Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into, a feature from author and professional chef Rohan O’Duill!

Steamed mantu was one of the scents Amir remembered during the Kite Tournament. The Kite Runner is a beautiful book with a stark reminder of how things can change drastically at any moment.

Steamed mantu is a wonderful Afghan dish, which I have made a bit easier with a few cheats. This is a vegetarian version but you can make a more traditional version by using minced lamb or beef instead of the sweet potato and peas.

Ingredients:

• 500g finely diced sweet potato
• 300g peas
• 300g finely diced onions
• 1 tsp chilli
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp of ground coriander
• 1 tsp of ground cumin
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• Wonton pastry wraps
• Yoghurt
• Tomato hot sauce

Equipment
• Frying pan
• Steamer

Directions:

The traditional recipe has a lot of parts to it, so I simplified a bit.

• Saute the diced sweet potato, onion and garlic in a pan.
• Add in the spices and cook off until golden brown.
• Add the peas and remove from the heat.
• Place a spoon of mix in the centre of a wonton sheet.
• Wet the corners of the sheets with some water and bring them together and apply some pressure to hold the parcel together.
• Repeat until you have used up the mix.
• Place the mantu in the steamer.
• Steam for 10 minutes.
• Place the cooked mantu on a platter.
• Sprinkle over the yoghurt and the tomato hot sauce.
• Put your feet up with The Kite Runner and enjoy!