Armenian cuisine is not only a great way for a gourmand to taste fantastic dishes, but it is also a magic which lays in each dish bearing a great history over the decades. Armenian cuisine reflects Armenian traditions and customs, the way Armenians lived for centuries and crave to create.
Armenian Bread
Unlike the rest of the world, Armenians cannot eat anything without bread. Bread is an inseparable part of Armenian table, so Armenians created new types of bread and new ways of baking bread.
1. Lavash
Lavash is an Armenian traditional bread. In 2014 it was listed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as “the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia”. Lavash is considered to be dietic bread. It is baked in the place named “Tonir” (an oven under the ground)
For preparing Lavash you will need:
flour
water
salt
2. Matnakash
Matnakash is another type of Armenian bread. It is the most favorite bread of Armenian men, as it satisfies your hunger at the first bite.
For preparing Matnakash you will need:
flour
water
sugar
dry yeast
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salt
egg white
3. Qari Hats
Qari Hats translated into English as “Stone bread” is a type of a hard bread. The bread is too tasty but it will do harm to the people with bad teeth.
For preparing Qari Hats you will need:
flour
salt
water
dry yeast
4. Zhingyalov hats
Zhingyalov hats is a type of bread full of different herbs. It is a very tasty bread which is not necessarily used with other dishes, but it is rather eaten alone with a glass of wine or a cup of tea.
For the preparation of Zhingyalov hats you will need:
green onion
green garlic
herbs:
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gindz
kndzmndzuk
chrchruk
trtndguk
tstapashar
mint
nettle
garnakandj
wild dodder
dill
spinach
and other (unknown to you) herbs
Armenian Dishes
5. Tjvjik
Tjvjik is a kind of dish which can be described as Fried Beef Liver.
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Ingredients of the dish are:
fresh beef liver
hot and cold water
olive oil, or any vegetable oil
onions
fresh green chilli pepper, slices into strips
ground black pepper
Salt to taste
6. Spas
Spas is an Armenian yoghurt soup. Matsun, the main ingredient used in spas preparation is a unique Armenian sour yoghurt full of many vitamins.
Ingredients of the dish are:
Matsun,
water,
egg,
flour,
wheat,
salt
onion,
butter,
herbs
7. Lavash baked fish
Lavash baked fish is a fantastic dish full of improvisation. Armenian women bake it with spices, seasonings, side dishes to go with it. Usually, they serve it with roasted/baked potatoes, apples and pears.
8. Qrjik
Qrjik is a traditional Armenian dish the main ingredient of which is sour cabbage. Armenians love to make sour vegetables and eat them in winter.
Ingredients of the dish are:
sour cabbage
groats
potato
water
herbs
salt
pepper
oil
9. Msho Plav
Msho plav is a type of dish typical to a region in ancient Armenia named Mush.
Ingredients of the dish are:
bulghur (a type of wheat)
beef or chicken breast
peas,
onion,
red pepper,
salt
10. Mojoj
Mojoj is a very tasty soup popular in Armenia.
Ingredients of the dish are:
pork legs
garlic
vinegar
laurel leaf
black granulated pepper
salt
11. Khorovats
The most favourite dish of Armenians is Khorovats (known to the world as barbeque). Armenians cannot imagine their life without this dish.
Ingredients of the dish are:
Pork
Pepper
Onion
Salt
Vegetables for Vegetable Khorovats
Tomato
Green Pepper
Eggplant
Potato
12. Kebab
Kebab is the second favourite dish of Armenians (the first one is Khorovats). It is considered to be a fast-food in Armenia.
Ingredients of the dish are:
beef
pork fat
onion
Red pepper
green onion
mixed greens
salt
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13. Khashlama
If you are too hungry and you need a wonderful soup to satisfy the sharpness of your hunger, then Khashlama is the best choice.
Ingredients of the dish are:
Lamb
potatoes
onion
red sweet pepper
tomatoes
hot pepper
garlic
parsley,
coriander,
basil
salt,
pepper
14. Khash
Eating Khash is a whole tradition for Armenians. Khash gathers Armenians together. There are several rules which should be kept while eating Khash: you should eat with your hands – say no to spoons, Khash is eaten with dried lavash poured into it, Khash should be accompanied by Oghi (alcohol drink famous as Vodka), it takes a very long time to prepare Khash, so Armenians usually make it for a whole night.
Ingredients of the dish are:
beef legs
garlic,
salt,
greens
15. Ishli Kufta
Ishli Kufta is a tasty dish which always attracts with its unique shape. The taste is unforgettable. It is usually served with lemons.
Ingredients of the dish are:
For the layer
beef,
bulghur (a type of wheat)
onion
For stripping
beef
onions,
melted butter,
parsley
salt
red and black pepper
16. Harissa
Harissa has a unique meaning for Armenians: it was first made in Musa Ler in 1915 when the Turkish government was trying to solve Armenian problem with the help of genocide. Musa Ler is a small town in Armenia with strong people who were fighting in 1915 for 40 days eating only Harissa.
Ingredients of the dish are:
korkot (dried or roasted cracked wheat)
fat-rich meat – chicken or lamb
herbs
salt
pepper
butter
17. Ghapama
Ghapama is a very beautiful dish. What an imagination should a person have to make this wonderful dish not only too tasty but also too beautiful?
Ingredients of the dish are:
Pumpkin,
rice,
dried fruits (almonds, apple, cornel, apricot, prunes, raisins)
18. Garni Yarakh
The name of the dish came from the expression Garni gorge. This hot dish is especially popular among the residents of Garni. Do you remember about the only pagan temple in Armenia Garni?
Ingredients of the dish are:
Ground beef
Onion
Herbs
Tomato
Eggplant
Cheese
19. Bozbash
Bozbash is an Armenian traditional soup, which has two variants – chilli and not chilli.
Ingredients of the dish are:
Lamb
peas
onion
potatoes
tomatoes
hot pepper / sweet pepper
greens
oil
salt
Dolma Types
20. Dolma
There are many discussions and quarrels about the origin of this dish. Some people are sure that Dolma is an Armenian dish, and others insist that it is a Turkish dish. My opinion is that it can be both Armenian and Turkish dish, as these two nations lived next to each other for centuries. There are even traditions and customs which are the same and the question of belonging to this or that nation is absurd.
Ingredients of the dish are:
ground meats (usually beef)
onion
rice
Garlic Cloves
ground black pepper
curry powder
tomato paste
red pepper paste
Dry herbs, such as basil, dill, savoury
grapevines
Boiling water
There is so much to discover about Armenia and Armenian food! Stay with us and find out more amazing places, food, drinks, traditions and customs.
Author Bio:
Hello, Maria is here, an obsessive traveller and a blogger. I love analysis and then writing down my own view. So far, I have been in Canada and want to share my wonderful practice with Airport Limo Toronto. My blogs/articles can help others to save them from the hassles of journey.
