Circassian cuisine facts for kids

Traditional Circassian house and cuisine

Circassian cuisine is the special way of cooking and eating for the Circassian people. They live in a region called the North Caucasus, which is between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in European Russia. Their food traditions have been passed down through many generations.

Traditional Circassian Dishes

Haliva (Хьэлжъо) and Mataz (Мэтазэ), two popular Circassian snacks

Circassian food includes many different traditional dishes. The types of food change with the seasons. In summer, people mostly eat dairy products and vegetables. When winter and spring arrive, meals often feature flour and meat.

Some popular dishes include:

• Ficcin, which is a type of pastry.
• Seasoned chicken or turkey with a special sauce.
• Boiled mutton (lamb meat) and beef served with a sour milk seasoning, salt, and crushed garlic.

Among all the different kinds of cheese in the North Caucasus, Circassian cheese is very well-known and loved.

For holidays, the Adyghe people (a group of Circassians) traditionally make a dish called Haliva (хьэлжъо). It is made from toasted millet or wheat flour.

In the Middle East, especially in a region called the Levant, there is a famous Circassian dish known as Tajen Alsharkaseiah.

Fresh Meat Dishes

Circassian cuisine features many delicious dishes made with fresh meat. Here are some examples:

• Circassian goulash (Libzche)
• Meat goulash (Lits'ik'wlibzche)
• Lamb boiled in cream (Shateps-ch'e gheva schinel)
• Liver sausage (Themsch'ighwnibe)
• Sheep sausage (Zherume)
• Boiled mutton (Melil gheva)

Dried and Smoked Meat Dishes

Shashlik

Circassians also prepare many dishes using dried or smoked meats. This helps preserve the meat for longer.

• Fried meat (Li teibech'e ghezchawe)
• Fried meat and potatoes (Lire ch'ert'ofre zesch'elhu ghezchawe)
• Meat and beans broth (Lire jeshre xelhu leps)
• Meat roasted on skewers, like shashlik (Li dzasech'e ghezchawe)
• Smoked meat goulash (Lighwpts'a libzche)

Poultry and Egg Dishes

Chicken, turkey, goose, duck, and eggs are also important in Circassian cooking.

• Boiled chicken with garlic (Jed gheva bzchinixw yi ghwsew)
• Chicken fried in a brazier (Jed teibech'e ghezchawe)
• Chicken in pepper sauce (Jedlibzche shibzhiy ships sch'etu)
• Chicken in walnut sauce (Jed de ships sch'etu) – This is a very famous dish!
• Stuffed chicken baked in dough (Thevim k'wets'ighezchihawe jed)
• Eggs fried in soured cream (Jedich'eneqiyzh)
• Boiled goose or duck (Qaz, e babisch, gheva)
• Sweet omelette (Jedich'ezchapx'e 'ef')
• Boiled turkey (Gwegwsh gheva)

Fish Dishes

Fish is also part of the Circassian diet, especially when available.

• Fried fish (Bdzezchey ghezcha)
• Fried fish in soured cream (Bdzezchey shatech'e ghezchawe)

Dairy Products and Dishes

Dairy products are a big part of Circassian cuisine, especially in summer.

• Baked milk (She sch'eghepschtha)
• Cheese (Q'wey)
• Fried cheese (Q'wey ghezcha)
• Hominy or polenta (Zhemikwe) – a dish made from cornmeal.
• Kurt (Qwrt) – a type of dried dairy product.
• Sour milk (Shxw)
• Soured cream sauce with cheese (Q'weyzchapx'e)

Flour, Cereal, and Bean Dishes

Many Circassian dishes are made from flour, different grains, and beans.

• Lakum (Lequm) – a type of fried dough.
• Haliva stuffed with different fillings like cottage cheese (Helive q'wey lhalhe delhu), potatoes (Helive ch'ert'of delhu), or navy beans (Heliva jesh delhu).
• Potato and cheese pie (Delen ch'ert'ofre q'weyre delhu)
• Cornbread, which can be unleavened (Nartixw chirzhin) or leavened (Chirzhin gheteja).
• Boiled (Nartixwsch'e gheva) or roasted (Nartixwsch'e ghezcha) corn on the cob.
• Millet soup (Hentx'wps)
• Sweet rice pilaf (Prunzh'ef)
• Dumplings (Psiheliva) with meat (Psihelive melil delhu) or chicken (Psihelive jedil delhu).
• Navy-bean sauce (Jesh libzche) or soup (Jesh leps).

Potato and Gourd Dishes

Potatoes and gourds (like pumpkins or squash) are also used in many dishes.

• Baked gourd (Qeb ghezcha)
• Boiled gourd (Qeb gheva)
• Potato paste (Ch'ert'of p'aste)
• Fried potatoes (Ch'ert'of zcherikwey)
• New potatoes stewed in soured cream (Ch'ert'ofisch'e shatech'e ghezchawe)

Beverages

To go with their meals, Circassians enjoy various drinks.

• Kalmyk tea (Qalmiq shey)
• Makhsima (Maxsime) – a traditional drink often made from millet.

Sweets and Desserts

Dried pears

For a sweet treat, Circassian cuisine offers:

• Haliwa (Heliwe) – a sweet dessert.
• Nuts with honey (Dere fore zexelhu)
• Dried pears (Q'wzch gheghwa)
• Watermelon honey (X'arbiz fo)