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Uyghur Laghman | Introduction to Ban Main Noodles

April 23 | No Comments

If you look up the phrase “ban mian” on Google you’ll find that this Chinese name is used to describe various dishes from Fujian, Singapore, and is also the English equivalent to what we call “Lo Mein.” All these may be perfectly good dishes, but it’s not the same as what is served here in Xinjiang. The reason this particular dish is different is because it isn’t Chinese, it’s Uyghur…

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Uyghur Bread 馕 | Central Asian Flat Bread at Its Best

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Every once in a while there rises from within an ethnic group a particular cultural characteristic that tends to represent the group as a whole. Interestingly it has a tendency to be food: burgers in America; pasta in Italy; rice in China. For the Uyghurs, a small ethnic group situated in this large province of China, it’s their bread…

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Uyghur Kebabs w/ Lamb | Xinjiang Cuisine

April 21 | No Comments

About this time last year I was invited by a good Uyghur friend to take part in one of Xinjiang’s most popular pastimes: the BBQ. Having spent part of his life behind a Xinjiang kebab stand outside the province my friend shared with me the secrets that make the kebabs in Xinjiang that much better than those beyond the provincial borders.

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Uyghur Polo (抓饭): Introduction and Recipe

April 18 | No Comments

In Spanish, it means “chicken”, but for the Uyghurs in Xinjiang it translates into a tasty plate of rice and lamb. I have no numbers to back this theory up, but I would venture to guess that this dish (which is also called “pollo”, “zhua fan” or even “pilaf”) is the most popular cuisine from the Uyghur culture. I’m sure anyone who has tasted it will agree with me – it’s some good stuff!

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What is Uyghur Ice Cream? 维吾尔冰淇淋

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A small motor was quietly whirring on top of this small push cart as I approached it. The motor was spinning a deep tub of ice cream ingredients while the woman on the other side used a long wooden spoon to gently scrape the sides. The cart, set on four wheels, is essentially Xinjiang’s version of the Ice Cream Man. They may not make their way through the city neighborhoods beckoning children with the sound of “The Entertainer”, but they have their own unique style.

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How to Make Uyghur Bread from Xinjiang

April 13 | No Comments

For those who have traveled through Xinjiang, I don’t have to tell you just how delicious Uyghur bread is. It’s called “naan” or 囊 (náng) in Chinese and when you get it fresh from the oven, it just melts in your mouth! If you’ve ever been curious about how to make Uyghur bread from Xinjiang, […]

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Best Uyghur Food Recipes from Xinjiang, China

April 12 | No Comments

Oftentimes when people return from traveling Xinjiang and the Silk Road, the very first thing they want to get their hands on is a Xinjiang cookbook with authentic Uyghur recipes and Hui recipes. Unfortunately such a cookbook doesn’t exist…
…but hopefully this will help.

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Top 10 Uyghur Foods to Eat in Xinjiang

April 11 | No Comments

Anybody who plans to travel to Xinjiang knows that Uyghur food and other local cuisine is going to be a memorable part of their journey. The local Uyghur food is well-known throughout China and praised among travelers. It’s not just Uyghur food, though. Whether you want to eat Hui food, Kazakh food or Chinese food […]

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Xinjiang Cuisine: 5 Must-Eat Foods (& How to Order Them)

April 9 | No Comments

When it comes to traveling the Silk Road, the Xinjiang cuisine is not to be missed. Here are 5 “must-eat” foods and how to order them both in Mandarin and in Uyghur!

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“Big Plate Chicken” DaPanJi (大盘鸡): Xinjiang’s Best Food

April 8 | No Comments

What is Dapanji? If you ask that question to anyone outside of China they might look at you weird and wonder if you’re speaking English (which you’re not). If you ask most Chinese people they might tell you that it is one of Xinjiang’s most famous dishes. If you ask us, we’ll tell you…

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