Hot Stew

An Afghan specialty as close as Cambridge

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he Afghan specialty of pumpkin stew is worth the journey. But you only have to trek as far as Cambridge to find it. Follow the aroma of coriander to the warmth from the stone naan oven and you’ll find yourself in Helmand, a hidden gem of a restaurant named after the southeast province of Afghanistan. Have the kaddo—baby pumpkin puree seasoned with sugar, served on yogurt garlic sauce and topped with ground beef. And that’s just an appetizer. Fresh-out-of-the-oven naan accompanies each meal, along with fragrant pepper sauces, adding to the Afghan paraphernalia to make this an exotic experience that feels like you’re dining in an Afghan home. Araki

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Helmand restaurant in Cambridge is owned by Mahmood Karzai, brother of Hamid Karzai, the first elected president of Afghanistan.