Aushak, Kourma Challow, Lamb Lawand, and Sheerberaing at The Helmand in Cambridge, MA

Afghan cuisine reminds me of a fusion between Indian cuisine and everything else - you have the lamb cooked in curry/sauce like Indian food, but then you have interesting twists on pasta like the Afghan ravioli - aushak. The aushak noodle tasted almost like rice noodle, and it was filled with beef, yogurt, and scallions! Online recipes call for gyoza wrapper skins, but the one at the Helmand was much thinner and smoother.

The consistency of the sheerberaing - rice pudding, was so creamy that it actually tasted really similar to panna cotta, especially mixed in with the orange rinds and pistachio garnish. And again, the dessert reminded me of Italian cuisine!

When it comes down to the Afghan restaurants in Boston, there are 2: The Helmand in Cambridge and Ariana in Allston. I’ve been to Ariana before, so when I saw the menu of The Helmand, I thought they were related somehow, but they are not! I guess Afghan cuisine is just quite homogenous in their offerings. So if you’re debating which one to go to, both are actually very good - I would recommend The Helmand for tastier/better cooked dishes and Ariana if you like an intimate atmosphere. Regardless, I have grown fond of Afghan food and would love to learn how to make it some day!