Traditional bread baking oven, Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Learn how to cook Central Asian cuisine

Eating local food is one of the best ways to dive into a country's culture, so prepare to embark on a cooking adventure in Kyrgyzstan's capital city.

Like many other cultures in the world, the story of the Kyrgyz people can be seen in its cuisine, so one of the best ways to learn more about the destination is by understanding the food. In Bishkek, a fantastic way to become immersed in the heritage and history of Kyrgyzstan is by participating in a local cooking class taught by an expert.

Plov - typical dish from Central Asia © Kyryl Polyatskiy / Shutterstock

At the cooking class, you will gather around with other like-minded travellers as you embark on a crash-course culinary adventure through Kyrgyzstan. Your local instructor may begin to teach you how you can cook your own plov – a historic Central Asian rice dish with lamb, carrot, and spices (similar to what you may know as pilaf). You’ll learn that this is an important cultural dish in Kyrgyzstan that is shared among friends and family at weddings or birthdays.

You may also learn how to cook a dish like manti, a steamed meat and potato dumpling served with a creamy yoghurt sauce. This recipe was carried thousands of miles along the Silk Road by the Mongols to become a staple of Central Asian cuisine.

Homemade manti stuffed with minced meat © YURIY YEREMIN / Shutterstoc

By the end of the class, you’ll walk away with a belly full of delicious food, a brain filled with a new appreciation of Kyrgyzstan's culture, and excitement to go home and try out your newfound recipes with family and friends.

Central Asian food cooking classes can be found on any of your usual travel and tour booking sites.