the pumpkin appetizer at the Helmand restaurant

as delicious as the kadu (spiced pumpkin) is at kabul house, in my memory, at least, it can't touch the dish served at the late, lamented Helmand (i think it was at belmont and halsted), which closed in 1997. i seem to remember 3 components to the dish- hot spiced pumpkin, cool yoghurt, and a ground meat layer. at some point one of the local papers published the recipe for the dish. i stupidly 'filed' it with thousands of other unorganized recipes clipped from here and there. does anyone have the recipe to share, so i don't have to face the huge task of organizing my clippings to find it??? it would be very much appreciated. thanks, justjoan

Score one for Google! Apparently there are several restaurants in the U.S. named Helmand -- in San Francisco, Baltimore, and Boston. And people love the Kadu.

The Baltimore Sun posted this recipe courtesy of the restarant's owner - Qayum Karzai. Perhaps a relative of the late Ahmed Wali Karzai, who owned the Helmand at 3201 N. Belmont. Sounds like it may be a family dish.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2010/09/the_great_pumpkin_appetizer_re.html

And if that isn't enough, a blog gives lots of love to the Boston Helmand restaurant's version with meat sauce atop the yogurt sauce.

http://habeasbrulee.com/2006/10/20/kaddo-bourani-pumpkin-with-yogurt-and-meat-sauces/

Hope these recipes work for you.

And if that isn't enough, a blog gives lots of love to the Boston Helmand restaurant's version with meat sauce atop the yogurt sauce.

http://habeasbrulee.com/2006/10/20/kaddo-bourani-pumpkin-with-yogurt-and-meat-sauces/

Hope these recipes work for you.

thanks george! the second recipe, with the meat, looks like the one i remember. the first one looks like the kadu served at kabul house, and while it is good, it is only has the one note of sweetness(plus a little yoghurt). as soon as i can find sugar pumpkins, i'll be trying the more complex one out. justjoan

Joan-

once again, we have the same taste buds...that dish looks so good to me, my mouth
is watering...let me know when you try it--what are you bringing to the picnic?
Look forward to seeing you! NZ

nancy wrote:Joan-

once again, we have the same taste buds...that dish looks so good to me, my mouth
is watering...let me know when you try it--what are you bringing to the picnic?
Look forward to seeing you! NZ

as soon as i find sugar pumpkins i'll try the recipe. i'll be sure to post if it comes close to my memories of the helmand version. i'm bringing tomato tarts and strawberry lemonade to the picnic. i tried out the tomato tarts at a labor day picnic yesterday, and my friends were sufficiently enthusiastic about it so i'll be making it again. it's a bisquit crust, topped with heirloom tomato slices, a little onion, fresh basil, grated cheese (cheddar/asiago). i like to bring food that doesn't need to be kept cold or hot, so i don't have to think about it once i put it down. i might try passing them around for some of the time... i look forward to our yearly visit nancy! till sunday, joan

George R wrote:Score one for Google! Apparently there are several restaurants in the U.S. named Helmand -- in San Francisco, Baltimore, and Boston. And people love the Kadu.

The Baltimore Sun posted this recipe courtesy of the restarant's owner - Qayum Karzai. Perhaps a relative of the late Ahmed Wali Karzai, who owned the Helmand at 3201 N. Belmont. Sounds like it may be a family dish.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2010/09/the_great_pumpkin_appetizer_re.html

And if that isn't enough, a blog gives lots of love to the Boston Helmand restaurant's version with meat sauce atop the yogurt sauce.

http://habeasbrulee.com/2006/10/20/kaddo-bourani-pumpkin-with-yogurt-and-meat-sauces/

Hope these recipes work for you.

They are related.

As I noted in another thread, Mahmood Karzai owns Helmand in San Francisco and Cambridge, MA.
I've enjoyed meals in both places, though it has been a long time.

Helmand Palace
2424 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.345.0072
http://www.helmandpalace.com/

The Helmand
143 1st St
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 492-4646
www.helmandrestaurant.com/