Tender lamb or beef braised with a large quantity of spinach and fresh herbs until deeply savory, a comforting Afghan home-cooked stew.
Afghan Qorma-e-Sabzi is a real, traditional Afghan dish, known as Braised Spinach and Meat Stew. Tender lamb or beef braised with a large quantity of spinach and fresh herbs until deeply savory, a comforting Afghan home-cooked stew.\n\nQorma-e-sabzi reflects Afghanistan's tradition of hearty meat and greens stews (qorma), historically valued for combining nutritious leafy greens with meat in a single, deeply flavorful pot.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Afghan home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.
Serves 6
Heat oil in a heavy pot and brown the meat cubes on all sides; set aside.
Add onions to the same pot, cooking until soft, about 8 minutes.
Stir in garlic, coriander and turmeric, cooking for 1 minute.
Return the meat to the pot, add water or stock, cover, and simmer for 1 hour until nearly tender.
Stir in chopped spinach and cilantro, pressing down as it wilts, and continue simmering uncovered for 30 minutes until the greens are fully softened and the stew has thickened.
Season with salt, stir in lemon juice, and serve hot with rice or naan.
Add the spinach in batches if needed, since it wilts down significantly and a large volume will fit once it cooks down.
Simmer uncovered once the greens are added to help the excess liquid reduce and concentrate the flavor.
Finish with fresh lemon juice at the end, which brightens the rich, deeply cooked greens and meat.
Some households add a bit of dried fenugreek leaf for extra depth.
Use ground meat instead of cubed for a faster-cooking version.
Add a few dried chilies for background heat.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.
Qorma-e-sabzi reflects Afghanistan's tradition of hearty meat and greens stews (qorma), historically valued for combining nutritious leafy greens with meat in a single, deeply flavorful pot.
Yes, thaw and drain it well before adding, using a bit less liquid overall since frozen spinach carries more residual moisture.
Yes, it reheats well, and the flavors often deepen further after resting overnight.
Simmer uncovered longer once the greens are added, allowing the liquid to reduce and thicken properly.
Per serving (380g / 13.4 oz) · 6 servings total
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