Kazakh Dishes: Basic Overview
Common Ingredients
Common Cooking Methods
Courses
Meals
Key Taste
Eating Etiquette
Meal Presentation
Culinary Festivals
Influence and Fusion
Popular Types of Kazakh Dishes
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Dumplings
Many dumplings are staples in the country.
They feature a doughy exterior with fillings made from meats and/or vegetables.
Most are not for vegans/vegetarians and not gluten-free.
They are typically steamed or boiled.
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Cakes and Pastries
These range from sweet to savory which can be filled with meat, cheese, or sweet fillings.
Some have a flaky texture, while some are thick and dense.
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Bread and Doughs
Bread in Kazakhstan varies from flatbreads to fluffy, leavened types. They are not free of gluten due to the flour.
They are normally baked in traditional ovens.
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Noodle Soups
Kazakh soups include rich broth with homemade noodles.
Meat and vegetables are common accompaniments.
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Dry Noodle Dishes
These dishes focus on noodles served with less broth. -
Rice Dishes
These delicacies use rice as a main component.
It is cooked with meat, spices, and vegetables.
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Stews
Stews are slow-cooked and hearty dishes with meat. -
Soups
Soups are typically rich in flavor and use meat broth (e.g., lamb, horse, or beef).
Some soups held cultural significance.
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Desserts
Desserts in Kazakhstan are sweet pastries, dairy-based treats, and nutty paste.
Kazakh Dishes: Signature Culinary Delights
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Most Popular Dishes
Beshbarmak
Pilaf
These dishes are widely beloved and integral to Kazakh culinary culture.
They are served in homes and restaurants throughout the country.
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National Dish
Beshbarmak
The delight reflects the nomadic heritage and shows the essence of Kazakh hospitality and communal dining. -
Traditional Dishes
Joshpara
Chorba
These are time-honored recipes passed down through generations.
They are linked to specific rituals, celebrations, or daily life.
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Street Food
Samsa
Qatlama
It refers to Quick, convenient, and flavorful foods typically sold in local markets or small street stalls. -
Exotic Dishes
Naryn
Qarta
They are less common in other countries, especially those outside Central Asia, or have unique ingredients. -
Fusion Dishes
Morkovcha
Halva
Fusion dishes here blend traditional Kazakh elements with influences from other cuisines, like Russian and Soviet influences.
Kazakh dishes are culinary creations prepared and enjoyed by the people of Kazakhstan.
Local cuisine is significantly shaped by the nomadic Central Asian traditions. Russian culinary influence is also considerable in Kazakhstan, which was part of the former Russian Empire and Soviet Union.
Traditional Kazakh foods are calorie-dense and heavily dependent on meat (including mutton and horse meat) and dairy products. Pasta, grains, and vegetables are also popular ingredients.
Among the most popular types of dishes in Kazakhstan, notable names are stews, breads, cakes and pastries, and noodle-based dishes.
Most Kazakh main dishes are savory, while snacks and desserts are usually sweet.
Baking, boiling, stewing, deep-frying (traditionally in animal fat), and grilling are dominant cooking techniques.
However, curing methods, such as salting and fermenting, are widely used to preserve dairy products and similar foods.
With the emphasis on meat and dairy, Kazakh foods are usually gluten-free, though vegans and vegetarians find fewer options here.
Continue reading for more informative facts about the cuisine of Kazakhstan, starting with how historical and cultural factors influence it.
The next topics will cover Kazakhstan’s regional cuisines, the role of Kazakh dishes in local festivities, the main features of Kazakh dining practices, and the food taboos to avoid in the country.
Are you ready to explore the beauty of Kazakh dishes? Don’t just read about them, engage with your senses! Use interactive filters or click on the dishes to dive deeper into them.
42 Most Popular Kazakh Dishes with Filters
#1
in Kazakhstan
Beshbarmak
- National
- Traditional
Beshbarmak is a Central Asian dish consisting of boiled and chopped meat and onions on a bed of egg noodles.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling
Course: Main Course
Mealtime: Dinner
#2
in Kazakhstan
Pilaf
- Fusion
- National
- Street Food
- Traditional
Pilaf is a rice dish (or wheat) popular in many countries around the world, combining grains with various broths, spices, meat, and vegetables.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Stir-frying, steaming, or boiling
Course: Main course
Mealtime: Lunch, dinner
#3
in Kazakhstan
Börek
- Street Food
- Traditional
Börek is a family of pies and pastries in many regions of Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Baking or deep-frying
Course: Appetizer
Mealtime: Anytime
#4
in Kazakhstan
Manti
- Fusion
- Traditional
Manti is a dumpling version of the Central Asia region with spiced meat.
Country’s Region: Unspecified
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling or steaming
Course: Main course
Mealtime: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
#5
in Kazakhstan
Laghman
- Traditional
Laghman features pulled noodles served in a flavorful broth with vegetables and meat.
Country’s Region: Northwest China
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling
Course: Main course
Mealtime: Lunch, dinner
#6
in Kazakhstan
Shelpek
- Traditional
Shelpek is a Central Asian flatbread that is especially important for Muslim communities.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Pan-frying
Course: Dessert
Mealtime: Anytime
#7
in Kazakhstan
Samsa
- Street Food
- Traditional
Samsa is a baked savory pastry with different fillings that is a favorite street food in Central Asia.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Baking
Course: Appetizer
Mealtime: Anytime
#8
in Kazakhstan
Boortsog
- Street Food
- Traditional
Boortsog is a traditional fried dough dessert from Mongolia and Central Asia, often likened to doughnuts.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Deep-frying
Course: Dessert
Mealtime: Anytime
#9
in Kazakhstan
Chorba
- Fusion
- Traditional
Chorba is an extensive collection of rich soups or stews in many Asian, African, and European countries.
Country’s Region: Unspecified
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Stewing or simmering
Course: Main Course, Soup, Appetizer
Mealtime: Lunch, Dinner
#10
in Kazakhstan
Halva
- Fusion
- Traditional
Halva is a confectionary from Persia which is also popular in Asia, Middle East, Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Caucasus.
Country’s Region: Unspecified
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Simmering
Course: Dessert
Mealtime: Anytime
#11
in Kazakhstan
Çäkçäk
- National
- Traditional
Çäkçäk is a doughnut-like, honey-drenched sweet from Russia.
Country’s Region: Tatarstan, Bashkortostan
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Deep-frying
Course: Dessert
Mealtime: Anytime
#12
in Kazakhstan
Caviar
- Exotic
- Traditional
Caviar is a premium food made from the salt-cured roe of the sturgeon.
Country’s Region: Caspian Sea Region
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Curing
Course: Appetizer
Mealtime: Anytime
#13
in Kazakhstan
Dimlama
- Traditional
Dimlama is a hearty stew with meat and vegetables, which is famous in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Simmering
Course: Main Course
Mealtime: Lunch, Dinner
#14
in Kazakhstan
Joshpara
- Fusion
- Traditional
Joshpara is a filled dumpling in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Caucasus.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling
Course: Main Course
Mealtime: Lunch, Dinner
#15
in Kazakhstan
Kashk
- Traditional
Kashk refers to various dairy products made from curdled milk in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling and fermenting
Course: Non-course dish
Mealtime: Anytime
#16
in Kazakhstan
Kesme
- Traditional
Kesme is an egg noodle in Central Asia and Turkey.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling
Course: Main Course
Mealtime: Lunch, Dinner
#17
in Kazakhstan
Kuurdak
- Traditional
Kuurdak is a Central Asian and Mongolian meat dish.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Stewing
Course: Main Course, Appetizer
Mealtime: Lunch, Dinner
#18
in Kazakhstan
Lavash
- National
- Street Food
- Traditional
Lavash is a flatbread popularly prepared using a yeast dough, perfect for serving as a wrap with various fillings.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Baking
Course: Main course
Mealtime: Anytime
#19
in Kazakhstan
Naryn
- Exotic
- Traditional
Naryn is an intriguing mix of noodles and meat, all served in a hearty bowl in Central Asia.
Country’s Region: Nationwide
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Boiling or steaming
Course: Main course
Mealtime: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
#20
in Kazakhstan
Orama
- Traditional
Orama is a steamed dish containing a wide range of meat and vegetable fillings.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin
Main Ingredients:
Cooking Method: Steaming
Course: Main course
Mealtime: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
#21
in Kazakhstan
Qarta
- Exotic
Qarta is a unique dish of horse meat from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Country’s Region: Nationwide Origin