Mantu Recipes
Steamed dumplings filled with spiced minced meat and onion, served on a bed of seasoned yoghurt with tomato-based sauce. Peshawar's Afghan inheritance — eaten at every Afghan-Pashtun gathering.
What is Mantu?
Steamed dumplings filled with spiced minced meat and onion, served on a bed of seasoned yoghurt with tomato-based sauce. Peshawar's Afghan inheritance — eaten at every Afghan-Pashtun gathering.
Regional Variants at a Glance
| Variant | Region | Prep | Cook | Difficulty | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peshawari Mantu | KP (Peshawar — Afghan Community) | 1h | 45m | Medium | 4 |
| Afghan Mantu — Steamed Dumplings | KP | 1h 30m | 30m | Hard | 4 |
| Beef Mantu — Hearty Filling Version | KP | 1h 30m | 30m | Hard | 4 |
All Mantu Recipes
Peshawari Mantu
Afghan-origin steamed dumplings beloved in Peshawar — thin pasta dough filled with spiced minced beef, served on garlicky yoghurt with a tomato sauce and dried mint. A dish that crossed continents.
Afghan Mantu — Steamed Dumplings
KP's Afghan-heritage steamed dumplings — thin dough pockets filled with spiced minced beef and onion, served over a bed of yogurt and topped with a rich tomato-lentil sauce. One of the most complete and underappreciated dishes in Pakistani cuisine.
Beef Mantu — Hearty Filling Version
A heartier beef-heavy mantu variation with a spicier filling and a richer qurma sauce — the weekday version favored by KP families who make mantu regularly rather than as a special occasion dish.