Ashak (Afghanistan)

An authentic recipe for traditional Afghan Ashak, featuring delicate leek-filled dumplings layered over garlic yogurt and topped with a savory meat sauce.

Level Hard Prep 60 min Cook 30 min Servings 4 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

90 min

Makes 4 servings

Prep 60m

Cook 30m

Level Hard

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Afghan Ashak, featuring delicate leek-filled dumplings layered over garlic yogurt and topped with a savory meat sauce.

Traditional Afghan stuffed leek dumplings served over garlic yogurt and topped with seasoned ground meat sauce.

Instructions

Mix flour, salt, and water to form a smooth, firm dough. Knead for 10 minutes, cover, and let rest for 30 minutes.
In a bowl, mix the finely chopped leeks or garlic chives, green onions, oil, chili flakes, and salt for the filling.
Roll out the dough thinly and cut into small squares or circles. Place a small spoonful of filling in the center, fold, and seal into triangular or half-moon shapes.
Prepare the meat sauce by sautéing diced onions and ground meat until browned, then stir in tomato paste, salt, and water, simmering until thick.
Whisk minced garlic into the yogurt and spread it across the bottom of serving plates.
Boil the dumplings in salted water for 5 to 7 minutes until they float and the dough is cooked through.
10 min
Place the cooked dumplings over the garlic yogurt, spoon the meat sauce on top, and garnish with dried mint.

Nutrition

Calories 420

Protein 22g

Carbs 55g

Fat 14g

Fiber 5g

Sugar 6g

Sodium 580mg

Serving Size 1 serving

Cooking Timeline

Prep 60 min

Cook 30 min

Total 90 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.8
Presentation 9.5
Nutrition 8.0
Value 9.0
Instructions 9.3
Ingredients 9.5
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.0
Would Make Again 9.0

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

An absolute masterpiece of Afghan cuisine, balancing delicate leek dumplings with rich yogurt and savory meat sauce.

Pros

Unique flavor combination
Incredible texture contrast
Rich cultural delicacy

Cons

Requires time and patience to fold dumplings

Overview

Traditional Afghan stuffed leek dumplings served over garlic yogurt and topped with seasoned ground meat sauce.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Afghan Ashak, featuring delicate leek-filled dumplings layered over garlic yogurt and topped with a savory meat sauce.

Tips

Ensure the dough is rolled out very thin so the texture of the cooked dumpling remains tender
Seal the edges tightly with a touch of water to prevent them from opening while boiling
Serve immediately while hot so the garlic yogurt contrasts nicely with the warm dumplings