''Lahndi (or prescriptive; Landai)'', (
Pashto
Pashto (,; , ) is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family. It is known in historical Persian literature as Afghani ().
Spoken as a native language mostly by ethnic Pashtuns, it is one of the two official langua ...
; لاندی
lan:_da'ɪ)_also_known_as_dried_meat,_is_a_dish_common_in_Pashtun_cuisine.html" ;"title="dried_meat.html" ;"title="lan: da'ɪ) also known as dried meat">lan: da'ɪ) also known as dried meat, is a dish common in Pashtun cuisine">dried_meat.html" ;"title="lan: da'ɪ) also known as dried meat">lan: da'ɪ) also known as dried meat, is a dish common in Pashtun cuisine of salt-cured meat mostly reɡions with dry and cold weather. Consumption of ''lahndi'' is common during the winter months. Sheep are specially fattened so that their flesh may be more suitable for preparing ''lahndi''.
Method
''Lahndi'' is usually prepared from lamb and sheep, although it can also be made from beef. It is prepared as follows. First a lamb or sheep is slaughtered in the Islamic way, i.e., ''
halal
''Halal'' (; ar, حلال, ) is an Arabic word that translates to "permissible" in English. In the Quran, the word ''halal'' is contrasted with '' haram'' (forbidden). This binary opposition was elaborated into a more complex classification k ...
''. Then the wool is separated in a proper and skilled way, leaving only the skin. After that, the remaining hairs on the skin are burned away with fire, after which the meat is wiped to get rid of the carbon deposits. Then the meat is cut into smaller pieces and rubbed with
salt
Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...
to prevent bacteria. It is also rubbed with pungent-smelling
asafoetida
Asafoetida (; also spelled asafetida)
is the dried latex ( gum oleoresin) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species of ''Ferula'', perennial herbs growing tall. They are part of the celery family, Umbelliferae. Asafoetida is th ...
, which is a little like garlic and serves as a preservative, a much-needed additive in a part of the world where electricity and refrigerators are rare.
Asafoetida
Having been thus prepared, the meat is strung on ''lahndi'' poles (tall poles with crosspieces which stand outside most Afghan mud-houses and serve as winter larders).
The best time to prepare ''lahndi'' is December, when the meat dries out within fifteen days if it is cold enough. It is commonly eaten in winter to keep a person warm and help him face the extreme weather.
See also
{{portal, Food
* List of dried foods
This is a list of dried foods. Food drying is a method of food preservation that works by removing water from the food, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and has been practiced worldwide since ancient times to preserve food. Where or when d ...
* List of lamb dishes
This is a list of lamb and mutton dishes and foods. Lamb and mutton are terms for the meat of domestic sheep (species '' Ovis aries'') at different ages. A sheep in its first year is called a lamb, and its meat is also called lamb. The meat of a ...
References
Dried meat
Lamb dishes
Afghan cuisine
Pashtun cuisine