Where Qabili Palaw is reperesented in virtually every Afghan gathering, Mantu stands out as a dish that is served when the host wants to go above and beyond in serving their guest. In part, this is due to the labour-intensive preparation it requires.

Every culture has dishes that are so common in the people’s lives, you simply cannot avoid them. And why would you try to? These are usually dishes that have been cooked and improved over generations. The combination of ingredients and techniques perfected to produce a dish that is “just right”.

Growing up in Afghanistan, food has been an important part of my life. In part, this is due to the fact that dining out is not part of the Afghan culture. So, I have had the opportunity of witnessing meals being prepared multiple times a day, most of my life.