• Stuffed leaves

• Kelem stuffing

• Eggplant stuffing

• Evelik stuffing

• Onion stuffing

• Quince stuffing

• Apple stuffing

• Tomato stuffing

• Pomegranate roasted

• Pickle roasted

• Meat roasted

• Meat on pan

• Eggplant çığırtma

• Chicken on tendir

• Arzuman meatballs

• Noodles

• Yayma

• Vegetables roasted

      

Desserts

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• Şekerbura

• Şekerçöreği

• Baku baklava

• Şeki baklava

• Şor goğal

• Kırma badam (Acıbadem) (bitter almond)

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Drinks

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Azeri cuisine has also its own drinks including Boza, kefir, turnip juice and sherbet. Tea holds specific importance in daily life. Thyme, wild cinnamon, quince seeds, corn tassels are brewed for tea. They are prepared with powder tea using two part teapot or semaver.    Even in the 16th century, there were tea houses called çayhane to drink tea collectively. Coffee is consumed less. Among alcohol drinks  beer is the most preferred drink. Wine is also commonly consumed. Wines made of local grapes started to draw attention of wine lovers. Vodka (Azeri: Araq) is not consumed much but it is among the traditional spirits of Azeri cuisine.

 

 

 

Festival food

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Azeri people eat special meals on some holidays and festivals. They include “Semeni” on Newroz, “Kuvut” on Hızır Nebi holiday, “hedik” and “kavurga” on the first tooth of a child.  It is also traditional to cook on other important days including birth, circumcision, engagement, wedding, death etc. On Newroz, every region prepares its own version of rice. Şüyud rice with fava bean and dill in Baku, chest and chicken rice in Şeki, pickle roast rice in Şamahi and Levenge rice in Lenkeran. They are served to guests. Semeni, kavurga, painted aggs, şekerbura, baklava, şor gogal, nuts and candies are put on Newroz table. Drinks can be made of dried fruits at home (plum, apricot, grapes, apple, pear etc.).

Cemeteries are visited on Newroz. People bring semeni, eggs, desserts and nuts to the cemetery. They put them in a tray on the grave. Eggs are not painted and a black ribbon is wrapped around the egg. Food is served to everyone for the soul of the dead. Semeni remains on the grave and nobody touches it. Flour halve is prepared, put in thin bread for one person and is taken to the cemetery. The halva is served to everybody at the entrance of the cemetery. People take the lahve by saying “Allah kabul etsin/May Allah hear your prayers”. Relatives of the dead do not eat it. Newroz trays are taken by the man to their fiancée. Baklava, şekerbura, şor gogal, semeni, painted eggs and candies.

Stuffing, kebab, cold dishes and drinks are served on weddings. No dessert is made. Desserts are for engagements. Haşıl, kuymak, pastry (düşbere, kutab, hengel) are served to newly mothers.

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