Tajik Qurutub and Plov | My Food Tour of Tajikistan

lamb

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: beef

Chicken is leaner and more affordable than lamb.

qurut (dried yogurt)

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: sour cream

Greek yogurt provides similar tanginess with fewer calories.

chickpeas

🥗Healthier: lentils

💰Cheaper: beans

Lentils are nutritious and often less expensive than chickpeas.

vegetable oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: sunflower oil

Olive oil offers health benefits while sunflower oil is budget-friendly.

Prepare the bread by tearing it into small pieces and placing it in a large bowl.

Mix qurut with water until it forms a smooth paste, then pour it over the bread.

Let the bread soak in the qurut mixture for about 15 minutes.

In a separate pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat and sauté chopped onions until translucent.

Add grated carrots to the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.

Stir in diced lamb and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.

Add garlic and spices, stirring well to combine and cook for another 2 minutes.

Pour in water and bring to a boil, then add rice and chickpeas.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer until rice is cooked, about 20 minutes.

Fluff the rice with a fork and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Serve the qurutob by layering the soaked bread and qurut mixture, topped with the plov.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level: