Chapli Kabab Recipe

Chapli Kabab or Chapali Kabab is a name I am loosely familiar with. It’s a kebab, I never gave it much more thought. So before today I did not know what is special about the kabab.

Kabab has been pretty popular in the subcontinent since the Mughal empire. So it is not native to Bangla cuisine, but Kebabs are an integral part of it. Especially in the street food scene, kebabs are a star.

In the evening, particular streets in Dhaka fill up with the aroma of kebabs. Many different types of kebabs are made here, seekh kabab, chaap, and other special items. Yet these menus do not contain Chapli kabab or Chapali Kabab.

Now Moni Dadi writing about a dish that is not popular in Bangladesh is normal. Her recipes take inspiration from many different regions, and any single style of cuisine does not confine her. So Moni dadi’s Chapli kabab recipe probably tastes better than most “authentic” recipes you will find.

But Wikipedia says Chapli Kabab is “broadly consumed” in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Yet I have never seen anyone consume it, let alone it being broad. To quote Wikipedia “Chapli kababs are broadly consumed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, most popularly during the time of Eid-ul Azha and in Ramadan as part of iftar.”

So this made me confused. Am I the ignorant one or is wikipedia wrong? Mirpur, where I live, is known for its kebabs. And I am confident that the kebab joints here do not sell Chapli Kabab.

Still I wanted to double check. So I went on all of the food delivery apps and looked up Chapali Kabab and Chapli kabab, both spellings. And you guessed it, nothing came up.

Afterwards, I went to check Wikipedia’s source, a news article. The article just mentioned Chapli Kabab being sold as an iftar item. Just the price as mentioned there, along with tons of other iftar items.

Now that makes more sense. I have seen Chapli Kabab being sold as iftar items too. But most of the time the sellers do not refer to them as Chapli Kebab. Especially if the seller is a street vendor, which most iftar sellers are. Most sellers do not differentiate between Chapli Kabab and tikia kabab. At least that’s the explanation I came up with.

So chapli kebab is available in Dhaka and Bangladesh but it is not as popular as wikipedia might have you believe. The kabab is the most popular in Pakistan.

But What is a Chapli Kabab? Chapli Kabab is a special kabab made with spiced meat patty that hails from the Pashtun regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It’s known for its distinct flat, round shape and being crisp and juicy without breaking. Typically it is made with ground beef or lamb, but you can make Chapli kabab chicken too.

Minced meat, green onions, garlic, tomato, eggs, and a blend of spices like black pepper, red chili, ginger, and crushed coriander seeds are the usual Chapli kabab ingredients. But there is debate around using onions in Chapli Kabab. Some even use Dried Pomegranate seeds (Anardana) for a slight tang and crunch.

The name itself is also interesting and I was wondering why kebab is called chapli? The name “chapli” is said to be derived from the Pashto word chaprikh/chapdikh/chapleet. The word means “flat”. So the anime Chapli Kabab refers to the kebab’s unique shape, which is light, round and flattened texture.

FAQs

What is the real name of Chapli Kabab?

Chapli Kabab is the real anime of the Kabab. But if you want to be more specific, you can call it Peshawari Chapli Kebab.

Is Chapli kebab Afghan or Pakistani?

Chapli Kabab has ties to both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the dish is widely popular in both regions. It originates in the Pashtun regions bordering the two countries

How is Chapli Kabab Masala Made?

In a large bowl, mix the minced meat with chopped green onions, minced garlic, black pepper, red chili pepper, crushed coriander seeds, and ground ginger. Add eggs and finely chopped tomato, then mix everything well.