chapli kebab

{{Short description|Pakistani Pashtun-style minced kebab eaten throughout South Asia}}

{{Infobox food

| name = Chapli kabab

| image = Chapli Kebab.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Lamb chapli kabab served at a Balti restaurant in Birmingham, UK

| country = Peshawar, Pakistan{{Cite book |last1=Taylor Sen |first1=Colleen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YbKvEAAAQBAJ&dq=chapli+kebab+origin+peshawar&pg=PA196 |title=The Bloomsbury Handbook of Indian Cuisine |last2=Bhattacharyya |first2=Sourish |last3=Saberi |first3=Helen |date=2023-02-23 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-350-12863-7 |pages=196 |language=en |quote=Another fried kebab is chapli kebab that may have originated Afghanistan and in Peshawar pakistan. The name comes either from Pushto chapleet, meaning 'flat', or from chappal, Hindi for sandal, alluding to its shape. |access-date=2023-06-19 |archive-date=2023-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715094435/https://books.google.com/books?id=YbKvEAAAQBAJ&dq=chapli+kebab+origin+peshawar&pg=PA196 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=What Makes Chapli Kebab A Meat Lover's Dream Come True? |url=https://www.slurrp.com/article/what-makes-chapli-kebab-a-meat-lovers-dream-come-true-exclusive-recipe-inside-1640264999893 |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Slurrp |language=en |quote=The Chapli Kabab is said to have its origins in Peshawar, Pakistan and Afghanistan.|archive-date=2023-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426194510/https://www.slurrp.com/article/what-makes-chapli-kebab-a-meat-lovers-dream-come-true-exclusive-recipe-inside-1640264999893 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Natasha |date=2023-01-18 |title=What Makes Pakistan's Chapli Kababs Different From Others? |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/1170963/what-makes-pakistans-chapli-kababs-different-from-others/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Tasting Table |language=en-US |quote=The Chapli kabab is one of Pakistan's most beloved dishes. This particular kabab was reportedly first created in Peshawar, in the northwestern corner of the country. |archive-date=2023-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426194510/https://www.tastingtable.com/1170963/what-makes-pakistans-chapli-kababs-different-from-others/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2015-03-08 |title=Eating Chapli Kababs in Northern Pakistan |url=https://thelocalist.com/pakistan/eating-chapli-kababs-in-northern-pakistan/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=The Localist |language=en-US |quote=In Pakistan, chapli kabab originally comes from the northern areas, in particular Peshawer, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. |archive-date=2016-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517170431/http://thelocalist.com/pakistan/eating-chapli-kababs-in-northern-pakistan/ |url-status=live }}

| national_cuisine = Pakistani, Afghan, Indian, Bangladeshi

| course = Appetiser, main course or side dish

| type = Kebab

| main_ingredient = Minced beef, mutton, or chicken

| minor_ingredient = Various herbs and spices

| similar_dish = Burgers

}}

Chapli kebab or chapli kabab (Pashto: چپلي کباب){{efn-lg|Hindi: चपली कबाब}}{{efn-lg|Urdu: {{nq|چپلی کباب}}}} is a Pashtun-style minced kebab, usually made from ground beef, mutton or chicken with various spices in the shape of a patty. The chapli kabab originates from Peshawar in Pakistan.{{Cite web |title=What Makes Chapli Kebab A Meat Lover's Dream Come True? |url=https://www.slurrp.com/article/what-makes-chapli-kebab-a-meat-lovers-dream-come-true-exclusive-recipe-inside-1640264999893 |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Slurrp |language=en |quote=The Chapli Kabab is said to have its origins in Peshawar, Pakistan. |archive-date=2023-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426194510/https://www.slurrp.com/article/what-makes-chapli-kebab-a-meat-lovers-dream-come-true-exclusive-recipe-inside-1640264999893 |url-status=live }} The Peshawari chapli kabab is made with beef and is a popular street food throughout South Asia, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh.

In India, chapli kabab can be found as street food in the cities of Bhopal, Lucknow, Delhi and Hyderabad, where Muslims have a denser population.{{cite web|url=https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/chapli-kebab-1771609|title=Chapli Kebab: The Flat Minced Meat Marvel Is An Explosion of Flavours You Must Not Miss|date=27 October 2017|access-date=26 February 2020|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226014228/https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/chapli-kebab-1771609|url-status=live}} Chapli kababs are broadly consumed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, most popularly during the time of Eid-ul Azha and in Ramadan as part of iftar.{{cite news |title=Dhaka shops selling iftar delicacies |publisher=Bangla Tribune |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/commerce/2019/05/08/dhaka-shops-selling-iftar-delicacies |access-date=2020-11-07 |archive-date=2019-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030100630/http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/commerce/2019/05/08/dhaka-shops-selling-iftar-delicacies |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title='Chapli Kebab' - Alpana Habib|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/chapli-kebab-alpana-habib-149179|publisher=The Daily Star|access-date=2020-11-07|archive-date=2020-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113130357/https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/chapli-kebab-alpana-habib-149179|url-status=live}}

Chapli kababs can be served and eaten hot with naan or as a bun kebab.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Palwasha |date=2021-01-23 |title=Eating Chapli Kababs in Northern Pakistan |url=https://thelocalist.com/pakistan/eating-chapli-kababs-in-northern-pakistan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517170431/http://thelocalist.com:80/pakistan/eating-chapli-kababs-in-northern-pakistan/ |archive-date=2016-05-17 |access-date=2021-04-08 |website=The Localist |language=en-US}}

Origins

Mughal culinary influences in the region popularised a number of kebab dishes, resulting in local recipes such as the chapli kebab. The name chapli is said to be derived from the Pashto word chaprikh/chapdikh/chapleet, meaning "flat" – alluding to the kebab's light, round and flattened texture. Another theory is that the name is derived from chappal, the local word for sandals – implying the average shape and size of a kebab, which resembles that of a front part of the chappal sole. Locals mostly agree with the first theory of Chapli being a short version of Chapleet (aka, Chapdikh). {{cite book|title=Culture Shock!: Pakistan|first1=Karin|last1=Mittmann|first2=Zafar|last2=Ihsan|publisher=Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company|date=1991|isbn=9781558680593|page=[https://archive.org/details/cultureshock00mitt/page/104 104]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/cultureshock00mitt/page/104}}

Chapli kabab is served in thousands of kebab houses throughout Pakistan and Afghanistan. Such eateries have rapidly expanded in other cities as well. Today, the chapli kebab is featured on the menu of South Asian restaurants across the world.{{cite news |last=Shinwari |first=Sher Alam |date=13 October 2013 |title=On the menu: Krazy about (Chapli) kebab |work=Dawn |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1049405 |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813090940/http://www.dawn.com/news/1049405 |url-status=live }}

Ingredients and preparation

The chapli kebab is prepared with raw, marinated mince and the meat can be either beef or lamb/mutton. The main ingredients include wheat flour, various herbs and spices such as chili powder, coriander leaves, followed by smaller quantities of onions, tomatoes, eggs, ginger, coriander or cumin seeds, green chillies, corn starch, salt and pepper, baking powder and citric juice, like that of lime or lemon.{{cite web|url=http://food.ndtv.com/recipe-peshawari-chappali-kebab-171627|title=Peshawari Chappali Kebab|work=NDTV Food|access-date=25 July 2016|first=Divya|last=Burman|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008074849/https://food.ndtv.com/recipe-peshawari-chappali-kebab-171627|url-status=live}}

The kebabs can be fried shallow or deep in vegetable cooking oil over medium heat. The traditional chapli kebab is prepared by frying the kebabs in lamb fat or cow fat over wood-fired stoves to lend an organic flavour. This approach is avoided by some gastronomists, citing health-conscious reasons.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1196602|title=Khyber's most delicious export|work=Dawn|first=Shiza|last=Malik|date=27 July 2015|access-date=25 July 2016|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813095643/http://www.dawn.com/news/1196602|url-status=live}}

Serving

Once cooked, chapli kebabs can be served and garnished with parsley, chopped onions and tomatoes, along with other accompaniments such as various chutney sauces, salad, yoghurt, pickles or nuts.{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2Bj8sTJClD92JQf38fg201B/beef-chapli-kebab-with-pomegranate-chutney|title=Beef chapli kebab with pomegranate chutney|work=BBC Radio 4|first=Sumayya|last=Usmani|access-date=25 July 2016|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410024950/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2Bj8sTJClD92JQf38fg201B/beef-chapli-kebab-with-pomegranate-chutney|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgWrCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA102|title=The Multicultural Cookbook for Students|first1=Lois Sinaiko|last1=Webb|first2=Lindsay Grace|last2=Roten|page=102|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date=2009|isbn=9780313375590}}{{cite news|url=http://images.dawn.com/news/1175050|title=Weekend grub: Could these chapli kebabs from Peshawar be the best in Pakistan?|work=Dawn|first=Bilal|last=Agha|date=25 March 2016|access-date=25 July 2016|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813085221/http://images.dawn.com/news/1175050|url-status=live}} The chapli kebab is best served aromatic, moist and spicy.{{cite book|title=Afghanistan|first=Louis|last=Dupree|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400858910|date=2014|page=231}} It is considered a specialty of Pashtun cuisine and often served to guests.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/337139/comfort-food-keeping-warm-with-kebabs/|title=Comfort food: Keeping warm with kebabs|first=Fazal|last=Khaliq|work=The Express Tribune|date=16 February 2012|access-date=25 July 2016|archive-date=19 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719095207/http://tribune.com.pk/story/337139/comfort-food-keeping-warm-with-kebabs/|url-status=live}} The kebab is commonly consumed in meals with bread such as naan, rice dishes such as Kabuli pulao, or wrapped in fast food. In winters, green tea such as kahwah may traditionally be served alongside it, while cold drinks are preferred in the summers.