tajik Recipes
14 delicious tajik recipes from around the world
Kazan Kabob
Kazan Kabob is a slow-cooked meat dish prepared in a 'kazan' (a large, deep cooking pot). Meat, typically lamb or beef, is braised with onions and spices until incredibly tender and flavorful, often served with fried potatoes.
Kuchma Kuzma
Kuchma Kuzma is a hearty and flavorful Tajik dish featuring tender lamb or beef cooked with chickpeas, dried apricots, and aromatic spices, often served with flatbread. It's a comforting and traditional meal, perfect for gatherings.
Kuchuk Somsa
Kuchuk Somsa are small, bite-sized savory pastries filled with a mixture of finely minced meat (typically lamb or beef), onions, and aromatic spices. They are often baked in a tandoor oven, giving them a distinct smoky flavor and a wonderfully crisp crust. These small parcels are perfect as an appetizer or a snack.
Laghman (Fried)
A popular Central Asian noodle dish, this version features hand-pulled noodles stir-fried with meat and vegetables, offering a savory and satisfying meal.
Mantu with Yogurt Sauce
Steamed dumplings filled with seasoned ground meat (often lamb or beef) and onions, traditionally served with a cooling garlic-yogurt sauce.
Mastoba
Mastoba is a hearty and flavorful Tajik soup, often described as a rice soup enriched with tender pieces of meat and a medley of vegetables. It's a comforting and filling dish, perfect for any meal, and can be seasoned with local herbs and katyk (a fermented milk product) for an authentic touch.
Osh Salata
A refreshing and hearty Tajik salad, often served as a side dish or a light meal. It typically features a base of rice, mixed with vegetables, herbs, and sometimes meat or eggs, all dressed in a simple vinaigrette.
Qurutob
Qurutob is a hearty and flavorful Tajik national dish, often described as a bread salad. It features pieces of torn flatbread (fatir) soaked in a tangy sauce made from dissolved qurut (dried, salted yogurt balls) or a yogurt-based mixture. The dish is then topped with sautéed onions, fresh herbs, and sometimes other vegetables or meat. It's a communal dish, traditionally eaten by hand from a shared platter.
Sambusa Baraki
Sambusa Baraki are traditional Tajik savory pastries, typically triangular in shape. They feature a flaky dough filled with a spiced mixture of ground meat (often lamb or beef with tail fat), onions, and aromatic spices. Baked until golden and crispy, these pastries are a popular street food, appetizer, or snack, often enjoyed with tea.
Shakarob
Shakarob is a refreshing Tajik salad made with ripe tomatoes, onions, and fresh herbs, often served as a side dish to heavier meals. It's known for its vibrant flavors and simplicity, highlighting the freshness of seasonal produce.
Shorpo-i Gushnodor (Noodle Soup with Meat)
A comforting and flavorful noodle soup with tender chunks of meat and vegetables, often considered a staple in Tajikistani homes. It's a hearty meal perfect for colder days.
Shurbo-i Kadu (Pumpkin Soup)
A hearty and flavorful pumpkin soup, often made with lamb or beef, carrots, onions, and aromatic spices, showcasing the seasonal bounty of Tajikistan.
Shurbo-i Mush (Mushroom Soup)
A hearty and flavorful mushroom soup, often made with wild mushrooms, that is a comforting staple in Tajik cuisine, especially in mountainous regions. This version is enriched with vegetables and herbs for a wholesome meal.
Tandyr Kabob
A traditional Tajik lamb or beef kabob, slow-cooked in a tandoor (clay oven) or a conventional oven to achieve incredibly tender and juicy meat with a smoky flavor. This recipe adapts the method for home cooking.