Badambura is a popular Azerbaijani pastry consisting of several layers of flaky dough filled with almonds, sugar, and ground cardamom. It is usually brushed with egg wash and baked until it develops a golden-brown color. This flavorful dessert is traditionally prepared for the spring holiday called Novruz, although it can be consumed throughout the year.
The name of the dish is derived from the words badam, meaning almond, and bura, meaning pie.
Although it is believed to have its origins in Persia, zulbia or jalebi is an international dessert with variations that spread throughout the Middle East, India, and Asia. In its basic form, this sweet dessert is created by combining flour with yogurt or ghee, as well as baking soda or yeast to create a batter which is then poured in circular patterns directly into the sizzling oil.
The final result is a crispy treat that is then doused in a thick syrup, which can be flavored with rosewater, saffron, honey, orange blossom water, or cardamom. In both Iran and India, zulbia is served on special occasions, and it is usually sprinkled with chopped pistachios or saffron threads.
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Shekerbura is a simple and delicate sweet pastry, enjoying the status of one of the most famous Azerbaijani desserts. The tender pastry shell is made with a simple butter-based dough, which is then filled with a sweet nut filling. Frequent nut varieties used in shekerbura are ground almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts.
The shell is intricately decorated with different geometrical shapes, transforming this sweet delicacy into a decorative dessert. Shekerbura pastries are always made in a crescent form, strongly resembling the moon, and are traditionally served during Novruz, an annual celebration welcoming spring and the renewal of nature.
MOST ICONIC Shekarbura
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Samanu is a sweet dessert made from wheat germ, akin to pudding, commonly prepared in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries, especially during Nowruz (Persian New Year). It symbolizes abundance, sweetness, and prosperity and is often shared among family and friends.
The dish is made by sprouting wheat germ, grinding it, and cooking it slowly with water and wheat flour. The natural sugars from the sprouted wheat give samanu its sweet taste, requiring no additional sugar. It has a thick, pudding-like consistency and a rich, caramel-like flavor.
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Shaker-churek is a traditional cookie originating from Azerbaijan. The cookies are usually made with a combination of flour, icing sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla extract. The butter is mixed with icing sugar and then with vanilla, egg yolks and whites, and flour.
The dough is left to chill in the fridge for about an hour. Once firm, it’s formed into small balls that are placed on a baking sheet. An indentation is made in each dough ball, and they’re brushed with egg yolks. The cookies are baked in the oven until golden brown, cooled, and then dusted with icing sugar before consumption.
Yayma is a traditional rice pudding flavored with saffron, which gives it a beautiful color and aroma. The dish is made with rice, water, saffron, and milk. It is typically topped with pieces of butter, cinnamon, and honey. For those with a sweet tooth, sugar can also be added to the rice pudding during cooking.
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Shirin chorek is a classic Azerbaijani sweet milk bread made with yeast, milk, flour, sugar, salt, eggs, butter, and turmeric powder. The turmeric gives it a rich yellow color and a subtle flavor that goes well with the sweetness of milk and sugar.
The dough is traditionally shaped into a disk, then decorated with cross-hatching patterns and sprinkled with poppy seeds. In the past, shirin chorek used to be baked for holidays such as Ramadan and Novruz, but nowadays it is baked throughout the year.
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