The filling inside a samsa is usually made from mutton meat and onions, and it can sometimes have potatoes in as well. It begins in Bishkek, the capitals city of Kyrgyzstan. The name comes from the tradition that the dish is usually eaten with the hands. Its steamed in a special multi-layered pot and is excellent when eaten with a side of ketchup. Theyre cooked in a tandoor and make a filling snack or meal depending on how many you get. They are most often stuffed with mutton and fat, but are also made with chicken, cheese, cabbage, beef, and even pumpkin. In addition to the traditional cuisine, you can gain many other authentic experiences to get to know this special culture, the country and the people. We had no idea what it was on a menu, but our driver insisted we must try kuurdak for lunch with him. Therefore, many cooking techniques are conducive to long-term food preservation. This drink is considered to be the signature drink of Euroasian nomadic culture, as it is also consumed in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Mutton, horse meat, and beef are the meats youll see most often in Kyrgyz dishes today. The latter then cuts off pieces of the head and is allowed to offer them to the other guests at the table. If you are active and adventurous, we can offer you this unforgettable trip. It is a comforting noodle and broth dish that is easy to see where it gets it popularity. The broth is served separately. Well, laghman or ashlyamfu, but I will get to that shortly). Ashlyamfu is more of a cold sand style of noodle dish. It consists of horse meat (mutton or beef) cooked in a broth for several hours and served over homemade noodles with parsley. They are delicious hot but can be eaten as a cold snack at pretty much any time of the day. The powder is also mixed with other grains, some salt, and oils. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. Its preparation differs from region to region; some people cook it with white rice, while others use brown Uzbek rice. We found it interesting to learn about the food in Kyrgyzstan, especially seeing as our understanding of Cyrillic is close to zilch. So at first we thought maybe it was a cheap kind of whisky or rum that wouldnt be too expensive to knock off. Travel in Bangladesh: A complete travel guide for Bangladesh in 2022. Join us to find out where we went, what we loved and what challenged us the most. The price depends on a group size. Monty is meat, onion, and fat filled dumplings that are usually steamed, but you can also get them fried. The trip we offer you below is a light version of program "To the heart of Tien Shan" and trip to Son-Kul lake. A horse is considered to be an integral part of the life of the nomadic people. Kyrgyz cuisine was influenced by the cuisine of neighboring countries, so expect to find dishes that are also popular in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan or Russia. The modern version of this traditional drink is available with carbonated water, which is available at stores. Fresh kumys is only available in the summer from about May to August. Beshbarmak means "Five Fingers" in the Kyrgyz language, and is so called probably because the dish is typically eaten with the hands. It consists of horse meat (or mutton/beef) boiled in its own broth for several hours and served over homemade noodles sprinkled with parsley. Enjoy Kyrgyzstans pristine natural beauty by visiting alpine lakes (Lake Song Kul and Lake Sary Chelek), An amazing bicycling trips for cycling around Kyrgyzstan! In Kyrgyzstan, it is considered a national dish of the local Dungan ethnic minority group that nowadays live largely in Karakol. Mutton and beef are the favorite meats, although in modern times many Kyrgyz are unable to afford them regularly. I still dont know what kind of meat we had at the time (or offal). Paloo is the Kyrgyzified form of the Persian word polow or polo, related in etymology to pilaf. Cooked meat is served on top of traditionally prepared pasta that has been shaped into thin squares or strips. A complete travel guide for Kyrgyzstan with kids. The tour will be fulfilled even if only one person buy it. In Kyrgyz cuisine, plov is mainly made of meat, carrots and rice. 2022 Chef's Pencil   Privacy Policy & Terms of Service  Contact us.

Then the meat is hung over the pit and covered with arched branches or dense fabric. In Gulchitai, the meat is shaved (like in besh barmak) and in Kazy Karta, youll see it in medallions. Suzmo, also known as Suzma in other parts of Central Asia, is essentially cheese-like food of battered sour milk. People have been inhabiting the mountains of Kyrgyzstan silk road for thousands of years Over many years the horses help shepherds to move their houses (Yurts) over the passes to the alpine pastures. Jarma is a cold beverage made from ground grains found in the cuisine of Kyrgyzstan. If Karakol had an official dish, this would be it. Fresh air and kyrgyz nomadic culture to fill you in with excitement and discoveries of unique history. Thus, many cooking techniques are conducive to the long-term preservation of food. If you are wondering what on earth you are going to eat when you visit Kyrgyzstan, you are in for a treat. This is a hearty Kyrgyz dish of fried marinated meat, onions, and potatoes. Its preparation is not complicated at all, although it can take some time. A unanimous favourite of Kyrgyz cuisine as voted by our kids. Price from 94 USD to 130 USD per person (the price depends on a group size). The price 880 USD per person is available for groups of 2 people. Ive only ever tried cognac once before (likely because in NZ it is around $100 NZD for a bottle!). There is a jailoo (summer pasture) with yurts and shepherds a lot closer to Bish Have you ever heard of Kel Suu? Central Asian people bake a specific type of bread in a tandoor (predominantly a cylindrical clay or metal oven used in cooking and baking), which in Kyrgyzstan is called Mai Tokoch. Boso Lagman is the same ingredients fried, but without the broth. If you fancy yourself a foodie, sign up for the Karakol Food Crawl,where you'll sample many of the region's most famous dishes, representing four different ethnicities, in just a few hours. The price 1028 USD per person is available for groups of 4 people. Oromo is a very satiating meal that you can enjoy together with some ketchup or spices! The price depends on a group size. Imagine yourself cycling in the Tien Shan mountains, 3 days hiking in Tong and horsebacking in a yurt camp at 245 Join us foran adrenaline-packed Enduro adventure through Kyrgyztans rugged mountain terrain. It is as strange as it sounds. Below are some traditional Kyrgyz dishes that have been polished and perfected over the years. Qurut is made from drained yogurt or drained sour milk by shaping it and letting it dry.

Chiuchiuk or Qazy is a sausage prepared with horse meat and intestines. In Russian the dish is called plov (Russian: ), in Turkish pilav, in Turkic languages ash, and in Tajik osh. The meat, usually lamb, is boiled and removed from the water. Its served in dumplings, on top of noodles or rice, or alongside potatoes. You take shaved lamb and dump it on top of a pile of steaming noodles and onions served with a broth/sauce. We are a family from New Zealand with a love of travel especially where it takes us off the beaten track. Be sure to check out the full listing of Karakol restaurants and cafes, and our Vegetarian Food Guideis a complete resource for vegetarian travelers. If you like spicy, ask for somelaza (local roasted chili pepper sauce) to go with yourmanti. Sign up now for the TripLegend newsletter for free and get 50 off your first booking. Basically, its fried onions and carrots mixed into spiced rice served with chunks of tender, boiled meat on top. In the mountainous areas, it is then usually sold by the roadside. Traditional laghman noodles are quite soupy,boso laghmannoodles are fried, andguyru laghmannoodles are boiled and less soupy. IndiaJapanJordanKyrgyzstanSri LankaUzbekistan. Beshbarmak is the most famous or iconic dish of Kyrgyz cuisine. In a simplified version, the dish can be served as a thick lamb soup with homemade egg noodles. Samsa serve as a perfect snack any time of the day. Oromo is a traditional steamed pie. Just about every country has its own version of dumplings, and manti are a favorite dish in Central Asia. Oromo is my all-time favorite dish. Jarma is not fermented and is often mixed with ayran to result in a similar fizzy sensation. Its hard to recognise smaller restaurants in the cities and towns. Dont have a lot of time? Fresh kymyz is only available in the summer months when nomadic herders have their horses at pasture. Yurt stay with a nomadic herder family at Song Kol Lake. This was just a small glimpse into the diversity of the popular Kyrgyz cuisine. Lagman (or laghman) is a very popular noodle dish. And for that one other dish; that Ill leave as optional. These baked, stuffed pastries are usually made with onions and lamb meat, but potato versions are also available. Note:Several restaurants in Karakol will serve a vegetarian version oflaghmanif you request it. Besh Barmak is the most traditional Kyrgyz dish eaten by nomads. Maksym was traditionally made in small quantities by women for family consumption; however, this drink was introduced as a commercial product in Bishkek by the company 'Shoro', after which it became widely available all over Kyrgyzstan. Since much of the country is engaged in breeding livestock, meat is a substantive part of traditional and modern Kyrgyz cuisine. Samsa is a pasty filled with meat and onions baked in the oven. The horse intestines are first washed and cleaned, and then horse rib meat is stuffed into the intestines, tied, and cooked in boiled water. the taste grew on me a little, and I have to say it almost tasted nice as a snack alongside a cold beer as we sat out a yurt in Bokonbaevo. As well as foods that pretty much came along the Silk Road trading routes and jazzed it up a little. Mutton, beef, horse meat and various dairy products are the main ingredients. To balance the flavor, tone down the spice, and mop up all that delicious broth, order a side ofpiroshky(fried bread stuffed with potatoes). Like laghman, Ashlyamfu is a popular dish in Kyrgyzstan particularly in the Karakol/eastern Kyrgyzstan regions. A bottle of Cognac is around $6 $10 USD. But utensil choices aside, beshbarmak is pretty darn tasty. [citation needed]. If you are a vegetarian, you can prepare Oromo with minced potatoes, pumpkins, or even Allium tuberosum (a leafy green plant grown originally in China and now grown in all parts of Central Asia). The price depends on a group size. In Kyrgyzstan, manti are usually made using a combination of beef, lamb, cabbage, pumpkin or potato. Plus, the benefits of fermented horse milk are believed to strengthen gut health and improve digestion. This drink is considered the hallmark of Eurasian nomadic culture, as it is also consumed in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. You can order Tash Kordo in certain restaurants for a price of 9000 KGS (120$). The rolled dough is cut into strips 14 cm wide or into small rectangles and boiled in the broth with vegetables. The fermented milk is mildly alcoholic and hence somewhat of a ritual associated in the drinking and sharing of kymyz. Common breads in Kyrgyzstan include the typical Central Asian flatbread (naan), which is baked in tandoori ovens over coals and has a typical round and relatively flat shape. Boorsoks can be eaten together with shorpo or by dipping them into kaymak (Kyrgyz sour cream). You can find this dish over town, from restaurants to stand-up stalls. Youre more likely to see it served in Kyrgyz homes. Dimlama is a stew consisting of meat, potatoes, onions, vegetables and sometimes fruits. Tash Kordo is a unique dish of Kyrgyz nomads. Paloo (Kyrgyz: or /) is the Kyrgyz version of what is generally referred to as plov in Central Asian cuisine. (After our four days in Karakol we surmised that if the town was to have a signature dish, it would surely be laghman. Also, dont forget that almost 3540% of it should be meat, usually lamb. Because adventure is always better shared! Beschbarmak is usually prepared on festive occasions, for example to celebrate the birth of a new child, an important birthday or a death in the family. This is a delightfully messy concoction bursting with meat, broth, and slick noodles that just cry out for a slurp. And Ive got to say it went down a treat when it was zero degrees outside surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The price 94 USD per person is available for groups of 5 people. Say no more Dumplings in Asia, as a general rule, are just awesome. Borsok is dough that is cut into little squares and then fried so that theyre airy inside. This spicy, cold, Dungan soup plays with texture and taste by using two kinds of noodles thick rice noodles and thinner wheat noodles mixed with a vinegar chili sauce and topped with a heaping spoonful of chopped herbs. Kaymak is also used in the preparation of various pastries and desserts.

Kuurdak is a very tasty and easy-to-prepare dish, so its popular choice to serve guests that are unexpected and somewhat in a hurry. The price doesn't depend on the amount of people in a group. It is now one of the main foods offered in restaurants as well as prepared in homes by thousands of families. All versions make for a succulent, addictive treat. For the best ashlyam fu, stop in Karakol. Then you've come to the right place! A popular Kyrgyz beverage is kymyz (Kyrgyz: [qmz]), a slightly alcoholic drink made by fermenting mare's milk. The fresh noodles are served with a thick soup or broth, and often some kind of meat.