Traditional Uzbek Cooking Class

Embark on a journey to master the traditional Uzbek cuisine by participating in this culinary workshop in Samarkand, where you'll immerse yourself in the art of preparing a delightful pilaf.

Cooking Class Overview

Our adventure begins at Registan Square, where we'll gather for a brief introduction before making our way to the vibrant Samarkand market. Upon arrival, the vivid colors and enticing scents of spices, fresh meats, and vast quantities of rice will envelop you, providing an inspiring start to our culinary adventure!

In the market, you will discover how to select the finest ingredients for our featured dish, pilaf, which holds significant cultural value in Uzbekistan and is recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Are you aware that Samarkand boasts more than 100 variations of this savory dish?

After an engaging 30 minutes in the market, we will journey for about 30 minutes to the home of a local family, known for their warm hospitality. With our fresh ingredients and cooking tools at hand, we will delve into the various steps to prepare pilaf or plov. This includes browning the meat and onion, adding freshly sliced carrots and rice, finished with cumin and whole garlic cloves—creating an aroma that will surely whet your appetite!

Once the tantalizing scent signals that our dish is complete, we’ll gather at a table set in the garden. There, you'll have the chance to savor baked bread from a traditional tandoor oven, accompanied by homemade desserts like gilmindi, crafted with delicate layers of lavash and cream. As we partake in a tea ceremony, enjoy engaging stories of rural life in Uzbekistan.

After relishing this exquisite meal, we will return to our starting point in Samarkand, concluding our experience with farewells after a fulfilling 5.5 hours.