🍚 Azerbaijani Plov
Azerbaijani plov is quite distinct from other Central Asian or Middle Eastern rice dishes:
- Rice and toppings are cooked separately and only combined when served
- The rice is steamed with saffron, giving it a golden color and aromatic flavor
- The topping (gara) can include:
- Lamb or beef
- Dried fruits (apricots, raisins, prunes)
- Chestnuts
- Onions and spices
There are dozens of regional varieties (some say over 40), such as:
- Shah plov – baked in a crispy lavash crust, often for celebrations
- Sabzi plov – with fresh herbs and greens
- Fisinjan plov – served with walnut-pomegranate sauce
Other iconic Azerbaijani dishes
While plov is the national symbol, these are also deeply representative:
- Dolma – grape leaves or stuffed vegetables
- Dushbara – tiny dumplings in broth
- Kebab / shashlik – grilled meats
- Qutab – thin stuffed flatbreads