The Helmand

The Helmand in East Cambridge serves Afghan food in a dining room with a fireplace and a wood-burning oven for flatbread. Start with kaddo, sweetened baked pumpkin served with garlic yogurt and ground beef sauce, or banjan, eggplant with tomatoes and yogurt. Dumplings are another reason to come: mantwo holds beef and onions, while aushak is filled with leeks and also has a vegetarian version. For a larger dish, qabelee pairs lamb with rice, raisins and carrots. The First Street restaurant takes reservations and offers pickup and delivery. Sitting down gives you time for several courses, with bread on hand for the sauces rather than leaving them on the plate.