Located in the heart of Central Asia lies an enchanting land of soaring mountain ranges and high-altitude deserts enveloped by stunning landscapes and scenic wonders – Tajikistan.
<img class=”wp-image-50512″ src=”https://johnnyafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/obraz-zawierajacy-drewniane-patelnia-naczynie-g.jpeg” alt=”Obraz zawierający drewniane, patelnia, naczynie, gotowanie
Opis wygenerowany automatycznie” />
Visitors from all around the world travel miles to experience a mesmerizing journey across this hidden but beautifully preserved country.
Not many people are aware of this remote mountainous country that is bound to leave any visitor breathless. However, those adventurous enough to visit this little-known corner of the world are rewarded with a warm welcome by the locals.
But there’s something more to this small landlocked country than hospitable locals, captivating sceneries, and fast-flowing rivers that attracts the attention of intrepid travelers – the Tajikistan food.
Before discussing the best food options available in Tajikistan, it’s essential to mention one more thing – visa requirements.
Do I need a visa to visit Tajikistan?
Most travelers still need a visa to visit and explore Tajikistan. Luckily, the country’s government introduced the facility of e-Visas to make the visa application process much easier for tourists and visitors alike.
People wishing to visit Tajikistan don’t have to go through the cumbersome process of waiting in long lines at the Tajik Consulate to obtain a visa anymore. They can simply complete an electronic application, pay the issuing fee online, and get their approved e-Visa via email.
The Tajik e-Visa stays valid for up to three months and allows the visitor to stay in Tajikistan for up to two months. Residents of countries eligible for a Tajikistan e-Visa can apply for one online on https://visatajikistan.com/.
Tajik Cuisine
Tajik cuisine is considered one of the most attractive factors that lures tourists to this humble place. The national cuisine of Tajikistan is similar to that of other countries in Central Asia, such as Russia, Afghanistan, and Iran.
Still, each dish has a peculiar taste of its own that is unique only to Tajikistan. This is often due to the authenticity of their flavors and cooking techniques.
Tajiks consider food to be an essential part of their heritage. Dinner is considered to be a proper ceremony where food is treated with the utmost respect. This meal begins with tea on a sofa around a low table, and only a senior member of the family can take the first bite before others may join in.
While every region of the country has its culinary specialties that stem from the products available in its landscape; meat, dry fruits, fresh herbs, and dairy products are everyday staples of every region’s cuisine in Tajikistan. Moreover, no meal is complete without the presence of naan, a Tajik flatbread made from wheat dough baked in a tandoor oven.
But there are some dishes that you just can’t afford to miss out on when you’re in Tajikistan.
Read on as we make an excursion to Tajik cuisine and explore some of the most popular and taste-worthy dishes in all of Tajikistan!
- Qurutob
Considered by many to be the national dish of Tajikistan, Qurutob is one of the most popular dishes of the Tajik cuisine. This simple everyday dish combines a special type of flatbread called fatir and balls of salty cheese known as qurut.
These balls of cheese are a common snack in Tajikistan and are first dissolved in water to create a yogurt-like sauce that forms the base of this dish.
After the base is created, flaky bits of the flatbread, fatir, are topped on the dish along with sliced vegetables, such as onions, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh herbs.
Most versions of this cheap and scrumptious dish don’t include meat in it, making it the perfect choice for vegetarians, but if you’re a meat-lover, then you can also find a version that incorporates meat in it.
- Mastoba
A traditional rich Tajik soup that contains meat, vegetables, rice, Mastoba is one of the most popular soup dishes in Tajikistan. Soups form an important component of Tajik cuisine and are some of the best dishes to try in Tajikistan, but Mastoba tops them all.
Found in most local restaurants, Mastoba is prepared by first frying chunks of meat, usually beef or mutton, with tomatoes, carrots, and other vegetables. Then water is added to let the meat and vegetables simmer.
This is followed by the addition of rice and katyk, a type of sour milk, to create a thick and filling soup garnished with fresh coriander and ground pepper.
- Plov
Plov holds a very special place in Tajik cuisine. Plov is a popular rice dish made by frying rice, shredded vegetables such as onions and carrots, and chunks of meat in a special wok-shaped cauldron called kazan over an open flame. The dish is served on a single large plate and is traditionally eaten with one’s hands.
While you can find this delectable dish anywhere in the country, the city of Penjikent is most famous for their version of the dish because they use locally grown yellow carrots that boost the flavor of the plov.
- Halvaitar
If you think that Tajik cuisine consists of only meat, vegetables, and soups, Tajik desserts are one to feast on too. Halvaitar is one of the most must-have sweet treats if you’re ever in Tajikistan.
The dessert is made by adding flour to mutton fat and frying it until it is light brown before adding sugar syrup and mixing the combination to form the halvah.
The hot liquid flour halva is poured in plates and flavored with vanilla. Crushed nuts, almonds, and pistachios may also be added to the liquid before it’s chilled and cut into pieces.
- Sambusa Baraki
Similar to traditional Indian samosas, this popular street dish is a savory pastry filled with meat. Commonly eaten as a snack or appetizer, a Sambusa Baraki looks like a triangular pie that is made of flaky dough made from flour, eggs, salt, and water.
The dough is beaten and greased with melted butter, following which it is filled with meat and other spices and seasonings before it is brushed with egg yolks and baked in a tandoor oven.
Don’t forget to try this palatable savory snack from street vendors when you visit the markets of Tajikistan.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our guide for the best dishes to try when you’re in Tajikistan. We hope our list of top dishes proves to be a helpful resource for you when you’re thinking of what to eat in Tajikistan.
Don’t forget to apply for your Tajikistan e-Visa online to be fully prepared for trying the unique and delicious Tajik cuisine!
