Aushak
What is Aushak?
Aushak (آشک) are Afghan boiled dumplings filled with fresh leeks - thin-dough pockets crimped at the edges and boiled rather than steamed, served on a bed of cool mint yogurt and topped with a warm ground beef sauce and a dusting of dried mint. They are mantu's closest relative on the Afghan table, but the difference in filling and cooking method produces an entirely different dish: where mantu is rich and meaty, aushak is lighter and brighter, the leek filling giving it a fresh, slightly sharp flavour that lifts the whole plate.
Aushak is considered one of the most refined dishes in the Afghan repertoire. The assembly - boiled dumplings, cool yogurt, warm meat sauce, dried mint - requires timing and care, and the result is a plate of striking visual simplicity that delivers surprising complexity on the palate. In Afghan households, aushak and mantu are often made at the same occasion, each taking its turn in the layered pot.Aushak is one of the most celebrated dumplings in Afghan cuisine. The dumplings are made fresh, and the assembly of warm meat sauce over cold yogurt creates the temperature contrast that is the signature of the dish. It is listed under appetisers in both small and large portions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between aushak and mantu?
Both are Afghan dumplings, but aushak is boiled and filled with leeks, served on mint yogurt; mantu is steamed and filled with ground beef and onion, served on split-pea sauce with garlic yogurt. Aushak is lighter and brighter in flavour; mantu is richer and more intensely savoury. Both are essential Afghan dishes - they are not interchangeable, and ordering both is always a good idea.
Is aushak vegetarian?
The dumplings themselves are vegetarian - leek filling only. However, aushak is traditionally served with a ground beef sauce on top, which makes the full dish non-vegetarian. At Naan Kabob, the dish is served in the traditional way with ground beef sauce.
How do you pronounce aushak?
OW-shak - two syllables, with the first syllable rhyming with "cow." It is also occasionally spelled "aushack" or "owshak" in different transliterations.
See also: Mantu, Afghan Cuisine ,Steaming Zabiha Halal
Craving Afghan dumplings? Our Mantu ($11.99 / $16.99) are hand-crafted, beef-filled, and served with house yogurt sauce - a Naan Kabob staple.
