ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Azerbaijan
Five dishes to try in Azerbaijan, the most typical first.
Five dishes to try in Azerbaijan
Plov
Saffron rice served with lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit and herbs.
How to have it: The centrepiece of weddings and Novruz; shah plov is baked inside a crisp lavash crust.
Qutab
Thin folded flatbread filled with fresh herbs, pumpkin or minced meat.
How to have it: Sprinkle with sumac and eat with yoghurt; sold hot at bakeries all over Baku.
Dolma
Vine leaves or cabbage wrapped around spiced minced lamb and rice.
How to have it: Served with garlic yoghurt; the 'three sisters' version stuffs aubergine, pepper and tomato.
Piti
Lamb and chickpea stew cooked with saffron in individual clay pots.
How to have it: A specialty of Shaki; tear bread into the broth first, then eat the meat and chickpeas.
Dushbara Düşbərə
Tiny lamb dumplings in clear broth, flavoured with dried mint.
How to have it: Eaten with a splash of vinegar and garlic; a favourite on cold days.
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Questions
What food is Azerbaijan famous for?
Plov (saffron rice served with lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit and herbs) comes first on our list, followed by Qutab, Dolma, Piti and Dushbara.
What is the national dish of Azerbaijan?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Azerbaijan is Plov: saffron rice served with lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit and herbs. The centrepiece of weddings and Novruz; shah plov is baked inside a crisp lavash crust.
Which dishes in Azerbaijan are vegetarian?
None of the five dishes on this page is vegetarian as usually made. Ask locally: many places have meat-free versions.
What street food should I try in Azerbaijan?
Qutab (thin folded flatbread filled with fresh herbs, pumpkin or minced meat).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.