Recent timely sources on Afghanistan the country may
be found
in Behind the Headlines
Afghan Recipes and
Country Links 9/29/01
Suddenly, unfamiliar country names are
coming into the news. Afghanistan leads the list, but there are also
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on the border, with Kirghizstan
and Kazakhstan further north.
Most Americans wish to respond in some way to
the enduring shock of the September terrorist attacks in New York. Ours
is a food site, so we can offer recipes. Perhaps through food can come
increased understanding among peoples, always helpful to peace.
As we are novices to these cuisines, we hope
that viewers will contribute recipes, and also tell of sites or books
about the countries.
Afghanistan Recipes on the Web
Asia Recipe
Larry Wechsler provides 24 recipes. Try Afghani
Lamb with Spinach; Ginger-Tamarink Eggplant; Salad Dressing with mayo,
yogurt, and mint; Sheer Payra Fudge.
There is a special note for students to
navigate the site.
Links are provided to Afghan Religion, Afghan
Superstitions, and Afghan Human Rights.
The site provides recipes, plus detailed
cooking instructions, for many other Asian countries, but little more on
Central Asia. A most impressive site.
asiarecipe.com, click on
Afghanistan.
Marga Lacabe
Marga has undertaken an ambitious project to
present recipes from every nation of the world. Fortunately for us, she
started with A. She has done 13 countries so far, Afghanistan through
Argentina, coincidentally where she grew up.
She presents only 6 Afghani recipes, a complete
Dastarkhan dinner. These are valuable beyond their number because she
provides critical notes. When she adapts from an original recipe, she
notes why she made each modification, then presents the complete
original as well.
Her favorite Afghani recipe seems to be Qaubili
Pilau, "a delicious lamb and rice dish with caramelized carrots and
raisins."
She provides links to Afghan Recipes, and a
link to Human Rights in Afghanistan.
www.lacabe.com/marga.
Click Food, then "cooking international . . ."
Uzbekistan Recipes
Uzbek National Cuisine
This has a good overall description of Uzbek
Cuisine, and a large variety of recipes. Apparently, the national
cuisine is well developed in this country. The site introduction states
the following:
"Though the nation of Uzbekistan is
relatively new, gaining independence only after the dissolution of the
Soviet Union in 1991, their culture is one of the most ancient and
refined in Central Asia. One particularly distinctive and well-developed
aspect of Uzbek culture is their cuisine. Unlike their nomadic
neighbors, the Uzbeks have had a settled civilization for centuries.
Between the deserts and mountains, in the oasis and fertile valleys,
they cultivated grain and domesticated livestock. The resulting
abundance of produce allowed them to express their strong tradition of
hospitality, which in turn enriched their cuisine."
www.angelfire.com/ct/DIVA/UzbekCuisine.html.
The site is quite slow to load.
Information About Central Asian Countries
Maps
University of Texas at Austin
This map shows the five Central Asian countries
together, and also in context with Russia, China, India.
It is a relief map, important for this
desert/mountain area.
The map unrolls slowly, but once it is loaded
you can scroll quickly around, online or offline.
www.lib.utexas.edu/maps.
Click on Asia (reference map) 2000
Documentary Film
Under the Veil
CNN ran this documentary film a number of times
Sunday, October 2, and the weekend before, calling it the best they know
on the subject.
Among other things, we learn that the Taliban
prohibits women from working, or even studying.
If anyone knows where this documentary can be
bought or rented, please let us know.
A sponsor of the film is RAWA (Revolutionary
Association of Women of Afghanistan). www.rawa.org.
Books
The Lost Heart of Asia
Author Colin Thubron visited a number of
Central Asian countries. He interviewed a spectrum of inhabitants:
Islamic students, workers, academics, artists, and farmers. This is very
high quality journalism, in our opinion on a level with the famous V.S.
Naipaul.
Published by HarperCollins, 1994.
Among the Believers
V.S. Naipaul himself went to four Islamic
nations: Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Knopf, 1981.
