Our Azerbaijanian Meal
Azerbaijan is our last “A” country! The meal consisted of Spicy Meatballs in Pomegranate Sauce (Fesinjan Kyufta), Azeri Saffron Pilaf with Potato Kazmag, Beans with Azeri Tomato Sauce, and Sweet Saffron Custard with Rose Water (Zerde).
We liked the sweet spiciness of the Fesinjan Kyufta. I would like the sauce a little thicker but it was still good. The Kazmag recipe used 2 sticks of butter! I love butter. My parents used to tell me they could not leave butter on the table when I was a kid because I would eat it. So needless to say I liked the Kazmag.
The Beans were delicious and different with the tomato sauce on top. Finally, the Custard with Rose Water (Zerde). We made Firnee for our Afghanistan meal which was a custard with cardamon and rose water that had a very strong perfume taste. The rose water was a lot more subtle in the Zerde and we loved it! I only ate half of mine for dinner and the rest for breakfast.
About Azerbaijan
Crude oil baths are popular but controversial in Naftalan, Azerbaijan. They are used to treat health issues such as joint pain and skin conditions. Naftalan Resort says the treatments are harmless and have been scientifically proven, citing that there are around 1,500 scientific research projects and 270 dissertations on the subject. The baths are in crude oil that is too thick for commercial use. People sit in oil heated to just above body temperature for 10 minutes, after which an attendant scrapes the brown oil off their skin and they shower.
The Bottle House, in Ganja, Azerbaijan was built from glass bottles of different shapes and sizes and colorful stones. It was built by Ibrahim Jafarov who dedicated it to his brother who went missing during World War II.
What about you?
Please post your comments below. We love hearing other’s experiences and thoughts!
Do you have a favorite meal, recipe or drink from Azerbaijan ?
Do you have a favorite place that serves food from Azerbaijan ?
Are you from Azerbaijan or have you ever visited?
Bahamas Are Up Next!
Do you have a favorite meal, recipe or drink from Bahamas?
Photos
- Shutterstock
- Vago, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Geography Now!
- Geography Now!
- Caucasian Panda, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
References
Britannica, Country Reports, Geography Now, Global Table Adventures, The Travel Book, shutterstock and Wikipedia.
