10 Most Popular Foods in Kyrgyzstan

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If you look at the Alpine meadows of Kyrgyzstan, you can see many sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and even yaks. Since most countries raise livestock, meat is an integral part of Kyrgyzstan’s traditional and modern cuisine.

Here are the ten most famous dishes of Kyrgyzstan.

1. Plov

The world-famous rice dish, Plov, is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. The meat is first cut into large chunks and cooked together in a large skillet with chopped onions and carrots until a yellow crust covers it. Then add the rice along with the water to bring the mixture to a boil. Plov is a staple of a festive dinner and is indispensable for events that bring success and happiness, such as weddings and celebrations.

Recipe for Plov

2. Beshbarmak

This slow-cooked meat dish is made from braised lamb (lamb), beef, horse, or camel and served with boiled flat dumplings or small noodles and onions. Beshbarmak helps explain the name, which usually means “five fingers” eaten by the hand. This dish is of great cultural importance and reflects friendly customs.

Recipe for Beshbarmak

3. Samsa

Samsa is small bread stuffed with meat. This is one of the most popular snacks among the Kyrgyz. It is mainly baked in the southern regions and is deliciously prepared here. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it melts! It is the perfect snack for meat lovers!

Recipe for Samsa

4. Boorsok

Boorsok is a traditional small fried dumpling from Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. You can see it on any table during the holidays. This delicious dish is served with homemade jam. It is baked in large quantities and is a must when receiving guests and at celebrations such as weddings and funerals.

Recipe for Boorsok

5. Shorpo

Shorpo is a traditional Kyrgyz nomadic soup. First, it is a meat broth with a mixture of lamb, potatoes, carrots, and fresh herbs. Served as an appetizer or main course, it is prized in the Jailoo Highlands, a mountain meadow where shepherds spend months.

Recipe for Shorpo

6. Lagman

This Chinese minority living in Kyrgyzstan, originating from the Uyghurs or Dungans, is delightful for spicy food lovers. Lagman is long homemade pasta made with meat and peppers marinated in a hot sauce. These noodles are quite difficult to prepare and are usually passed from mother to daughter.

Recipe for Lagman

7. Oromo

Oromo is a large steamed cake found in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. It is rolled into large buns and prepared in the form of thin sheets of cake, which are sprinkled with various ingredients before boiling. This traditional dish should always be prepared fresh and is usually served in a thin layer.

Recipe for Oromo

8. Kuurdak

Kuurdak is a traditional Kyrgyz dish made from fried meat, giblets, and onions. The meat and guts get fried with onions and various spices, and you can use a variety of meats such as beef, lamb, horse meat, and sometimes poultry.

Recipe for Kuurdak

9. SHASHLIK

Shashlik is grilled meat on a stick and can be found all over Kyrgyzstan. As soon as you enter the market, you will smell the grilled meat that street vendors sell as a snack. Each chef uses a mixture of herbs and spices to keep the shashlik from becoming boring.

Recipe for Shashlik

10. Mantis

Meat-filled dumplings are very popular in Central Asia. This dish is a Turkish dish mainly, but it is more likely that it originated from the Turkic and Mongol tribes, who spread this recipe on silk from China to Turkey.

Recipe for Mantis

Sources:

Taste Atlas

Wikipedia

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