What are the typical dishes of Kazakhstan?
Typical Kazakh dishes include Beshbarmak (boiled meat with noodles), the national dish, Kazy (horse sausage), Shashlyk (grilled skewers), Manti (meat dumplings), Plov (pilaf rice), and Baursak (fried pastries).
The national dish: Beshbarmak
Beshbarmak is the emblematic dish of Kazakhstan. It consists of boiled horse or mutton meat served with wide noodles. Its name literally means "five fingers", as it is traditionally eaten with the hands.
Other must-try specialties
- Kazy: smoked horse sausage, considered a delicacy
- Shashlyk: grilled meat skewers cooked over a wood fire
- Manti: large dumplings steamed and filled with ground meat
- Plov: pilaf rice with vegetables and meat
- Baursak: small fried pastries, served as a side dish or for breakfast
The basics of Kazakh cuisine
Kazakh gastronomy reflects ancestral nomadic culture. It favors horse and mutton meat, fermented dairy products and noodles. These ingredients form the basis of most traditional dishes.