It’s a country we mainly hear about in bleak ABC news crosses to Sally Sara. But Afghani food in Australia is a wondrous world away from roadside bombs and terror groups.

The culinary delights of Afghani cuisine draw heavily from its regional neighbours including Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and India. This creates a rich fusion of flavours and colours; meals served generally consist of lamb, chicken and beef, accompanied with rice and bread. It is also a great choice if you have an aversion to spicy foods, as the Afghans prefer it that way too.

Popular Afghani dishes include the Afghan kofta (ground beef fashioned into meatballs on a skewer), chicken kebabs and chopan kebab (lamb chops, skewered and grilled on charcoal). They are eaten together with a thin, long shaped bread known as naan or with its thicker variety, obi non. Rice is another popular accompaniment, the Afghanis love their rice and have a variety of ways in which they serve them up. The kabuli palau is one such dish and is one of their most popular, it is cooked with basmati rice, sliced carrot and raisins.

Despite its carnivorous leanings, there are numerous options for vegetarians and vegans too. I have to admit, eggplant is not a favourite vegetable of mine. But that all changed when I tried badenjan-burani (sliced eggplant, fried together with sour cream and sprinkled with mint) and was converted. Other options include qorma-i-tarkari (cauliflower, carrots and carrots cooked with herbs) and ashak (leek warped in dough).

If your tastebuds are already tingling, give Afghani a go. Here’s a list of restaurants we can recommend:

NSW
Salam Restaurant, Auburn Road, Auburn 2144 (Near Bukhari House)

VIC
Afghan Pamir Restaurant, 150-52 Thomas St, Dandenong 3175
Afghan Village Restaurant, 923 Burke Road, Camberwell 3124
Afghan Kebabs, 595 Sydney Road, Brunswick 3056

QLD
Chopan Charcoal Restaurant, Milton 4064

SA
Parwana Afghan Restaurant, 124b Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville 5031