Traveling always brings us some wonderful experiences, and one of the most attractive is to taste dishes we’ve never had before. And a country’s gastronomy is a whole universe that can speak to us, since the cuisine of each region, each country, each city, is deeply linked to its history. In today’s post, we are going to introduce you to the typical cuisine of Armenia and all those dishes that you will not be able to avoid tasting if you visit this beautiful country one day. Get ready to tickle your taste buds!
Introduction to Its Gastronomy
Armenian gastronomy is composed of the historical flavors of the Armenian people who originated in the 7th century BC. In addition to the traditional flavors of their culture, Armenian cuisine was greatly influenced by Russia when it was part of the USSR in the 20th century. In addition, it is strongly influenced by Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisine, which is why it is halfway between Mediterranean and Caucasian cuisine.
Armenia is rich in traditional dishes of all kinds. Among its ingredients, Armenians tend to make great use of dairy products, grains, meats and various vegetables and spices, which makes their food very varied and particularly tasty. They specialize in exquisite soups and sauces, as well as a variety of cheeses. For example, one of the traditional dishes of this country is a yogurt soup called Kibbeh.
Likewise, this culture is rich in various desserts, which are a fundamental element of Armenian cuisine, as dessert is for them a fundamental sign of hospitality. But anyway, enough of introductions, it’s time to get acquainted with the different typical dishes of Armenia.
Harissa
One of the main dishes of the typical Armenian cuisine is harissa. It is a dish taken from the Middle Eastern gastronomy. More than a dish, it is a companion, or better yet, it is a spicy sauce that is usually served with many typical Armenian dishes. Although, depending on the region, it is usually prepared in different ways, the main ingredients of this hot sauce are chili, garlic, coriander, caraway and salt.
All of these are crushed and mixed with olive oil, and then left to rest for as long as it takes for the spice to develop its full flavor. Although this is one of the most popular sauces in Armenia, it should be noted that it is not a native dish of this country and therefore you can also enjoy it in other regions. However, in Armenia, this spice has taken on a special importance, which makes it one of the most typical dishes of this beautiful country.
Khash
Khash is another of the dishes that Armenians have adopted from other regions and adapted to their gastronomy. It is a porridge of cow or sheep parts. It usually includes the head, legs and stomach of these animals. This dish is also part of the traditional food of Greece, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Mongolia and Turkey.
However, each destination has its own unique seasoning and touch. In the case of Armenia, it has a lot to do with its traditional flavors. Here is one of the dishes of Armenian gastronomy that you can’t help but try if you decide to visit this beautiful country.
Dolma
This is one of those dishes that you can try again and again without getting tired of it. It is a mixture of rice, onions, minced meat, pine nuts and different spices that are combined and then wrapped in vine leaves to form delicious rolls. Sometimes dolmas are served with lemon juice.
It is a dish that originated from the Ottomans, which is why it is common to all territories that were under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, including Armenia. In addition to lemon juice, they are also usually served with a yogurt sauce, although this may vary depending on the type of dolma, hot or cold, with or without meat.
Sounds tempting isn’t it? Want to know more? Come back to check out the second part of the article. Until then, tell us in the comments below which country’s gastronomy you’ve enjoyed the most so far!
