Aush (Noodles with Pulses, Meat and Yoghurt)

Serves: 6 Cooking time: 1 to 1-1/4 hours

Ingredients

Aush Dough

• 2 c Plain flour
• 1 ts Salt
• 2/3 c Cold water
• Additional flour

Pules and Noodle Mixture

• 1/2 c Yellow split peas – (daul nakhud)
• Cold water
• 1 c Canned kidney beans w/liquid
• Salt
• 1 tb Oil
• 2 c Finely chopped spinach

Meat Sauce

• 1/2 c Oil
• 1 Medium onion; finely chopped
• 750 g Ground lamb or beef
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 c Tomato puree
• 1/2 c Water

Chakah(Yogurt Sauce)

• 1 1/2 c Drained yogurt
• 3 ts Dried mint; rubbed
• 1/4 ts Hot chili pepper (or more)
• 1/4 c Finely chopped coriander
• Salt to taste

Directions

Sift flour and salt into a bowl, add water and mix to a firm dough, adding more flour if necessary. Divide into 2 balls and wrap in plastic. Rest for 30 minutes.

On a floured board roll out each ball of dough very thinly. Cut into 5 mm (1/4-inch) strips either while it is flat or by rolling up each sheet of dough and slicing with a sharp knife. Place noodles on a floured cloth, dust with flour and leave to dry for about 30 minutes.

Wash split peas well and place in a pan with 1-1/2 cups cold water. Bring to the boil and boil gently for 30 minutes or until tender. Add red beans and liquid and keep warm. In a large pot bring 8 cups water to the boil, add 2 teaspoons salt, oil and noodles. Put noodles in gradually, stirring after each addition. Return to the boil and cook uncovered for 5 minutes.

Add spinach and cook for further 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and return to the pot. Add split peas and bean mixture with its liquid, toss ingredients lightly and keep hot over low heat.

In a frying pan heat the 1/2 cup oil, fry onion until soft and add ground meat. Stir over high heat until juices evaporate and meat browns lightly. Add salt and pepper to taste, tomato puree, spices and water, cover and simmer 10 minutes, then remove cover and let moisture evaporate. Sauce should be oily. Combine chakah ingredients, add to noodles and toss well. Mixture should be moist. Place noodle mixture in a deep dish and top with keema. Stir at the table and serve in deep plates.

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Afghani Lamb with Spinach

4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lb Lamb stew meat — preferably leg
• 1/3 c Olive oil
• 3/4 lb Onions; diced large
• 4 ts Chopped garlic
• 2 ts Turmeric
• 1/4 ts Nutmeg
• 1/4 ts Ground cardamom
• 1 ts Crushed red pepper — or to taste
• 1/2 ts Cinnamon
• 32 oz Can tomatoes; drain & chop
• 1 c Rich brown veal stock or
• 1 c Rich beef stock
• 1/3 lb Fresh spinach; wash & drained
• 1/2 c Yogurt
• 1 tb Grated lemon peel
• Salt; to taste
• 1/4 c Pine nuts* *Roasted at 350 F. for about 3 minutes.

Directions

Sear lamb in the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven. Add the onions; saute them for 2 minutes; then add the garlic and saute it for 1 minute. Put in the turmeric, nutmeg, cardamom, crushed red pepper and cinnamon and saute the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes more, being careful not to burn the onions or garlic. Add the tomatoes and veal stock and stir.

Cover the dish and bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour, until the meat is tender and begins to break up. Remove the dish from the oven and add the spinach, stirring until the spinach is wilted and blended in. Allow the stew to cool slightly. Add the yogurt, lemon peel and salt to taste. Sprinkle with roasted pine nuts.

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Mourgh (Afghan Chicken)

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 lg Cloves garlic
• 1/2 ts Salt
• 2 c Plain, whole-milk yogurt
• Juice and pulp of 1 large lemon, 3 to 4 tablespoons
• 1/2 ts Cracked black pepper
• 2 lg Whole chicken breasts, about 2 pounds

Directions

Long, slow marinating in garlicky yogurt tenderizes, moistens and adds deep flavor, so you end up with skinless grilled chicken that’s as delicious as it is nutritionally correct. Serve with soft pita or Arab flatbread and fresh yogurt.

Put the salt in a wide, shallow non-reactive bowl with the garlic and mash them together until you have paste. Add yogurt, lemon and pepper.Skin the chicken breasts, remove all visible fat and separate the halves. Bend each backward to break the bones so the pieces win lie flat.Add to the yogurt and turn so all surfaces are well-coated. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate. Allow to marinate at least overnight, up to a day and a half. Turn when you think of it.

To cook, remove breasts from marinade and wipe off all but a thin film. Broil or grill about 6 inches from the heat for 6 to 8 minutes a side, or until thoroughly cooked. Meat will brown somewhat but should not char. Serve at once.

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