Family Meal Plan: Afghan Stewed Eggplant "Borani Banjan" + Yogurt Mint Sauce + Minty Yogurt "Doogh" Drink

Sweetly Spiced Afghan Stewed Eggplant "Borani Banjan"

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• blend :

  to stir together two or more ingredients until just combined; blending is a gentler process than mixing.

• chop :

  to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

• measure :

  to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

• sauté :

  to cook or brown food in a pan containing a small quantity of butter, oil, or other fat.

• whisk :

  to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

What is "Borani Banjan"?

• "Borani Banjan" is a vegetable dish from Afghanistan. The star ingredient is eggplant. Slices of eggplant are fried and stewed in tomato sauce, garlic yogurt, and spices. 
• "Borani" was originally a cold Persian dish made with yogurt and eggplant. "Borani Banjan" is a warm Afghan dish served with naan or rice as an appetizer, side, or a vegetarian main dish.

Let's Learn About Afghanistan!

• The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (formerly the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) is a landlocked country in Southern-Central Asia. It is considered the crossroads of Asia.
• Pakistan is on its southern and eastern borders, and Iran is on its western. Turkmenistan is northwest, Uzbekistan is north, and Tajikistan is northeast. The Wakhan Corridor in the Badakhshan province shares a tiny part of China's western border, about 57.5 miles long. 
• The government had been a unitary presidential Islamic republic until the Taliban took control by force in 2021 and made it an authoritarian Islamic emirate with a supreme leader, prime minister, and chief justice. Other countries have not recognized it as the rightful government.
• The country is divided into 34 provinces and 400 provincial districts. Provincial governors are appointed by the prime minister. The currency is the Afghani. 
• Afghanistan's total area is 252,073 square miles, slightly smaller than the state of Texas. Its population is estimated at 41 to 43 million. The people are called Afghans.
• There are 14 recognized ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The two largest groups are the Pashtuns and the Tajiks.
• The two official languages are Dari and Pashto. The most broadly used language is Dari or Dari Persian. It is a variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan. Pashto, an Eastern Iranian language, is spoken in the southern and eastern parts of the country. It is the native language of the Pashtuns. 
• Agriculture is a large part of the country's economy. Mining and the textile industry are other contributors. Afghan carpets, primarily handwoven by women, have been produced for thousands of years and have won international awards.
• Afghanistan is a mountainous country. The Hindu Kush mountain range bisects plains in the north and southwest. The second-highest peak in the range and the highest in Afghanistan is Noshaq, at 24,580 feet. Other geographical features in the country include forests, deserts, highlands, valleys, plateaus, lakes, rivers, and river basins.
• The Bamiyan valley in the central highlands of the Hindu Kush range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant statues of Buddhas were carved into cliffs on the north side of the city in the 6th century CE. The valley was a center of Buddhist culture from the 1st to 13th century. The statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
• The country has a continental climate with notable temperature variations. The southwest is hot and arid, especially in summer. The central highlands have severe winters. Rainfall is mainly between December and April. 
• The snow leopard is the official national animal of Afghanistan. It resides in the eastern alpine areas of the country. Siberian (or Amur) tigers and brown bears live in high-elevation alpine tundra areas. Marco Polo sheep are found only in the Wakhan Corridor. The Afghan flying squirrel and Afghan snowfinch are two of the endemic species found only in Afghanistan. 
• Afghan cuisine is "halal," which means food that conforms to Islamic dietary laws. It has Central Asian, South Asian, and Persian influences due to the countries that surround it.
• "Qabeli palaw" or "Kabuli pulao," an Afghan rice pilaf, is the national dish. Many dishes are rice-based, although some popular dishes consist of dumplings, like the leek-filled "aushak" and the lamb-filled "manti." A typical Afghan diet includes meat (beef, fish, mutton, or poultry), "nan" or "naan" (bread), rice, vegetables, and yogurt.  

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Afghanistan?

• Afghan kids usually live in multifamily homes, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They are taught to respect their elders. 
• Under Taliban rule, girls cannot attend secondary school, and they are not allowed to play sports. Afghan kids have been affected by various internal and external conflicts for decades. Many families have emigrated to other countries.
• The two most popular sports boys may play are cricket and association football (soccer).
• Popular snacks for kids include yogurt, nuts, and fresh and dried fruit, especially pomegranates, grapes, melons, and raisins. 
• For dessert, they may also eat fruit, enjoy an Afghan cake, similar to a pound cake with fruit or jelly, or a cold dessert drink called "falooda," consisting of milk, rose syrup, sweet basil, and vermicelli.