Dairy products
Mongolian cuisine is an interesting and unique food culture that is influenced by the country’s nomadic way of life and harsh climate. Mongolians are known for their love of meat, especially during the winter season when they rely on it to keep them warm and energized. However, their eating habits during the other seasons are quite different. For breakfast and lunch, they prefer to have tea, cookies, and dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and airag (a fermented mare’s milk).
Mongolians have a variety of ways to prepare meat, and they always make sure to use every part of the animal. They have more than 70 types of dishes that are made from the stomach and other internal organs of the animal. They use different cooking methods such as grilling, smoking, boiling, and even cooking in hot ash to get the desired taste and texture.
Boodog & Khorkhog
Their most respected guests are entertained with whole meat meals such as khorkhog, which is a dish made with lamb or goat meat cooked with hot stones inside a metal container. Boodog is another unique dish that involves slaughtering a goat or marmot and then using the neck as a bag to cook the meat along with hot stones and onions. The end result is a delicious and flavorful meat dish that is enjoyed by many.
In addition to meat, Mongolians also have a variety of soups that are made with different ingredients such as dumplings, buuz, vegetables, nettle, ribs, noodles, egg, potato, weed, and more. One of the popular soups is Shultei Khool, which is a meat-cooked soup that is served with flour noodles and other dressings.
Source of Vitamins
Mongolians take pride in their livestock, which are fed with over 600 species of nutritious wild plants from the pasture. The meat from these animals is a good source of vitamins B and PP, which are soluble in water. Mongolian meat is considered to be ecologically pure as it contains much lower levels of metal elements such as lead, arsenic, and hydrargyrum compared to international standards.
Overall, Mongolian food is a reflection of the country’s unique way of life and the extreme weather conditions they face. Their love for meat, along with their resourceful and innovative cooking techniques, has resulted in a variety of delicious and wholesome dishes that are enjoyed by many.
