Mantu

Thin dough is folded around spiced minced beef and onion, steamed, then topped with garlicky yoghurt and a tomato-lentil sauce and a dusting of dried mint. It shows the crossroads cooking of Central Asia.

Mantu belongs to the family of filled dumplings found across Central Asia, from Turkey to Xinjiang, and its precise origins are debated among food historians. The Afghan version stands apart through its distinctive toppings - a tangy garlic-infused yoghurt and a spiced tomato-lentil sauce - reflecting the country's position at the crossroads of Persian, Turkic, and South Asian culinary traditions.

In Afghanistan, mantu is a celebratory dish, commonly served at weddings, Eid gatherings, and family feasts, where it is often prepared in large quantities and shared communally. While the filling may vary slightly by region - with lamb or beef, and sometimes added chickpeas - the steamed dumpling layered with sauces and dried mint remains a unifying symbol of Afghan hospitality.