Gosh-e fil

Gosh-e fil

Alternative names	Gosh feel, gosh-e feel, gowsh-e fil, gush-e fil
Type	Fried dough
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Afghanistan, Iran
Main ingredients	Dough (flour, milk, butter, sugar, salt, cardamom, eggs), pistachios, powdered sugar

Gosh-e fil (Persian: گُوش فيل, lit. '"elephant's ear"'¹) is a fried pastry of Iranian and Afghan cuisine. The dough is shaped like an elephant ear (goosh), and deep-fried in oil. ²³

The dough is made by whisking eggs, milk and butter, then adding the mixture to the dry ingredients.⁴

In Afghanistan each piece is then topped with chopped pistachios and powdered sugar. Also in Afghanistan the sweet is mainly served with tea, especially during Nowruz.⁵

In Iran, particularly in the city of Isfahan, gosh-e fil is traditionally served together with doogh, a cold savory yogurt-based drink. This sweet-salty combination is a well-known local specialty and part of the everyday street food culture in Isfahan, especially around Naqsh-e Jahan Square.⁶⁷

The pairing is considered unusual by many outsiders because of the contrast between the sweet crispy pastry and the sour salty doogh, but it has been popular among locals for a long time.⁸