Iraq and Afghanistan War Cost 10 years on

[Alexander's Horse]

btw - I did not see you post this anywhere, so to ask - what is the best local Afghan dish?

A lot of it standard fare for central asia, Iran, northern India but mantu sprang to mind immediately when you asked. Dumplings full of meat and spices served swimming in a garlic yoghurt source and eaten with your hands with chutney condiments.

In Afghan cuisine, the mantu are filled with raw beef or lamb mixed with minced onions and spices, steamed and then topped with a very typical sauce (Seer Maast, lit. "garlic yogurt") of yogurt, dried or fresh mint, lemon juice, and minced or pressed garlic. The mantu are also typically topped with a very small amount of tomato-based sauce which can include split peas, red kidney beans, and/or some sauteed ground meat. The amount of yogurt sauce is typically much greater than the tomato sauce; the tomato sauce is meant to be dotted on top - not covering the dish.[7] Chatney, a spicy green or red pepper condiment sauce, may be sprinkled on top. Many Afghans also like to serve mantu with a carrot qorma/stew instead of a tomato-based sauce. [8]

Made my mouth water just reading that

[Zevico]

Mantu are great. So is plov, my favourite dish ever. The Uzbek version is better than the Afghan version in my opinion.

[Dinner]

Yeah, I tried mantu at one of the local Afghan restaurants which was oh so creatively named Khyber Pass. It was ok but I wasn't all that impressed (I think they saw I was white and made it more bland even though I asked for spicy) especially since their prices were high but some how the place got a 25 out of 30 score on Zagat. The local Afghan place in my neighborhood, named Ariana Kabob House, is more pan-Mideastern than Afghan so I guess they found that Afghan food didn't sell well and so started selling Turkish, Arab, and Iranian food instead though none of it is all that authentic and the recipes have definitely been Americanized. That's why El Cajon is better for middle eastern food with the possible exception of Persian as the Scripps Ranch/Poway/Mira Mesa area has a decent sized Persian population.

[Zevico]

Part of the trouble is that these dishes aren't easy for a Western palate. Lots of animal fat, for instance. My family's figured out how to rejig the recipe to be healthier but even so it takes adjusting.

[Kidlicious]

A lot of it standard fare for central asia, Iran, northern India but mantu sprang to mind immediately when you asked. Dumplings full of meat and spices served swimming in a garlic yoghurt source and eaten with your hands with chutney condiments.



Made my mouth water just reading that

Need drolling smiley.

[Dinner]

Dude, I hardly have a regular western palate. I love the complex flavors of heavy spice and California has a massive immigrant population so anyone who grows up in one of the large cities here is going to be more cosmopolitan in their food choices than anyone this side of London or NYC. The restaurant just assumed I didn't like spicy things because I'm white even though I ordered it spicy. That pisses me off. I want them to give me what I order and not make assumptions based on my skin color.

[Kidlicious]

Dude, I hardly have a regular western palate. I love the complex flavors of heavy spice and California has a massive immigrant population so anyone who grows up in one of the large cities here is going to be more cosmopolitan than anyone this side of London or NYC. The restaurant just assumed I didn't like spicy things because I'm white even though I ordered it spicy. That pisses me off. I want them to give me what I order and not make assumptions based on my skin color.

No you don't. They just thought I said I wanted my dinner spicy in Thialand and it burned my mouth so bad I almost cried.

[Sava]

i had some spicy indian food yesterday
my butthole burned when i pooed

[Dinner]

I loved the food in Thailand, I spent a month and a half there wondering around the country in the company of Thai friends (I was there with the Army and traveled with friends who were in the Thai Army) and I loved it spicy. One of my favorite local Thai places is as authentic as anything I had in Isaan (http://originalsab-e-lee.webs.com/) and I love it. The place has definitely attracted more than its fair share of attention from local bloggers too especially since the restaurant is so tiny it only has six tables.

Of course, the "mouse **** peppers" in Thailand were still hotter than hell and I learned to pick them out but I ordered it authentic and got it authentic and that's what I like.

[Sava]

what about the poontang?

[Dinner]

No comment.

[Sava]

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Bumped over the 2005 threads.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Kill joy.

Yes - and any particular Iraqi dish you like? I am sure you already said that somewhere, but I don't think I read that before.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

A lot of it standard fare for central asia, Iran, northern India but mantu sprang to mind immediately when you asked. Dumplings full of meat and spices served swimming in a garlic yoghurt source and eaten with your hands with chutney condiments.



Made my mouth water just reading that

Thanks! I will look for that somewhere... if I ever come across it, will try to ressurect this thread.