When one hears Central Asia, beautiful mountains, steppe sceneries, and their nomad tradition appear, but nothing links one to the culture of Kazakhstan more than their food. An adventure into Kazakhstan is incomplete without the experience of its rich culinary experience, and is very much based on tradition and spiced with history. Kazakhstan has a rich and fulfilling cuisine, as seen in the full meals of the nomadic people, to the current fusion foods in such cities as Almaty and Astana.
Whether you are planning yet your next journey with any of the Kazakhstan Tour Packages or want to create a culinary escape with tailor-made Kazakhstan Holiday Packages, get your palate ready. This guide will familiarize you with eight dishes that you should definitely eat in Kazakhstan and represent the culture of hospitality, history, and unity with the land in this country.
Here are the Delicious Kazakh Dishes You Have to Try
1. Beshbarmak The Kazakhstan National Dish
There is no trip in Kazakh cuisine that does not start with Beshbarmak( which is translated as five fingers since it is eaten by hand). This culinary masterpiece is a serving of boiled meat (it is traditionally a horse or mutton) on flat noodles, with the onion sauce on top. It is usually accompanied by a meat soup known as shorpa. Beshbarmak is not only a food, it is a social custom that is normally served in huge events or family parties. When you are booking any of the Kazakhstan Tour Packages, make sure that one of the activities in your itinerary is to have an eatery experience in a local restaurant to taste the authentic Beshbarmak, and ideally in a yurt.
2. Kazy Traditional Horsemeat Sausage
One more unusual dish that can surprise foreign tourists is Kazy, fermented sausage, cooked of horse meat. The meat gets seasoned, packed into natural casings and then dried out in air or smoked. It is commonly eaten as cocktail snack or included in meat platter. Kazy has cultural premises particularly among the rural Kazakh family. Although this may be regarded as exotic to some people, individuals who have tasted it explain the taste as rich and slightly gamey with a distinctive texture. Most of the Kazakhstan Holiday Packages are now giving culinary tour involving the visit to local farm houses or markets where you get to see the very process of making sausages.
3. Plov The Classic of Central Asia
Plov (or Pilaf) is an originally Uzbek dish that is adapted in the whole Central Asia with the original Kazakh interpretations. Cooked using rice, pieces of meat (usually lamb), carrots, onions and garlic, it is a slow-cooked dish that makes it tastier. Kazakh style plov can contain raisins or chickpeas making it have a different flavor. A feasting dish, plov is served during weddings, holidays and get together occasions, and brings families together. In case you are visiting the Silk Road cities of Kazakhstan you will not want to miss this meaty treat.
4. Kuurdak: Roasted Meat, Potatoes and Onions
Kuurdak is the dish that best shows the nomadic heritage of the Kazakh cuisine, being a fried meat dish prepared with liver, kidney, or mutton. It is prepared with onions and potatoes along with spices to make it rough and yet delicious. It can be regarded as comfort food in Kazakhstan. Those taking the premium Kazakhstan Tour Packs which involve accommodation in the countryside are often likely to get a home-cooked kuurdak made according to the family traditions transmitted through generations.
5. Baursak – Fried Dough Delights
The response of Kazakhstan to donuts is a deep-fried balls of dough called Baursaks which are lightly sweet and found during celebrations. Simple ingredients such as flour, yeast, milk, and sugar are what baursak are made of, so they are crispy at first glance and fluffy within. They are normally served with tea, honey or jam and as a result, they make a very nice snack after a day out of sightseeing. In case your Kazakhstan Holiday Package involves the home visit to the culture, you will probably be offered a plate of hot baursak and a sincere smile.
6. Shashlik- Kazakh Skewers in Grill
Shashlik is a must to meat lovers. These pieces of lamb, beef or chicken are marinated then skewered on sticks and cooked in open fires to produce a smoky, juicy taste. Shashlik is also a street food and it is served with raw onions with vinegar based sauces and commonly served as barbecue food. Shashlik is available all over Kazakhstan: in crowded street food stalls in Almaty, as well as in restaurants in mountain resorts of Shymbulak. The majority of Kazakhstan Tour Packages covers tours of food markets where you can taste shashlik freshly cooked on the fire.
7. Manty-steamed dumplings
Related to the Chinese dumplings, the large steamed parcels of Manty include spiced minced meat, most likely lamb or beef, as well as onions. They are boiled in a multi-level steamer and eaten with sour cream or vinegar. During the cold seasons, Manty is particularly very popular and often is made in large amounts during family gatherings. In traditional Kazakh restaurants, you are likely to find them as appetisers and they are not to be missed in any properly designed Kazakhstan Holiday Package, where the goal is to provide the visitor with authentic local experience.
8. Kumis -Mare Milk Fermented
Not a dish, but a typical traditional beverage of Kazakhstan that cannot be left unmentioned, Kumis is. Produced out of fermented mare milk, Kumis is faintly sour and fizzy in a flavor and has a low amount of alcohol as a result of natural fermentation. Kumis is claimed to be good to health, especially the digestive system, and is frequently given to guests as a sign of welcome. This is one of the most original beverages that you can taste when exploring the Kazakh cuisine, given that you feel adventurous.
Conclusion
The cuisine of Kazakhstan can be described as the representation of the nomadic background, ethnic multifacetedness, and hospitality. Whether it is a meaty plate such as Beshbarmak and Kuurdak or a comfort food such as Baursak and Manty, a story always accompanies the food served on the plate; a tale of heritage, strength and society. Being a pro foodie or a person who is just eager to learn about other cultures, you will never have such an experience with food as in Kazakhstan.
By booking your next vacation using reliable Kazakhstan Tour Packages from Dubai, you become able to experience the local culture and tastes to the fullest. Food trails, farm visits, cooking classes, and homestays are all the rage in many of the Kazakhstan Holiday deals now – it is not just a taste of the culture. Therefore, take your luggage along and your appetite, and be prepared to a gastronomic experience of a lifetime in the heart of Central Asia.
