Armenian Cuisine

Mante – An Armenian national food

• What is it: Grilled dumpling
made either of minced
lamb or beef, served with
garlic sprinkles and yogurt.
• What does it taste
like: Crunchy with an
undertone of tomato
broth, the boat-shaped
dumpling is a must if you
ever find yourself in
Armenia.
Dolma – A Lent delicacy
• What is it: Lentils, tomato, Zucchini,
garlic, eggplant, parsley, mint, red
pepper, onions, coriander, and rice are
wrapped in grape leaves for winter and
cabbage leaves for summer.
Pronounced as “Tolma” in the Armenian
tongue, this is an ideal vegan recipe to
cherish, especially during the Lent
festival. For a non-vegan dolma recipe,
check on the Udoli dolma made of lamb
meat wrapped in cabbage leaves.
• What does it taste like: The raw taste of
fresh vegetables along with the crispy
cabbage or grape leaves, will make you
speechless after your first bite.
Armenian Lula Kebab – An authentic kebab
• What is it: Grilled lamb’s
shoulder or breast marinated
with egg, paprika, tomato
paste, mint leaves, black
pepper, and onions.
• What does it taste
like: Engross into the
heavenly taste of this kebab
preparation with parsley
sprinkled on it. Eat along
with any rice preparation and
experience the surreal taste.
Chi Kofte – A traditional kofta preparation
• What is it: A beef kofta
preparation made of tomato
paste, paprika, cumin powder,
chili pepper, sea salt, and
bulgur.
• What does it taste like: Enjoy
the spicy kofte aptly served
with lemon and olive oil and
get mesmerized every time you
crumble it. The finely prepared
beef with a tangy lemon flavor
is the one you should not miss.
 Gata – A zesty Armenian pastry
• What is it: A sweet bread
made of flour, nuts, and
baking soda as the main
ingredients.
• What does it taste
like: Known as kada or katah
apart from gata, this is a
perfect pastry recipe to
drool over. Its sweet and
exotic taste has made it a
must-have item in any
traditional Armenian event.
 Basturma – An Armenian appetizer
• What is it: A tasty dish
using dried and seasoned
beef with spices like garlic,
black pepper, cumin, and
paprika.
• What does it taste
like: Frequently used as an
appetizer for any get-
together or a festive party,
this dish gives you the taste
of beef like no other. Try
this out with lavash or
cheese for a different taste.
Tabbouleh – A typical Armenian salad
• What is it: Salad made of bulgur,
mint, onions, and tomatoes with
sprinkles of salts, drizzles of
lemon juice, and olive oil.
• What does it taste like: Inspired
by Middle Eastern recipes, this
dish is famous, not only for its
unique taste but also for its rich
history. In Arabian countries,
consuming this salad is known to
be in practice since the medieval
period. Get the same vibe after
all these centuries simply with
tabbouleh.
 Lahmacun – The Armenian pizza
• What is it: A pizza-like
preparation using flour
tortilla as the base, while a
mixture containing meat,
cumin, parsley, and salt is
used as the upper layer.
• What does it taste
like: Amazingly tasty, this
preparation is also known as
the Armenian pizza. You will
get this food in any
restaurant or any cafeteria
around the streets of
Armenia.
Baklava – A delicious dessert
• What is it: A baked dough
made with walnut, cinnamon,
honey, cardamom, butter, and
eggs.
• What does it taste like: Nutty,
sweet and incredibly
delicious, this is considered an
ideal dessert preparation
across Armenia. Expect a rich
combination of melted butter
and honey as the topping and
go yumm yumm!
 Ghapama

• Often prepared around Christmastime, ghapama is a

stuffed pumpkin dish. The guts of the pumpkin are
removed, and then it is stuffed with boiled rice and dried
fruits like apple, apricot, dates, plums, and raisins together
with nuts. The pumpkin is baked until it softens.
Armenian Eggplant Casserole – A fresh and
zesty preparation
• What is it: A dish of cooked
and baked eggplants with
tomatoes, onions, basil,
and parsley.
• What does it taste like: The
mixed flavor of eggplants
with other ingredients will
compel you to crave for
more. It can be eaten warm
or cold, sometimes with
sour cream as well.
 Khash
The dish is made from a boiled
sheep’s or cow’s parts that
include the feet and/or
head. Some use the other
parts of the cow, like tripe
and brain, in the recipe. The
meal is also quite common
not only in Armenia, but in
Georgia, Albania, Bulgaria,
Turkey, and Iran to name just
a few, and is considered
a hangover remedy.
 Armenian Rice Pilaf – A delicious Armenian
staple food
• What is it: Rice and
vermicelli tossed and cooked
in butter and chicken broth.
• What does it taste like: Any
authentic Armenian
restaurant will provide this
delicious item, best eaten
with a lamb or meat
preparation. Considered a
staple food, the taste is
enhanced if topped with
apricots or nuts.
Thank you for your attention !