cuisines that you must try in azerbaijan

Are you prepared to dive into one of the most flavorsome cuisines that you can try on this planet? Yes, you got it right! The Azerbaijani Cusine. 

Juicy, mouth-watering meats cooked in exotic Azerbaijani spices will surely make you fall in love with this country in a single bite. And if you have plans to visit Azerbaijan in 2022, here are some dishes that you can’t afford to miss out on your trip. In this article, we’ll have a look at the different cuisines in Azerbaijan along with some of the best traditional dishes in the country that you must give a shot.

Azerbaijani Cuisine - A Brief

Azerbaijani cuisine is heavily influenced by the predominance and diversity of agriculture in the country. Azerbaijan has abundant grasslands, which became the most prominent reason behind the emergence of pastoralism culture. 

The strategic location of the country (which gives it access to the trade routes on the Caspian Sea) allowed the Azerbaijani population to develop rich diets, which included milk products, meats like chicken, beef, mutton, fish, and game. The cuisine is also influenced by several other cuisines like Iranian, Eastern European, and Turkish cuisines as it was ruled by multiple historic kingdoms. 

Best Dishes to Try on Your Trip to Azerbaijan

Here are some of the best dishes to try in Azerbaijan. 

• Plov

The most-loved dish in the entire country, Plov is a traditional Azerbaijani delicacy and is known by different names throughout the country. It is a rice-based dish, mixed with several combinations of meat and vegetables. 

The most-loved variety of Plov is prepared with dried fruits, rice, onion, and the most flavorsome mutton. Other popular varieties include Sebzi Govourma Plov (cooked meatballs with onions and greens), Govourma Plov (which is a fried version of Plov), Chilov Plov (which is made out of beans, rice, and fish), Shirin Plov (which is basically sweet rice), chicken Plov, and many more.

The dish is usually served with Gazmag, which is made out of flour, eggs, butter, and yogurt.

• Dolma

Dolma is yet another popular Azerbaijani delight to try if you want to explore the flavorsome side of the country. The dish got its name from a local word, Dolma, which means “stuffed”. The recipe also reached Eastern Europe and Mediterranean cuisine and was welcomed warmly by the people there.

Dolma is prepared out of meat, rice, onion, peas, and traditional spices, which are then stuffed into grape leaves with other vegetables like sweet peppers, eggplant, or tomatoes. It is usually served with Gatyg, which is a creamy sauce made from yogurt and garlic. Dolmas are bite-size yet quite filling. 

• Saj Ichi

If you’re too fascinated with dishes cooked with traditional cooking methods, Saj Ichi is something you can’t miss out on. The dish is cooked using ancient methods of cooking in a clay or copper pot, which is known for adding a unique, distinctive flavor to it. 

Lamb is the most preferred dish in this Azerbaijani barbecue as it has been the most-loved meat in the Islamic countries. The diced lamb along with eggplant, potatoes, onion, tomatoes, and bell pepper is put in a copper pot and cooked on hot coal. It is then served with a traditional drink, known as Ayran, which is made out of salt, water, and yogurt. 

Also Read: Why Should You Travel to Azerbaijan

• Piti

Another classic Azerbaijani dish, Piti is basically a soup made with chickpeas and lamb. It is cooked using a unique and slow cooking method and is among the oldest dishes that are still in existence. 

This soup has a distinctive taste. There are 3 irreplaceable ingredients in this recipe - chickpeas, lamb, and baked chestnuts. However, some other ingredients like plum, vegetables, and quince can also be added. 

It takes 5-6 hours for Piti to cook, where it is placed on slow heat in a ceramic pot to magnify its flavors. 

• Buglama

The word Buglama means “steamed” in Azeri. It is a dish where lamb is allowed to cook in its own juices on a slow flame for nearly 2 hours. You get to taste juicy, tender meat stewed with tomatoes, onions, black pepper, and bay leaves. It can also be made out of chicken, fish, or beef. 

Buglama is usually cooked on an open flame and is served with Choban Salaty, which is a salad made out of fresh summer veggies. 

How to Try These Dishes in Azerbaijan

You’ll need a valid Azerbaijan visa online to visit Azerbaijan and try out these dishes. You can rely on Azerbaijan Visa Org to get your visa. Our clients call us the most trusted visa service on the internet because of the level of satisfaction we are able to offer them through our 100% approval rate and full accuracy. 500k+ travelers have received their visas and now it’s your turn to get yours!

Also Read: Medical Requirements for an Azerbaijan Visa

The Bottom Line

These dishes are absolutely worth it and if you too are visiting Azerbaijan this year, make sure not to miss out on any of these delicacies!

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