Other Turkish countries such as Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Iran have influenced Kazakhstani cuisine. Lamb, horse, beef, and camel are some meats they eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eating pork in Saudi Arabia is illegal because most of the country’s residents are Muslims. Even though Kazakhstan is one of the world’s top tea consumers, black tea is the most popular beverage here.
The food in Kazakhstan can be pretty dangerous for vegetarians, so you should exercise extreme caution if you plan there. A meat-based broth can still be used to cook Kazakhstani meals, even if they don’t use meat. Mother Nature provides the Kazakh people with all they need for a healthy diet. For some, the idea of eating horse meat may sound outlandish, but the Kazakh people believe that horses are man’s best friend, efficient transportation, and a nutritious source of sustenance.
1. Beshbarmak
This dish is Kazakhstan’s national dish and a staple of the country’s cuisine. Nomads in Turkey used to eat this dish with their hands, hence its name: “Five Fingers.” Meat and onion sauce are added to the boiling noodles before serving on a circular plate.
2. Kazy
Horsemeat sausage Kazy is a locally sourced product that is manufactured without the use of any chemical preservatives or additives. Meat, fat, and spices, including garlic, pepper, and Zira, are packed into the sausage casing. Naryn and plov can be served with it, as well as other foods like borscht.
3. Syrne
Syrne, like pork stew, has a lot in common. The lamb must be exceptionally tender for this meal to work. This recipe uses only young lamb because it is the healthiest option.
4. Manti Dumpling
In Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus, manti dumplings are a popular dish consisting of a mixture of meat, most commonly lamb or beef, wrapped in a pastry. The meat is packed with squash or pumpkin, with some black pepper in it, and served with a garlic or onion sauce.
5. Baursak
Baursak is a must-have dessert option in the Kazakh dessert repertoire. ‘Sugar, eggs, flour, and yeast are the main ingredients in this delicious treat. Baursak tastes well with a cup of tea, honey, or melted butter.Kazakhstanis serve this delicacy during memorial services and weddings because it is considered a national dish. Almaty’s Baursak competition set a new Guinness World Record for the most Baursak made in a single day with 856 kg.
6. Shelpek
Many people in Central Asia eat flatbread known as shelpek. It’s an old-fashioned dish. Combining flour, milk, sugar, butter, sour cream, baking soda, salt, and vegetable oil, dough is created and cooked on a hot flat surface, such as a frying pan or in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven heated with hot coals. This tortilla-like flatbread is made by Muslims to remember loved ones who have died on Fridays, the holiest day of the week. However, in rare circumstances, dough balls can be fried instead.
7. Pelmeni
A filling is encased in a thin layer of dough in this Russian-inspired delicacy, which is popular in Kazakhstan. The filling is made of minced meat, which can be any meat, and a variety of spices, such as black pepper, onion, and garlic.
8. Shurpa
Usually made with lamb, mutton, beef, or chicken, shurpa can be described as a stew or soup that falls between the two. Because the meat is roasted before being combined with the veggies, this dish has high-fat content, and a great variety of herbs and spices used to flavor it. Shurpa, according to the Kazakhs, is a dish everyone will love, no matter what the Recipe is.
9. Tandyr Nan – Disc-Shaped Flatbread
In terms of snacks, you shouldn’t overlook Tandyr Nan. You’ll be impressed by its disc-like shape. It’s a tender-processed Central Asian variation of the well-known Naan bread (tandoor). This product has numerous different names, including Tandir Non, Tonur Non, and Patyr Nan. The addition of eggs, sesame, or nigella seeds enhances the flavor. It is possible to have light versions for breakfast and heavier ones for lunch and dinner. Smaller versions of the dish, known as Damdy Nan, are more frequently served in Kazakh restaurants because of the attention they attract.
10. Quyrdak
Quyrdak, a national Kazakh roast made with beef and offal such as kidneys, hearts, and liver, as well as onions, copious greens, and potatoes, is named for the cooking procedure. They are cooked with the already-fried meat in a stew and can be reduced to the consistency of mashed potatoes when cooled. When it is done cooking, there may be a tiny bit of thick broth in the quyrdak.
11. Shalgam – Kazakh Salad
Among Asian vegetarian dishes, Shalgam is a good choice. Originally from Kazakhstan, it is a popular dish in the country. Many other recipes, such as Beshbarmak and meat dishes, can be paired with this dish. Radishes, bell peppers, carrots, onions, and garlic are the salad’s primary ingredients. It becomes tastier, especially with a dressing consisting of sugar, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
12. Nan-Salma
It is a popular Kazakh dish that resembles a lagman in flavor. Meat, sauce, and small squares of cooked bread make up this intriguing dish. Dumpling dough is used in the making of this dough. The process of making Nan-Salma isn’t straightforward. To draw noodles by hand is an art form that demands a high level of expertise. Lamb or beef is traditionally used in the gravy.
13. Qazy
Horse meat sausage, known as Qazy, is a delicacy in Kazakh cuisine. Qazy can only be found at the bazaar, not in a store, because it is authentically prepared there. And only those with extensive knowledge of this food can make an informed decision. Because of this, it is difficult to get a taste of the country’s culinary pride and even more challenging to make it. This recipe includes the horse intestine, flesh from the bone, and several seasonings. In addition to the horse intestine, a rib can be added to the meat used in this meal. There are many ways to prepare qazy, including boiling, boiling, dry-curing, and drying.
14. Koktal
For seafood lovers, Koktal is a must-visit. Typically, freshwater Carp from the coast of Kazakhstan is used to produce this meal. Onions, tomatoes, and sweet peppers are baked with the fish to make this dish. If you have the patience to wait for the fish to roast, you will be rewarded with a flavorful dish.
15. Nauryz Kozhe – Kazakh Soup Dink
An ancient Kazakh dish, Nauryz Kozhe, is one of its most well-known examples. Milk, oil, millet, rice, raisins, maize, and beef are the seven essential ingredients in this delicious dish. As a sign of success and wealth in Kazakh culture, this food is commonly served at the New Year’s Eve celebrations. There are also a wide range of regional and producer-specific cuisine variations.
16. Zhent – Sweet Ground Millet
Zhent is a traditional Kazakh dessert that dates back centuries. Millet, sugar, butter, and condensed milk are the essential ingredients for this delectable dish. Adding raisins, almonds, or honey will also increase the flavor. The exquisite sweetness of this dish will have you swooning. Zhent can be eaten cold if you wish to cool down your body.
17. Lagman
It’s a Kazakh noodle dish produced by twisting, stretching, and folding the dough into thin strands. Although Lagman has no connection to Kazakhstan, it is a popular tourist attraction in the country. Lagman can be eaten as raven noodle soup with heated broth or as a meat dish. With the addition of vegetables such as eggplant and peppers, Lagman can be produced in Kazakhstan.
18. Pilaf
Large slices of pork fried in a skillet with onions and carrots till browned and crusty. Then the rice and water are added and simmered for a while until the rice is done. This is essentially how the famous Kazak meal is prepared. In Kazakhstan, this particular dish symbolizes prosperity and wealth, and hence has a special place in the nation’s psyche. Rice and meat are combined to make pilaf in Kazakhstan.
19. Chak-Chak Pie – Fried Honey Cake
In Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations, Chak-Chak is preferred by the majority of Turkic-speaking peoples. A traditional Tatars tan treat, it’s been around for a long time. Flour, eggs, butter, milk, and honey are all used in this delectable treat. As well as being incredibly sweet, honey has a distinct scent. For the first time, Chak-Chak was made of soft dough in short sticks or balls fried in oil to achieve the right crispness. For natural sweetness, honey bathing the dish is a great idea.
20. Shashlik
A standard meal in Central Asia, Shashlik is grilled cube meat similar to shish kebab. It’s a stew with beef cubes and a few veggies that you cook over an open flame. On the other hand, Shashlik is an entirely different dish from kebabs.