You will absolutely love what I am going to bring to you in this post. You might have not heard of it or never made it. This is the best time to explore different cuisines of the world. In fact, This is the perfect time to make recipes that our neighboring countries make. Take for instance Kabuli Pilaw which is the Afghan version of a Biryani. Or Afghan Shorba which is basically an Afghan soup similar to borscht. How can I forget Khichdi or the Afghan Kichri which is sticky medium-grain rice cooked with mung beans and onions? Today I am going to give you a detailed yet simple recipe of Afghan Chawa and Turkish Kunefe, you can make at home.
Talking about Turkish cuisine. Residing in between Europe and Asia, where East meets West, Turkey’s melting pot of cultures is best reflected in its cuisine. You might have heard of the very delicious Baklava or Doner or a Şiş kebap (Check out the Food Battle between Pizza and Sis Kebap). If not these, then you might have definitely made some Kofte at home. Afghan Chawa and Turkish Kunefe are really easy recipes and require few handfuls of ingredients.
Recipe for Afghani Chawa and Turkish Kunefe at home
Benefits of Afghani Chawa: Chawa is a Natural Afghan remedy hot mixture drink. Good for pain relief, increase blood circulation, relaxing muscles, lessening menstrual cramps, tired or aching muscles. Furthermore, It prevents blood clotting, flu, arthritis pain, lower cholesterol, stress, depression.
Afghan Chawa is normally consumed during winter and monsoon
Ingredients for Afghan Chawa
- Water 3 Cups
- Black Tea 1 Tablespoon
- Cardamom 1 Teaspoon
- Jaggery To Taste
- Walnut 2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped
- Almond 2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped
- Pistachio 2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped
- Ginger (Fresh)
Instructions to make Afghan Chawa
- Boil the water, then add the black tea and ginger and lower the heat let it simmer for a minute.
- Add all other ingredients
- let it simmer for a couple of minutes on medium heat.
- Serve and enjoy.
Make Turkish Kunefe or knafeh at home
Knafeh is a delicious and rich treat, made with unripened cheese that’s baked in shredded phyllo dough before being soaked in simple syrup. I tried Kunefe while I was in Saudi Arabia. And I absolutely fell in love with it. Then, I again got to taste it in one of the weddings in India and since then it has become my favorite Turkish dessert
Kunefe – a Turkish dessert with Arabic origins. It is made of a sweet, very fine vermicelli-like pastry and stuffed with cheese. It is most often topped with ice cream or a thick whipped cream
Ingredients to make Turkish dessert Kunefe at home
- Syrup (made with sugar, water, and lemon)
- Raw Kadaif noodles
- Cheese (mozzarella works fine)
- Butter
- Pistachio for garnish
- Two pans for One portion
- Two extra pans so that we can flip the dessert when cooking.
Steps to make Afghan Chawa & Turkish Kunefe at home
There is no baking here. The dessert is cooked on the stove.
- To make the Syrup, Combine sugar, water, and a slice of lemon in a saucepan. Then, Bring it to boil and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Let it cool completely.
- Butter the bottom of both the pans.
- Place the first layer in a pan, ensure the bottom of which is buttered well.
- Then shred some unsalted mozzarella over it and cover it with buttered Kadaif dough noodles. Then, using your hands, press on it well so that everything sets well. Repeat this for the second pan.
- Over the lowest heat on the stove, cook it until the bottom is golden. Now, Carefully place one of the extra pans on it and flip the dessert into that extra pan. Now the golden side is on the top. Cook the other side until golden as well.
- Pour cold syrup over the dessert when it is still hot.
- Garnish with ground pistachio and serve immediately.
To get a Video recipe see here
Try these Traditional and international Afghan Chawa and Turkish Kunefe and let us know whether you liked it or not.
“If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them — wherever you go.”
Anthony Bourdain
Food brings you closer to People and Kill Boundary differences-
