Afghan Kabob

You can assume that bourani badenjan will be like baba ghanoush, but you’d be wrong—it’s more complex, a little sweet (thanks to caramelized onions) and a bit tangy (thanks to yogurt). That’s the theme here, where the food tastes better than expected. After trying the aushak, beef-stuffed ravioli-like pasta, and kabuli palaw, a lamb shank cooked with carrots and raisins, you’ll get a handle on Afghan cuisine. And you’ll wonder why there isn’t more of it locally.