Authentic Armenian recipes are a great way to get in touch with your culinary roots if you love experimenting with food and trying new international cuisine. Authentic Armenian recipes, will introduce your family to some new flavors.
These authentic Armenian recipes are traditional favorites that have been passed down through generations, so you can be sure that you’re getting the real deal with these classic dishes.
In essence , if you’re looking to expand your horizons or just have some good old-fashioned comfort food, consider trying out these traditional Armenian recipes for yourself!
Describing Armenian Food and Cooking
There are many different types of traditional Armenian recipes that vary widely between regions and families. Some dishes are very simple while others require great skill in preparation by chefs who have perfected their on authentic recipes over generations.
The food from Armenia is as rich and diverse as the country’s history. Armenians have been influenced by many different cultures over the centuries, including Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Russian. This has resulted in a unique cuisine that features a variety of flavors and ingredients.
10 Tasty Armenian Recipes for Main Dish Meals
1. Ghapama
A traditional Armenian recipe that is dear to the hearts of Armenian families, this traditional pumpkin dish symbolizes ‘a sweet life’ and is commonly cooked in a tonir (similar to tandoor) and served at weddings and New Year.
2. Manti (Sini Manti)
These homemade baked Manti (Sini Manti) are traditional Armenian dumplings. They feature a savory beef filling and a luscious yogurt-garlic sauce. While some recipes differ, using lamb instead of beef, this is my family’s beloved version. It’s by far the best I’ve ever had on two continents!
3. Lahmajoon (Armenian Pizza)
With my family’s Armenian background, I grew up surrounded by great cooks. Since Armenian food is time-consuming and labor-intensive, cooking for any party started weeks in advance. I learned to cook from my mom but have revamped many of her traditional Armenian recipes to make them healthier.
4. Armenian Style Kufta
Authentic Armenian recipe for this Middle Eastern meatball or meatloaf-style dishes can be found with many variations. This version, Armenian in origin, is layered with potatoes and tomatoes and is a meatball-style casserole. You can substitute ground beef for the lamb if you prefer.
5. Dolma Armenian Meal In a Vegetable
Traditional Armenian recipe for a Dolma Armenian Meal In a Vegetable. Just remember that when it comes to stuffability, fatter is better. Walk past those long, skinny cakes that make salads crunchy and lavish your attention on the plump, seedy ones. They’re much easier to scoop out, and they hold lots more dolma goodness.
6. Khashlama (Armenian Lamb Stew)
Khashlama is a traditional Armenian recipe for a wonderful vegetable and lamb stew. Made with simple ingredients, this iconic Armenian dish is delicious, satisfying, and, surprisingly, easy to make.
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7. Traditional Armenian Gomgush
Gomgush is a traditional brothy stew of Armenia. Fresh ingredients are very important and it is cooked it in an unwashed tonir (similar to a tandoor) that is kept in family. After many gomgush are made it will keep getting better and better!
8. Fried Beef Liver Recipe (Tjvjik)
A authentic Armenian recipe for a dish called Tjvjik, which is a fried beef liver with a good amount of onions, spiced and seasoned with salt and pepper. This is one of those love or hate dishes, not everyone enjoys the specific smell and taste of cooking beef liver.
9. Khash Armenian Soup
This authentic Armenian recipe for Khash is an Armenian soup prepared using boiled cow or sheep parts such as the head, feet, and stomach (tripe). Typically consumed early in the morning during the winter season (usually from September to April), it is served with garlic, radish, dried national bread lavash, and homemade vodka.
10. Shish Kebab (Khorovatz)
Try this authentic Armenian recipe for Khorovats. Khorovats is an Armenian barbecue. The meat may be marinated before grilling, but it does not have to be. It can be made with lamb, pork, beef, chicken, fish, or even veal.
10 Tasty Armenian Recipes for Main Side Dish Favorites
11. Mom’s Armenian Semsek recipe
This authentic Armenian recipe for Semsek comes from my Armenian mother’s family. It’s a little-known dish that kids and grown-ups will love: there’s dough, there’s meat, and it’s fried. What’s not to like? (except the smell of frying oil that might linger in your house for a few days after making them…)
12. Bishi or Zing-a-Ling
Margie, a reader from PA., had a special request for me – to help find an authentic Armenian recipe her grandmother used to make for her as a child. The recipe, Bishi, is deep-fried dough — lighter than donuts, more like a Crueller sprinkled with sugar.
13. Armenian Cucumber & Tomato Salad
If you are looking for a quick, easy, and delicious authentic Armenian recipe that comes together in minutes, then look no further because this is IT! My Armenian Cucumber & Tomato Salad is a light, simple, and refreshing dish that only takes a few minutes to whip up
14. Armenian Potatoes
I found this authentic Armenian recipe in one of our local Church cookbooks making for potatoes that are a touch different – and always an empty bowl! The recipe calls for ‘old’ potatoes – I find for most part I never have old potatoes – if I do not have large potatoes I eyeball an equivalent.
15. Armenian Sujuk
Sujuk traditional Armenian recipe – a very tasty dry-cured sausage. Do you think it is not realistic to cook it at home? You are wrong, everything is real and simple, the main thing is to know some of the nuances and have patience, since this is not a momentary dish.
16. Matsoni Yogurt
Matsoni yogurt, also known as Matsun, is a fermented dairy product that originated in the Caucasus region, south of Russia. Matsoni is a Georgian word while Matsun is a term used in Armenia, but they are essentially one and the same.
17. Zhingyalov Hats (Armenian Flatbread)
So we have reached the final letter of the A-Z International flatbread series and I am concluding my first ever Blogging Marathon with this yummy Zhingyalov hats. Zhingyalov hats also known as Zhengyalav / Zhangyalov hats is an Armenian flatbread stuffed with finely diced herbs and green vegetables.
18. Topik
Topik/թոփիկ (or Topig!) is a delicious authentic Armenian recipe for a mezze or appetizer that is usually served during Lent. It is a specialty of Armenians from Istanbul (or Bolsahyes) and is completely vegan!
19. Homemade Harissa Recipe
Harissa is made once a year to commemorate the resistance of Musa Ler mountain during Armenian genocide in 1915. Hundreds of people will gather in Armenian region Armavir, every third Sunday of September , they’d sing patriotic songs ,dance to celebrate the victory of Musa Ler resistance, pay tribute to all innocent Armenians killed during genocide by Ottoman Turks.
20. Arishta
Arishta is a traditional Armenian recipe for a homemade noodle that is a lot thicker than traditional European noodles and it tends to be a lot darker in color.
5 Tasty Armenian Recipes for Desserts
21. Pryaniki
We’ve been making this traditional Armenian recipe for cookies for years in our family, and I love watching people try them for the first time. When you offer them the Pryaniki, they don’t seem too excited about them, and if there are any other options, the Pryaniki will be sadly neglected.
22. Matzoon Cookies
This authentic Armenian recipe for Yogurt Cookies or Matzoon Cookies are a bit reminiscent of muffin tops! They have a cakey, muffin-like interior with slightly sugary, crisp edges. Studded with crunchy walnuts, these easy cookies are as great for breakfast with your coffee as they are for dessert!
23. Nazook Armenian Pastry
“I took this authentic Armenian recipe from Hilda (someone in the net!) and posted it here because I couldn’t find on Recipezaar an accurate recipe for this delicious Armenian pastry! Loads of fat and calories in them but absolutely worth it! (Preparation times includes 5 hours to refrigerate the dough).”
24. Armenian Nutmeg Cake
Armenian Nutmeg Cake is a traditional simple cake that is aromatic and rich. With a brown sugar crust, plenty of fresh grated nutmeg and fresh walnuts, this cake looks simple but tastes heavenly! A perfect easy dessert for all occasions.
25. Armenian Gata
Sometime back I found these wonderful sweetbreads called Gata in a nearby middle eastern bakery . A bit of research led to this traditional Armenian recipe for Gata . It is a sweet and soft bread , almost like a pastry .