Bolani, a stuffed fried flatbread unique to Afghanistan is
more popular and healthier than you think. While its traditional version is
starchy, the variations can be keto friendly, gluten-free or anyway you like
it. Although there has been much talk of Bolani on the internet, no one seems
to know exactly where it has come from or where it has originated. Well, you
can all credit it to the Silk Road which made Bolani popular throughout the
region and is the main reason for its variations and uses of spices.
Traditionally Bolani is a healthy breakfast often also
consumed as a snack. The main idea behind it was to provide energy to the
farmers or labourers and hence its rustic origin. The Bolani that is sold in
the streets of Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad are the size of a large sized
pizza.
The Origins of
To go deep into the origins of Bolani, we first have to
understand what it means. “Bolani” is a Dari term meaning stuffed bread. Dari
Persian is closely related to Tajiki Persian, which dates its origin way back
to the Sassanid Dynasty (224 to 651 AD). So, yes, theoretically, Bolani has
been around since the Sassanian Empire.
Relation to the Silk Road
Looking closely at the map of the silk road, we can see that
merchants and travelled passed through the regions of Afghanistan, Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan to bring about several variations and
taste buds that impacted Bolani in the long run. The inclusion of Chinese
scallions or “Gandana” as said in Farsi was also a cultural inclusion to suit
the taste buds of the travellers. Earlier Bolani was mainly made from meat or
potatoes which was the staple food of the region. While there isn't a specific
documented date for the introduction of scallions to Afghanistan, it is likely
that they arrived in the region over centuries as part of this cultural and
agricultural exchange.
Afghan Cuisine now
The Afghan cuisine as we know it nowadays, may be credited
to the Achaemenid Empire, when the main food revolved around grains, meat and
wine. The urban population in the empire was primarily involved in agriculture.
Barley was the most commonly cultivated cereal, grown in regions
such as Babylonia, Egypt, Elam, and Persia, while spelt and wheat were less
frequently planted. One can guess, the rustic food Haleem dominant in Afghanistan,
must have come from Babylon or Persia.
In Palestine, wheat served as the main staple food,
alongside peas, lentils, and mustard. Babylonia cultivated barley, millet,
sesame, peas, mustard, garlic, onions, cucumbers, apples, pomegranates, and
apricots. In both Babylonia and Elam, essential foods included wine, vinegar,
honey, and barley, with dates being consumed and bread made from their seeds.
Wine production, for which ancient Persia was famous, was
also established in regions like Syria, Cilicia, Armenia, and Sogdiana.
Meanwhile, Babylonia and Elam brewed beer using dates and barley. Egypt,
Babylonia, Phrygia, and Persia were abundant in livestock, though dairy
products played a minor role in the diet. Poultry and fish were also part of
the diet.
Introduction of Rice in Afghanistan
However, Rice was introduced much later into the cuisine. Diodorus
mentioned the use of rice for the military in 4th century BC Susa (XIX.13.6),
which seems highly plausible. Cyrus II expanded the Persian Empire as far east
as the borders of India, where trade had already been well established. Historical
evidence suggests that rice cultivation likely began in Afghanistan around the
10th to 12th centuries, during the medieval period, when the region was
influenced by Persian, Indian, and Central Asian agricultural practices.
When did Bolani became Bolani?
Origin of What in the Achaemenid Empire
The
origin of wheat in the Achaemenid Empire was around 550-330 BCE, as a part of
the empire’s extensive agricultural development program. The ancient empire
consolidated from the Indus Valley to Egypt, parts of Anatolia and even certain
parts of Europe, bringing in advanced agricultural techniques. they promoted
the use of irrigation systems, which enabled the cultivation of wheat in larger
quantities across their empire. Wheat became a key staple in the diet of the
empire's population, particularly in regions such as Persia, Mesopotamia, and
Anatolia.
The
Achaemenid administration also supported agricultural trade, which helped wheat
spread across the empire, becoming a critical crop in many regions, alongside
other grains such as barley. The introduction and cultivation of wheat helped
support the empire’s growing population and military needs.
Bolani: Stuffed Flatbread
Having said this, we can probably guess when bread was stuffed to
form Bolani. In Ireland stuffed Cornish pasties were eaten by Miners. The
Cornish pasties were made by their mothers, wives, sisters to provide a healthy
source of nutrition while performing hard labour. It may have been so for
Bolani as well. Traders while travelling or during military conquests, filled
flatbread must have been a convenient food for everyone.
It is very hard to determine exactly what happened and how it has
happened, as there is very less archaeological evidence. But people in the past
are nothing but people. They were also trying to survive in this harsh world
just as we are. You can only imagine Afghan wives and mothers making Bolani for
their husbands or sons. Either they fill their breads with potato or with meat
and spices. A cool yoghurt drink for the journey may not have been bad!
The above blog is also available in Dutch language here.