Kuurdak (Kazakh: қуырдақ, quyrdaq, Kyrgyz: куурдак, Turkmen: gowurdak; Говурдак, Uyghur: قورداقқордақqordaq, Uzbek: qovurdoq, Mongolian: Хуурдаг), transliterated with various spellings, is a traditional meat dish made in Central Asia and Mongolia.
The dish's name comes from a nominalization of the Kyrgyz word "kuuruu", meaning "frying" and "roasted," referring to how the food is made.
History
Kuurdak was served by ancient Central Asian nomads, who prepared it with newly slaughtered sheep and little to no vegetable oil, prioritizing animal fats. Potatoes were introduced to the region in the 19th century and have since been a common addition to the dish, though they are less popular in Uzbek and Turkmen variations.
In May 2025, the dish was listed among the World’s Top 50 Offal Dishes by Taste Atlas.
Ingredients and varieties
Kuurdak is traditionally made from fried meat and offal. It is described as "stewed brown meat," commonly seasoned with onions and garlic. Modern recipes frequently use vegetable oil and potatoes as opposed to old customary means.
↑Usta, Mithat. (2021). Türkçenin yeme - içme kültürüyle ilgili tematik söz varlığı = Thematic vocabulary of eating and drinking culture in Turkish. (Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi). Sakarya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Sakarya.
