Some of the popular Pashtun dishes, from left to right: 1.Mutton grilled kebab (seekh kabab); 2.Palao and salad; 3.Tandoori chicken; and 4.Mantu (dumplings). The Pashtun cuisine includes a blend of Central Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Most Pashtun dishes are traditionally non-spicy.
Pashtun cuisine (Pashto:پښتنۍ خواړه) orAfghan cuisine refers to the cuisine of thePashtun people and is covered underAfghan, andSouth Asian cuisines. It is largely based on meat dishes includingmutton, beef, chicken, and fish as well as rice and some other vegetables.[1] Accompanying these staples are dairy products (yogurt, whey, cheeses), various nuts, local vegetables, and fresh and dried fruits.Peshawar,Kabul,Bannu,Quetta,Kandahar andMardan are centers of Pashtun cuisine.
Aushak (vegetable and chive-filled dumplings topped with tomato and yogurt sauces)
Bannu Pulao, hailing from theBannu district of theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa. The dish is made with tender beef, aromatic rice, and a blend of local spices, resulting in a rich and robust taste.
Bolani, also called Piraki in some parts of Afghanistan
Chopan Kabab (lamb chops, skewered and grilled on charcoal)
Dodai (a flat bread made in vertical clay ovens called Tanoor in Pashto, Tandoor in Urdu/Hindi)
Shomleh/Shlombeh, also known as "Triwai" in Kabul (a drink made by mixing yogurt with water and shaking it extensively before adding optional dried mint leaves and a small amount of salt)
Fried fish with Kachumar Raita (diced onion, tomatoes, cucumbers in Masteh/Dahi) and naan
Ghatay Rujay, Ghatay Wrejay (literally "fat rice"; a rice dish resembling risotto prepared in Charsadda, Mardan, Pirpiai, and other villages of the region where short grain brown rice is grown)
Penda/Sohbat, is a traditional dish consisting of pieces of posthi (a thin bread) dipped in meat soup, typically served with raita and salad. This dish shares similarities with the Arabic dishTharid and is commonly consumed in the southern Pakhtunkhwa districts ofBannu,Lakki Marwat,Karak, andDera Ismail Khan.
Piye Wresha/Pai Halwa, is a sweet dessert made by simmering milk, sugar, ghee, and sometimes nuts, often enjoyed during festivals.
Pashtuns in their traditional territory drink green (kahwa) or black tea (chai) with breakfast. Some drinkmasala chai, especially the Pakistani Pashtuns.Sheer chai, a type of tea that is mixed with milk and sugar, is also consumed. Other breakfast foods can include Afghan naan, paratha, eggs,butterfat (malai), milk creams, cheeses, etc. Pastries, cakes and cookies are consumed with either tea or warm milk. Those in cities buy and eat whatever breakfast items are sold in grocery stores, which may include porridge, oatmeal, cereal, pancakes, sausages, and fruit juices, among others.
