Oval Useful news from Azerbaijan and Caucasus

This dish combines two classic Azerbaijani ingredients, lamb and saffron, while two more, chestnuts and pomegranates, are an optional extra. The word “qovurma” in the name of a dish (“kavurma” in Turkish) means that it contains fried or roast meat. The full name of this dish – həvəskar qovurması – …

Smoked fish adds an extra dimension to Azerbaijan’s herb-packed omelette, known as kuku (kükü). Kutum (kütüm), a 2-4 kg white fish unique to the Caspian, is traditionally used in this recipe. Another popular type of smoked fish for kuku is chub mackerel (scomber colias), which, unlike kutum, does not require …

Azerbaijan has a rich variety of rice dishes, known as pilaf or plov. Rice and beans are often served with fish in a variety of guises. This recipe teams the rice and beans with an omelette, known as kuku (kükü), packed with herbs and smoked fish. The kuku and pilaf …

Game birds – partridge, pheasant, grouse or quail – are a traditional feature of Azerbaijani cuisine. The method for making game bird pilaf is almost the same as for chicken pilaf. The bird is parboiled and then steamed together with the rice. Preparation time: 40 min Cooking time: 60 mins …

Shashandaz pilaf is a dish of onion omelette served with fragrant rice. Saffron and cinnamon give this unusual pilaf a characteristically Azerbaijani flavour. Preparation time: 20 min Cooking time: 40-45 min Serves: 2-3

Cornelian cherries, or cornels, are widespread across the Caucasus and southern Russia. They had an attractive fruity tang to this simple chicken dish, ovrishta (ovriştə). Preparation time: 30 min Cooking time: 40 min Serves: 3-4

Game birds – partridge, pheasant, grouse or quail – are a traditional feature of Azerbaijani cuisine. Smaller varieties of game bird, such as the quail or francolin, are often cooked on a barbecue, as in this recipe. The birds can also be cooked under the grill, but will lose the …