Kyrgyzstan Food and Markets

Ashlyanfu (Dungan and Kyrgyz Food) - Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

A Dungan specialty, this dish is made from rice noodles, vinegar, vegetables and some spicy pepper. A light treat. Read more about our visit to Karakol and the rest of Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz Bread (Nan) - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

A young baker stacks up Kyrgyz-style bread (nan) fresh from a tandoor oven in Bishkek. Read more about our visit to Bishkek and the rest of Kyrgyzstan.

Somsas (Meat Pastry) - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Somsas (savory Central Asian pastries) can be deceptive. They look so good and fresh, but many are filled with piles of mystery meat. We were always on the lookout for cheese somsas, but they are difficult to find. Meat is still king of the table in Central Asia. Read more about our visit to Bishkek and the rest of Kyrgyzstan.

Steamed Manti (Dumplings) - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Manti (Central Asian dumplings) are stuffed with meat and freshly steamed. Look for these in the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Oromo (Stuffed Kyrgyz Dish) - Manzhyly, Kyrgyzstan

We were served oromo for dinner at the yurt in Manzhyly. It's a roll filled with cabbage, meat, and carrots and makes for one of the best local meals in Kyrgyzstan. Tasty and pleasantly light on the meat. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities and our perfect day at Lake Issyk-Kul.

Ganfan (Veggies and Rice) - Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Ganfan became our favorite Kyrgyz cafe food (though it's technically a Dungan specialty) since it normally had a fair amount of vegetables and was usually lighter on the meat than its noodle-based counterpart, lagman. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Spice Stand at Osh Bazaar - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Markets in Central Asia always seem to have large and colorful spice displays, but we're not really sure who is using all these spices since the local food is relatively bland and not particularly heavy on the use of spice. Read more about our visit to Bishkek and the rest of Kyrgyzstan. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Pickled Vegetables, Osh Bazaar - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Thanks to the local Korean population, each market in Central Asia seems to have a salad aisle devoted to pickled vegetables and other salads. The Korean backstory: Stalin deported approximately 200,000 Koreans from the Russian Far East to Central Asia in 1937 on the grounds that they might be spies or traitors. There are an estimated 450,000 Koreans in Central Asia today. Read more about our visit to Bishkek and the rest of Kyrgyzstan.

Osh Bazaar: Yellow Tomatoes, Green Beans - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Sweet yellow tomatoes and long beans on offer at Bishkek's Osh Bazaar. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Colorful Sweets, Osh Bazaar - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Sugar shock at the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek. Read more about our visit to Bishkek and the rest of Kyrgyzstan. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Spices and Pickled Vegetables - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

A corner at Osh Bazaar in Bishkek is defined by spices and Korean pickled vegetables and noodles. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Apples in Lada Trunk - Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

If only we had a kitchen and could make apple crisp. Taken at the Karakol bazaar. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Pomegranates at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Plentiful pomegranates at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Vendor of Kymys (Fermented Mare's Milk) - Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan

Kymys, fermented mare's milk, is the national drink of Kyrgyzstan. Sounds lovely, huh? Audrey gave it a try at this yurt in Kochkor. After she explained to the woman that this was her first kymys experience, the woman gave it to Audrey for free. Although not Audrey's refreshment of choice, it really wasn't as bad (nor as spectacular) as everyone had made it out to be. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities and our Ramadan feast at Song Kul Lake.

Choosing Melons - Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

How to pick the perfect melon when there are so many to choose from? Taken at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Pomegranate Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

This vendor insisted that we sample all of his pomegranate varieties (sweet and tart). Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Goat Head at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Selling the tasty bits of the goat head separately...yum! A flashback from the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Herbs and Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

A friendly vendor stacks herbs at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Baking Somsa (stuffed pastry) - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

This man shows us how to bake a somsa (Central Asian pastry stuffed with meat and onions) on the side of a tandoor-like oven. Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Kurut (Yogurt Balls) - Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Women line up to sculpt yogurt into kurut (tart balls of dried yogurt) in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Older Women Pepper Vendor - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Old pepper vendor at Osh market (Osh bazaar) in Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Ground Chili Peppers - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Osh seemed to harbor the largest volume and variety of spice and pepper options in Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Sweet Treats at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

We stocked up on dried fruits and nuts in Osh, Kyrgyzstan to take with us to the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan. After several days of eating potatoes and bread, these dried apricots became a prized possession. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Women Bread Vendors - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Women Bread Vendors - Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.