Qurutob (Tajik Flatbread with Sour Yogurt Dressing)
Local name: Қурутоб
In short: Torn flatbread soaked in a tangy dressing of dried yogurt balls and yogurt, topped with fried onions, tomatoes and cucumber. Tajikistan's shared platter. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 580 kcal
Qurutob is the dish most Tajiks name as their national food. Layers of thin flatbread are soaked in a sour, salty dressing made from qurut (dried yogurt balls) and yogurt, then covered with golden fried onions and a fresh salad of tomato, cucumber and herbs. It is served on one big platter and eaten with the hands or spoons, with everyone digging in from their own side. Serve it right away so the bread stays soft but not mushy.
Instructions
- Put the qurut in a bowl, pour over the hot water and soak for 20 minutes. Mash with a fork or pestle until a smooth, pourable paste forms.
- Stir in the yogurt until the dressing is thick but pourable like heavy cream. Taste: it should be sharply sour and quite salty. Add salt only if needed. Chill.
- Heat the oil in a wide pan over medium heat and fry the onions for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden brown. Keep them warm in their oil.
- Toss the tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, herbs, black pepper and chili, if using, in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt just before serving.
- Warm the flatbread briefly in a dry pan or the oven, then tear it into pieces about 5 cm (2 in) wide and spread them over a large platter.
- Spoon about half the dressing over the bread and let it soak for 2 minutes. Add the rest in small spoonfuls so some bread stays firmer.
- Pile the fresh salad on top, then the fried onions with their oil. Serve immediately, straight from the platter.
Tips
- Qurut is hard to find outside Central Asia. Replace it with 150 g (5 oz) crumbled dry feta blended with 100 ml of water, and add a squeeze of lemon for sourness.
- Dress the bread only when the guests are at the table. Held for more than 10 minutes, qurutob turns soggy.
Questions and answers
What does qurutob taste like?
Sour, salty and creamy, with sweet fried onions and fresh vegetables on top. The bread is soft in some places and chewy in others.
Can I make qurutob with meat?
Yes. Many Tajik cooks serve boiled lamb or beef on top. Cook it separately until tender, shred it and scatter it over the onions.
Can I make qurutob ahead of time?
Make the dressing and the fried onions up to 2 days ahead, and chop the salad that morning. Assemble just before serving.
How long does it take to make Qurutob (Tajik Flatbread with Sour Yogurt Dressing)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Qurutob (Tajik Flatbread with Sour Yogurt Dressing)?
About 580 kcal per serving, with 22 g of protein, 73 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 580 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbohydrates | 73 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 1300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
