Top 20 Afghan recipes

Crisp matchstick vegetables dance in a tangy sweet-and-sour sauce spiked with sambal heat and golden turmeric. This Indonesian pickle jar classic pairs like a dream with Nasi Goreng.

Crispy fried pastries shaped like elephant ears, dusted with cardamom sugar and toasted pistachios. Afghan teatime treats that puff up golden and shatter when you bite in.

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.

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.

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.

Bright, aromatic Indonesian chicken soup simmered with lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric, served with crispy fried onions and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Build your own bowl at the table for interactive comfort food.

Freshly ground spice blend with turmeric, coriander, cumin, and cardamom, toasted in a pan until fragrant. Make your own curry powder in five minutes and never go back to the jar.

Thinly sliced beef marinated in curry, garlic, and honey, threaded on skewers and grilled until charred at the edges. Dunk these Indonesian satay skewers in warm coconut-peanut sauce for pure bliss.

Tender squid rings stir-fried in a fiery paste of almonds, chiles, and shrimp paste, then simmered in coconut milk with tamarind and lemongrass. Serve this bold Indonesian sambal over steamed rice.

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.

Gulai kambing, an Indonesian spiced lamb curry simmered in coconut milk with lemongrass, bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and ground macadamia nuts. Rich, aromatic, and served over rice.

Tender chicken thighs simmered in aromatic spices with garlic, turmeric, cumin, and Thai chilies. This easy one-pan recipe takes 35 minutes and delivers bold, warming flavors with a squeeze of fresh lime.

Gado-gado Indonesian salad with tofu, bean sprouts, potatoes, and vegetables in a warm coconut-peanut sauce. A classic street food platter with homemade dressing.

Cumi-Cumi Isi is Indonesian stuffed squid filled with seasoned red snapper and simmered in a fragrant coconut milk sauce with lemongrass, chili, and candlenuts. Rich, tender, and deeply aromatic.

Semur banka: Indonesian braised beef in dark soy sauce with tamarind, molasses, ginger, garlic, and nutmeg. Low and slow for 2 hours until fork-tender and saucy.

Gado Gado (Mixed Vegetables with Peanut Sauce) recipe

Korma Sabzee is a slow-simmered Afghan beef stew with spinach, cilantro, and cumin, served over chalau basmati rice. A gentle, herb-forward one-pot meal from Afghan home kitchens.

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.

Afghan layered eggplant with tomatoes, peppers, and onions topped with garlic yogurt sauce. This vegetarian main dish is comfort food at its finest, served with flatbread.