Every culture and mentality is formed under the influence of the environment. This factor affects not only the nature of the person and the appearance of his clothes, but also on everyday and gastronomic preferences. It is hard to imagine that the Tatars - the primordially nomadic steppe people, will surprise us with the great variety of their cuisine. They skillfully used the gifts of nature to survive and enjoy food. Their food perfectly satisfied hunger, charitable effect on the body, was easy and healthy. She gave strength on long trips and served as a reminder of her home. And she satisfied the need for beauty, as she was elegantly laid on a plate and seemed like a real masterpiece.
High culinary art knows no compromises, especially when it comes to the gastronomic addictions of the Tatars. This cuisine has an ancient tradition. That is why the dishes are distinguished by excellent taste, original preparation and design. Over time, the nomads, which include the Tatars, settled and partially borrowed their customs from neighboring peoples. But all the same, the dishes of Tatar cuisine are unique and original, able to satisfy even a very demanding gourmet.
One of the favorite products of the Tatars is meat. As a rule, this is horse meat and lamb, occasionally beef and poultry (geese, chickens, ducks). The meat was cooked, stewed, fried. They made broth and dried sausages from it. Also in high esteem were products from milk of sheep and horses: katyk, cottage cheese, koumiss, sour cream, ayran.
Tatar cuisine is an amazing combination of antiquity and modernity, traditions and innovation, seasoned with aromatic spices. Soups, noodles, pilaf, vegetables and fruits, famous oriental sweets and strong tea will make each person’s heart beat faster. Soups are prepared on meat broth, and on milk, and on water. For the second, the hospitable Tatar will always offer you dishes from potatoes, cereals or meat, as well as savory pies. The oldest and most common pastry dishes are whites and dumplings.
Tatar cuisine is famous for its love of eggs in fried and boiled form. From time immemorial, millet or barley porridge has been prepared here , generously pouring it with ghee. And the Tatars have a very special attitude to the test. The lobster stuffed with porridge stuffing, cakes and pancakes - these are the dishes that were prepared by nomadic tribes in the time of Genghis Khan. Today, Tatar cuisine conquers us with products from fresh, yeast, butter, sour and sweet dough. Baking, sweet and unsweetened, is necessarily present on the table, at which the dear guest is seated. At the wedding, chak-chak with the addition of honey is required. Of the drinks, you should try strong tea with the addition of milk, ayran with a sour-milk flavor and sweet honey sorbet, which was served to the bride and groom.
Being the pride of the nation and the joy of gourmets, the Tatar cuisine with its delicious dishes is appropriate at a family dinner and at a festive banquet. This is a special attraction of Tatarstan, which must be preserved for future generations.