in 15 minutes.

Joyce's Indonesian fried rice (nasi goreng): the classic Southeast Asian fried rice with shrimp paste, tamarind, and ketjap manis, loaded with shrimp, chicken, and barbecued pork. Dinner for four in 45 minutes.

Ketjap manis, the Indonesian sweet soy sauce that flavors nasi goreng, satay, and bami goreng. Homemade syrup of dark brown sugar, soy, molasses, galangal, and coriander cooks in 20 minutes and keeps for months.