The region of Central Asia, containing countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is one of the true culinary unknowns of the world. Despite a rich food diversity and history, many people simply don’t know much about the cuisine from this area.
One of the star dishes of Central Asia that you should definitely get to know is called Laghman. So, what is it, and why should you get familiar with this tasty noodle dish?
Laghman might look like a stir-fry noodle dish at first glance, but the reality is actually quite different. This noodle favorite’s main ingredient is pulled noodles, a special type of wheat noodle that takes a whole lot of care and effort to produce. Kitchen masters spend hours delicately stretching the dough into thin strands to make this delicious hand-made delights.
After boiling the noodles, a broth is made with water, meat (usually beef), potatoes, and vegetables such as red peppers, carrots, onions, and whatever else is handy along with herbs such as bay leaves. The aromatic “soup” is then poured on top of the noodles and served.
This hearty dish can be found in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and even parts of Russia, originating with the Uyghur and Dungan ethnic groups.
Laghman is the perfect remedy to warm away the blues of a cold winter day. Whether you find it on a restaurant menu or decide to find a recipe online and make it yourself, be sure to give it a taste!
