Food in Turkmenistan: These 5 Turkmen dishes you must try

Located in Central Asia and as a former part of the Soviet Union, the cuisine of Turkmenistan has a high proportion of Russian food, which also influenced the traditional dishes significantly. But also similarities to the well-known dishes from Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan are noticeable. We have collected for you the 5 most delicious and important dishes of Turkmen cuisine:

Walnut brittle: irresistibly sweet

As an appetizer is usually served a dessert. Especially popular is the walnut brittle, which consists of sugar, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla essence. 

Plov: The national dish

Plov is the national dish of the country. It is eaten both at family dinners and served on special occasions. Depending on the region, it is prepared with rice, mutton and yellow turnips, or with fish in the areas around the Caspian Sea. Even the preparation of plov is a real experience, especially when cooked for a large gathering. In a large wok, the rice is first boiled and fried. Later, yellow turnips and pieces of lamb or mutton are added. The plov is then cooked in the covered wok until the meat is tender.

Borscht: Aromatic beetroot soup

A kind of vegetable soup that the Turkmen have adopted from the Russians. The soup consists of broth, beetroot and lots of tomato juice. Many other vegetables and also sausages can be added. Turkmen borscht contains mostly cabbage and skimps on the meat garnish, so it's ideal for vegetarians and health-conscious tourists. To combat the heat, it is usually served cold.

Shashlik: Crispy meat skewer of lamb

Shashlik is meat skewers, usually of lamb, grilled over an open fire. Although it is a typical dish in Central Asia, Turkmen shashlik differs from that of other countries - since its preparation uses the ingredients from the desert, they give off a special flavor.

The secret of the unique taste is the use of the Saxaul as firewood, of a tree-like shrub found in the vast Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. The wood of the saxaul is very thick and hard and can only be broken by hitting it on something even harder. This wood gives the shashlik a unique taste.

Kefir: refreshing yoghurt drink

In Turkmenistan it is common to drink kefir for breakfast instead of coffee or milk. Kefir is a thick yogurt drink made from kefir tubers and sheep, cow or goat milk that undergoes a 24-hour fermentation process. If you don't like the sour taste, you can also add some sugar, chocolate or fruit.

Hungry for more?

Table manners in Turkmenistan are based on those of Islam. You always take off your shoes before entering a house or an apartment. You eat with your right hand. In Turkmenistan, you must never put flatbread on the table with the top down, because that brings bad luck.

These are our top 5 dishes you should try in Turkmenistan. If you are convinced to try the culinary specialties once on the spot, sign up in our Newsletter and we will inform you when our unique Turkenistan trip goes live. Besides the traditional cuisine, you can have many other authentic experiences there to get to know this special culture, country and people. Until then, check out the TripLegend Kyrgyzstan Adventure by and see how you can make your next vacation an unforgettable experience.

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