My favorite meal in Masalli - so far!

Let me describe this particular traditional Azerbaijani meal. First notice that there are no large plates on the table but several small plates nested at each place setting. There are no knives, only large spoons and forks, and small glasses for fruit juice. A large platter of plov (basmati rice) is the centerpiece and it can be made in different ways such as plov with raisins, apricots, and dates. The most desirable part of plov is the brown crusty rice from the bottom of the cooking pot. This is scraped from the pan in several large pieces and placed on top of the mound of rice. 

The plov platter may also have several portions of chicken added to it. Plov is served by spooning it onto the largest plate and it is eaten with a large spoon. If plov includes chicken, that is also placed on the same plate. At most plov meals, it is eaten first but it can also be brought to the table last as the highlight of some celebrations.

A plov meal may have numerous side dishes including a separate chicken dish which has a yellow color. Chicken always includes the skin and is so well cooked that the meat readily falls away from the bone. It is acceptable to use your fingers to eat the chicken. (Try not to think that this chicken was outside in the yard only yesterday.)

Dolma (stuffed grape or cabbage leaves) may also be served with plov, although dolma can be a main meal in itself. Other small plates of tomato and cucumbers are typical and an added treat is pickled tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant. Fresh yogurt may also at each place setting in individual glasses. Of course, there is always bread at the table and here in Masalli there is an abundance of tandoor ovens providing fresh bread for every meal.

After the table is cleared, a bowl of fresh fruit is brought out and a woman will peel and cut apples, bananas, pears, oranges, and kiwis into bite-size pieces. Black tea is then served along with sweets. Many enjoy drinking hot tea by first placing a sugar cube on their tongue and then drinking the tea to melt the sugar cube in their mouth.

People I've met usually ask me how I like the food in Azerbaijan and I can say that this is my favorite so far. I expect to taste many other national dishes in the months to come.