Путь к сердцу дагестанца

This film is about traditional Dagestan cuisine.

We visit one of the restaurant that servers traditional Dagestan dishes.

There are some particularities in Dagestan cuisine.

There are about 38 nationalities (ethnic groups) that are native in this little republic, and this is the reason why every signature

It’s important to know that living conditions of this region influenced the national cuisine much.

There are no shops or convenience food high in the mountains. Women had to use things which were stored in houses all the year round: flour, cheese, salty meat.

There is ‘chudu’ in the list of the most famous dishes.

“This is the unleavened dough. CHUDUs can have different fillings/ the fillings can be made of minced meat, cheese, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes or mushrooms and potatoes.

This dish is very popular and we can’t imagine our traditional Dagestan cuisine without it.”

In spite of this dish is quite simple to cook, and it is an everyday meal, it is one of the main element of any holiday table.

Another famous Dagestan dish is ‘khinkal’.

For KHINKAL you are first to cook meat. We cut beef or mutton into large pieces. The meat is to be cooked slowly for the boiling water to stay clear.

Add flavoring pack or pickling spice to the boiling water as it will be served latter in a bowl. This soup is called ‘shurpa’ in Dagestan languages.

While the meat is being prepared it is the high time to make the dough.

“We make the dough by using serum or kefir, salt and soda.

The hardest moment is to take KHINKAL out of the boiling water in the right moment. The recipe itself is not difficult.

So, we have made the dough already, now we’ll let it knead for 10 minutes.”

For Avar KHINKAL the dough is to be rolled out and cut into little slices.

Place the slices into the boiling water for 7-8 minutes, until they float.

“Avar KHINKAL is very nourishing. In Dagestan families are large and all members have the meal together.

So this food is very substantial.”

Cooked KHINKAL is placed on large dish. In the middle we put the boiled meat. It is served with our favorite spicy garlic tomato or sour cream sauces.

Enjoy it!!!

These exotic dishes will decorate your table!