Top 6 of the must-have dishes in Azerbaijan

Updated: Aug 4, 2019

N°1: The traditional Azerbaijani meal, Plov

Azerbaijani Plov, rice, apricots and lamb meat — Traditional Azerbaijani Plov

We had to start our top with the most traditional dish of Azerbaijan: the Plov, aş (ash) in Azerbaijani, also called Pilov in many other countries. Yes, because the Plov is a really popular meal in Arabic and Caspian areas. In the Azerbaijani version of the Plov we find spice flavored rice with dried fruits such as apricots and lamb or beef pieces of meat.

N°2: The dish you’ll never be tired of, Dolma

Azerbaijani Dolma, meat wrapped in grape leaves — Yapraq Dolmasi

Dolma is really the meal to try in Azerbaijan! There are three types of Dolma: the first one, and my favorite, is “Yapraq Dolmasi” it consists of minced meat wrapped in grape leaves. The second one is very similar to the first, the only difference is that the meat is wrapped in cabbage. This one is called “Kelem dolmasi”. The last one is named “Uch Baji”, which means “three sisters” because the meat is served in three different vegetables: tomatoe, eggplant and pepper.

N°3: The delicious Qutab

Azerbaijani pancakes made of bread and meat or vegetables — Azerbaijani Qutab

Qutab are the Azerbaijani pancakes. There are a lot of different types of Qutab: with meat, with vegetable, with nuts… And there are all as good as each other. You must taste it when you visit Azerbaijan!

N°4: The Turkish pizza, Lahmacun

Turkish pizza, thin slice of bread topped with tomato and minced meat — Lahmacun

Lahmacun is not really a traditional Azerbaijani dish but you can find it everywhere in the Land of Fire… And it’s really cheap and delicious! It really looks like a pizza and it is usually served with parsley and lemon. It is made of a thin slice of bread topped with tomato and minced meat

N°5: The biggest and fullest potatoes you’ve never seen, Kumpir

Big potato with cheese, corn and salad — Turkish Kumpir

Azerbaijan and Turkey share many similarities: a close language, a similar culture and of course food! Kumpir is one of the typical Turkish dishes that you can find everywhere in Baku. It is a big potato cooked in barbecue. When it is well cooked, open it in half and add (a lot of) cheese. Then you can add what you want! Corn, salad, meat, mushroom, tomatoes…

N°6: The inevitable Kebab

Kebab, bread and meat — Azerbaijani Kebab

Everyone knows Kebab, but be careful, the Azerbaijani one is really different from the Turkish one! It is not served like a döner kebab in bread, it is only composed of meat (yes, Azerbaijani people loves meat). You can find chicken kebab, lamb kebab, beef kebab, but also vegetables and potatoes one! Barbecue cooking gives the meat a unique taste, it is a must-have dish in Azerbaijan, and I am sure you will it a lot during your trip!

Bonus: My favorite dessert, the yummy Pakhlava

Sweet Azerbaijani dessert composed of honey and nuts — On the left : Baklava, on the right : Pakhlava

Baklava are very popular in Arabic countries, but in Azerbaijan, they have their own way of cooking it! First, the name is a little bit different from its neighbors, in Azerbaijan, this sweety things are called “Pakhlava”. They look like little cake in form of diamond. They are composed of nuts and honey. You will gain ten kilos while eating the Pakhlavas, but I swear it's worth it.