Ok, I admit it; a huge motivation for my travels around the world is largely based on how good the cuisine is. Everyone has their ‘thing’ they search for when exploring a new country, and mine is undeniably a passion for uncovering the most incredible food experiences available. I had always wondered what is Central Asian food all about?
I surprised myself when I agreed to take a journey through ‘Central Asia’ or otherwise known as ‘The Stans’.
I’d never heard anyone talk about Central Asian food, so I researched it a little online to find out what to expect. I had my answer within seconds, and my diet was about to consist solely of mutton, bread, tomatoes and tea. Not the most exciting or nutritious food to live on for the next six weeks, but did I have any other choice?
We knew from our past travels throughout Mongolia that Nomads live off the land meaning they eat whatever livestock they breed, commonly horses and sheep as well as their milk and milk products (such as yoghurt, cheese).
Also, anything they can grow in the dry earth which is generally root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and onions and wheat from which they make bread.
# ShashlikSkewered meat (commonly mutton) usually cooked on a grill called a mangal. These days it is also made of chicken, pork or beef. The skewers are either all meat or sometimes a combination of pieces of meat, chunks of fat and vegetables such as bell pepper, onion and tomato.
We ate many shashliks along the way; a few good ones but the majority were made up of chewy chunks of mutton and lots of fat.
# PlovRice with chunks of meat, fried julienned carrots, peppers and caraway seeds, all cooked in mutton fat (which gives it flavour). A national dish (originates from Uzbekistan) which is the favourite among locals.
Our favourite plov was unsurprisingly from the local markets in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. A cheap, filling and tasty meal for sure. If you find a plov with juicy raisins included, you are winning! If you get to visit this region, you will find that this dish is available everywhere. I couldn’t write this list on what is Central Asian food without the very popular dish, plov.
# MantyRound dumplings filled with minced mutton, mutton fat and onion. Served on their own or sometimes with yoghurt and tomato salsa on the side if you are lucky.
We found some pumpkin filled manty in Khiva, Uzbekistan, which were a welcome change from countless mutton meals.
# SamsaA small baked pastry yet again filled chunks of mutton and onion. The best thing about a samsa is seeing the way it is cooked. The samsa is slapped on the inside of the makeshift tandoor ovens and peeled off once it is golden coloured. Although these are a cheap snack found almost everywhere.
# Bread or NaanBread (or naan) is the king of any meal in Central Asia, and I can’t remember eating a meal without it. Locals that we met along the way explained that they cannot eat a meal without naan. If you question what is Central Asian food without bread, the answer is not nearly as good. Bread is the foundation of Central Asian food.
We loved wandering the streets or bazaars finding the freshest bread being pulled from the tandoor ovens and being stamped on top with a tool called a chekich. The shape and consistency are determined by the region.
# BorschtBorscht is a hearty soup that is very popular in Russian and Central Asian countries. It is most commonly made with a beef or pork broth. It usually contains heavy starchy vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and always beetroot, the vegetable that gives it the familiar colour.
Served with a spoonful of sour cream, this dish is usually served with dark bread.