It had been a while since I last entered the Afghan Flavour store, largely due to the quarantine measures. Many restaurants have used the quarantine time to upgrade the interior of their stores, and Afghan Flavour was no exception.
Gone are the large pizza menus and charcoal pit from the back wall and instead, the walls are painted a mid to dark grey colour and there is a stylish counter from where individual menu leaflets can be viewed and meals ordered.
Today I was particularly hungry, which was great because what I was about to order was a very filling meal from what is a rather extensive, but affordable menu.
For a change, I decided to order qabuli (lamb shank) as a main meal and as an entree, bolani. I am not going to lie and claim that I am an expert in Afghani food, because I’m not. I am not however, unfamiliar with it though but I do like to occasionally true new food experiences.
Am I the only one who picks the main meal before the entree, or is that just one of my quirks? Please let me know.
I didn’t order a drink, which must have been a social faux pas as it both raised an eyebrow and prompted the question. Afghani food can be spicy, but this meal wasn’t. I’d had a drink earlier.
Aside from this, the staff are quite friendly and the atmosphere is great.
Bolani
Upon initial viewing, it didn’t look like much. My thinking was that it was like a roti or an empty flat bread. I was wrong, and delightfully so. I was very pleased to discover that the pastry is very light tasting and easy on the palate.
Upon cutting the bolani open, I was presented with a medley of small vegetables.
The closest thing I could equate it to would be a vegetarian pasty with less filling but one squashed flat by a rolling pin!
It was delicious either way, and will definitely get it again.
Qabuli (Lamb shank)
“Is there anything else you need?” the wife of the owner asked politely as she placed the food in front of me.
“No, I’m good, thanks.” I replied before turning my attention back down to the main meal in front of me.
The first thing I noticed was the literal mountain of rice on the plate threatening to, and actually did at one point, spill onto the table!
It’s about to spill off of the plate!
A literal mountain of riceBuried under the rice was the massive lamb shank itself. I was worried there for a moment. Chuckle.
It reminded me of digging for “buried treasure” in a sandpit at my childhood home.
Buried treasure!
Cucumber, tomato, lemon, mayonnaise, tomato based sauce and chutney garnishThe rice too forever to get through, and to be honest I had to leave half of it on the plate. And besides, I really need to cut my carbohydrate intake for health reasons.
Also, there’s no getting around the fact that, at some point, dignity has to be put aside for functionality when it comes to eating lamb shanks: cutlery becomes your fingers!
Et Voila! The finished product...Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Who knows, it might inspire you to try something new at your next barbecue or restaurant outing.
Until, next time, see you in the kitchens of the world!
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