Azerbaijan has a very rich and delicious cuisine. However it is not very well promoted in the world and it is very hard to find original Azerbaijani food somewhere in Europe or North America. However, if you are in Baku, don't miss a chance to taste the country's most delicious national dishes. You won't be disappointed.
1)Plov or Pilaf
It is a classic dish of rice and meat, sometimes flavoured with herbs and condiments. Similar dishes are common in many European, Asian and even African cuisines. But Azerbaijani pilaf is different. The three main components of local pilaf are riсe covered with saffron, cinnamon and aromatic herbs; fried mutton, chicken, lamb or beef; and mixture of vegetables, greens and sometimes even dried fruits and chestnuts.
2)Kabab and Shashlik
Similar meat dishes are also very popular in a great region stretched from Middle East to Eastern Europe and South-East Asia. Azerbaijan has many types of kabab and shashlik. It is made from different kinds of marinated chopped or minced meat, chicken or fish, and vegetables, such as bell pepper, onion, mushroom and tomato.
3)Dolma
Dolma is the traditional recipe of stuffed vegetables. You can find some similar dishes in many other countries. And yet, Azerbaijani recipe has its own peculiarities. Common vegetables to fill dolma include tomato, pepper and aubergine.
4)Pakhlava
Pakhlava is another popular dessert. Several layers of very thin dough alternate layers of chopped nuts with honey to prepare this pastry. Pakhlava is traditionally served as triangular pieces decorated with a nut in the center. Both desserts are especially eaten at the Novruz spring holiday in March.