Best Azerbaijani Foods
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Lavash is a traditional flatbread claimed by many food specialists to be Armenian in origin, but it is well-known and prepared throughout Western Asia (most noteably Iran and Türkiye) and the Caucasus (most noteably Azerbaijan). The dough consists of wheat flour, salt, and water leavened only with a sourdough starter.
Once the dough has risen, it is shaped into small lumps that are rolled flat and then slapped against the inside of a clay oven called tonir. Depending on the part or region of Armenia, these flatbreads can vary in thickness, size, shape, and the method of kneading.
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Qutab is one of the most famous dishes in Azerbaijan. Similar in shape to a quesadilla, qutab is made with paper-thin dough, stuffed with a variety of ingredients, folded, and usually baked in saj, a traditional Azerbaijani frying pan.
Three of the most common fillings are meat (lamb being the national favorite), a mixture of green vegetables, and squash. Most commonly it is consumed in between meals, as a nutritious snack. Before qutab is served, it is usually cut into smaller triangles and garnished with sumac, parsley, pomegranate seeds, or chopped walnuts.
MOST ICONIC Qutab
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A dish worthy of a king - or perhaps simply the main course of a wedding ceremony - shah pilaf (translated as crown pilaf) is a traditional meal infused with a medley of local aromas. It goes through several stages of preparation before reaching its distinctive final shape.
First, basmati rice is cooked, then placed inside a bowl lined with lavash (a thin and soft wheat-based flatbread). Layers of dried apricots, plums, chestnuts, and raisins are added on top of the rice to create a unique blend of textures and flavors.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Pilaf
MOST ICONIC Shah pilaf
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Lyulya kebab is a unique kebab variety popular throughout the Caucasus region. It typically consists of ground lamb combined with finely chopped onions. The mixture is seasoned with salt and black pepper, then skewered and grilled. Other types of meat such as fish and poultry can also be used in the preparation of lyulya.
What makes this kebab variety so unique is the process of kneading the meat for a long time so that it becomes denser and does not fall apart. The dish dates back to the 2nd century, and it was even praised by the famous Roman historian Pliny the Elder, as well as the famous Roman scientist Ptolemy.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Kebab
MOST ICONIC Lyulya kebab
When seeking genuinely authentic and traditional Azerbaijani cuisine, piti is undoubtedly the first dish that locals will recommend. Originating in the northern city of Sheki, this hearty stew owes its unmistakable taste to the clay pot in which it's made - the dopu.
Sheki was historically known as a potters' city - in the hands of true craftsmen, clay from the nearby mountains was carefully transformed and shaped into the perfect container for this unique dish. Piti was considered a worker's dish because only one serving is so filling that it can provide enough nourishment for the entire day.
MOST ICONIC Shaki piti
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Azerbaijan's national dish is called yarpaq dolmasi, a savory meal consisting of vine leaves stuffed with chopped meat, onions, rice, salt, pepper, butter, and fresh herbs such as coriander, dill and mint. Dolma belongs to a family of stuffed dishes from the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and neighbouring regions such as Russia, Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central and South Asia.
Locals claim that Azerbaijan has the best dolma in the world, and the reasoning behind it is that the grape vines originated in the mountainous valleys of their country. Yarpaq dolmasi is usually consumed in the afternoon or evening, for late lunch or dinner.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Dolma
MOST ICONIC Yarpaq dolması
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Manqal salatı is a refreshing Azerbaijani salad that is especially popular during summer. It consists of eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, and onions. The vegetables are traditionally grilled on skewers on a mangal (Caucasian-style grill), then chopped and combined with minced garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs such as cilantro, dill, or basil.
The salad is usually served as an accompaniment to grilled meat dishes, but it can also be served with bread or a piece of Motal cheese.
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Buglama is a popular Azerbaijani and Georgian dish consisting of lamb pieces that are stewed with onions, tomatoes, peppers, a variety of spices including black pepper and bay leaves, and a small amount of liquid. The name of the dish means steamed, referring to the fact that the lamb is cooked in its own juices.
Although lamb is the most common option, it is not unusual to prepare buglama with fish.
MOST ICONIC Buglama
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Dushbara is a traditional dish consisting of meat-filled dumplings cooked in a flavorful lamb broth. According to local customs, every woman in the country needs to know how to make the dumplings as small as possible, so that at least ten of them can fit in a tablespoon.
The dough for these tiny dumplings is made with flour, eggs, salt, and water. The broth is typically enriched with saffron, while the filling is made with ingredients such as ground lamb, onions, salt, and pepper. When the dumplings become tender, dushbara is ready to be consumed, preferably garnished with fresh mint on top.
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.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 32 Azerbaijani Foods” list until March 20, 2025, 1,808 ratings were recorded, of which 775 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.