Kuurdak

Kuurdak is a Kyrgyz dish made of roasted meat, offal, and onions. The meat and offal are fried with onions and various spices, and different types of meat – beef, mutton, horse meat, and even poultry in some cases – can be used.

Potatoes, carrots, and squash are sometimes added to the dish to make it more filling. It is prepared when the guests are pressed for time or just after the sheep slaughter, when no one is pressed for time, and kuurdak is followed by the main course, the famous beshbarmak.

There are two types of kuurdak: kara kuurdak or black kuurdak, which is made entirely of meat and no onions, and tondurma kuurdak or frozen kuurdak, which is made entirely of meat and has no contact with air, ensuring that the meat stays fresh for an extended period of time.

The latter was invented by ancient nomads who preserved meat with sheep fat.