Uzbek Dairy Products

Traditional Uzbek dairy products are a cornerstone of the nation's culinary heritage, frequently featuring in their everyday diet. Most of these products are derived from sour milk, bringing a distinct flavor profile to Uzbek cuisine.

Take katyk, for instance – it's essentially a fermented milk product and a staple in Uzbek kitchens due to its ancient roots. The fermentation process imbues katyk with a unique taste, smell, and consistency. It's crafted from fresh cow or goat milk fermented with specific strains of lactic acid bacteria. Often enjoyed on its own with a side of flatbread, katyk can also serve as a versatile sauce or a key ingredient in various dishes.

Suzma, essentially a strained version of katyk, removes the excess liquid, resulting in a thicker consistency. It's enjoyed both as a dish in its own right and as a complement to main courses, sometimes artistically served in floral shapes using a pastry bag.

Kaymak is another beloved dairy delight in Uzbekistan, akin to a rich cream or sour cream. It's a frequent addition to dough for making flatbreads and a decadent element in pastries and sweet bakes. It also can serve as a sauce.

Then there's kurt – these dried, salty balls, the size of small nuts, are made from sour milk. You might come across variants like red kurt, spiced up with ground pepper, or purple kurt, flavored with basil. A common snack, kurt is readily available in Uzbek markets and grocery stores.

Ayran offers a refreshing choice, blending sour milk with water to a desired consistency. Seasoned with salt and pepper, and optionally enhanced with mint or basil, it's a customizable and thirst-quenching drink.

Lastly, the katykli soup embodies the sour milk tradition in a hearty form, necessitating meat and grains in its composition. Typically featuring rice or occasionally mung beans, this soup is enriched with tomatoes, bell peppers, and carrots, offering a savory and nourishing meal. For a vegetable-centric version, there's chalop, a sour milk vegetable soup that captivates with its simplicity and depth of flavor.