Day 5 Week 1 -- Afghanistan -- Food

Today I'm serving up four links to the food of Afghanistan.  I have always thought that one way to know a country is through smell, the kind of spices that are sold in the markets, the flavors carried in the air.  It isn't enough to view from afar.  One must also savor the country's foods.  So, without further ado.


Afghanistan Online: Cooking


I've mentioned this site before and it's definitely worth a mention.  Besides this page that provides a few recipes and a brief discourse on the hospitality of the Afghan people, there are pages for almost everything, including a store where you can purchase t-shirts and ball caps.  One clothing logo proclaims "Football is for wimps! [insert sketch of man on horse] Play Buzkashi".  And you can even buy an apron in the store to use in your cooking.  As well as mousepads, baby clothes, etc etc.


Although not related to food, thought I'd also include the following links box from the site:

• A New Year For Afghanistan's Traditional Carpets
• Agreement signed to safeguard Bamiyan's archaeological site
• Afghanistan's 'Hidden' Art Treasures on Exhibit
• Museum Director Applauds Return Of Historical Objects
• Archeologist Hunts For Third Bamiyan Buddha
• Musicians Struggling To Revive Classical Heritage After Taliban

And in the news section, there's a link to good news.  In fact if you didn't want to read this blog you could find everything you would want to know about Afghanistan at this site.

Okay, back to food.

Afghanistan food recipes and cultural information 


This site provides a very good sampling of recipes for meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, sauce and dessert recipes.  There is also a box that provides links to information on the culture including "Afghani Riddles" and "Afghanistan Superstitions".


Food in Afghanistan


A child site of SAARC tourism, a guide to Saarc countries and tourism in Saarc countries, this provides an overview of Afghan cooking.  And if you do want to visit, despite all the warnings, the parent site will help you to travel there.


Afghan Cooking Unveiled


I'll finish with this site, which seems the most comprehensive of all the sites I visited.  It is a collaborative blog between two friends, one a transplanted Afghan woman living in the US and the other a food editor.  In addition to the recipes are memories of childhood when these dishes were served.  There was also this quote by Rumi on one of the pages:

Christian, Jew, Muslim, Shaman, Zoroastrain, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being wtih the mysterey, unique and not to be judged.

                                                                                        ---Rumi

That's all for today.  I have to say that I haven't tested the recipes on these pages, not being much of a cook, so I leave it to you my reader to do so and enjoy.