At Steppe Nomads, we use vegetables only grown in Mongolia to ensure best
quality and taste. Various fresh produces such as cucumber, tomato, spinach,
lettuce and wild onion are grown in our own greenhouse and freshly prepared
for each meal during the summer months. More importantly, we use freshly
baked bread, bakery, healthy dairy products and meat that are supplied
by the locals instead of transporting them from the capital.
Our visitors can enjoy their meal in various fashions depending on their need, such
as buffet meals, set menu meals or pre-ordered special meals. Special requests
such as whole sheep barbecue, delicious vegetarian and vegan meals are easily
accommodated by our skilled chefs. We also offer a wide range of imported and
domestic alcohol beverages, freshly made coffee, premium tea and other beverages for our guests.
Mongolian Foods
UUTS OR WHOLE RUMP OF A SHEEP MONGOLIAN TRADITIONAL FOOD UUTS OR WHOLE RUMP OF A SHEEP. The whole rump
of a sheep is boiled/steamed in a big pot along with the other parts, head,
and legs. Uut is the most famous dish of the traditional holiday Lunar
New Year, traditional parties and festivals.
AIRAG
Mongolian Airag is a fermented dairy product traditionally made from mare’s
milk. It has a unique and slightly sour flavor with a bite from the mild
alcoholic content; the serving of it is an essential part of Mongolian
hospitality. It Airag will be ready after many times of beating the mix
of horse milk – the source of airag is reserved for just this in a hohuur
(big leather container). Airag requires at least 2000-4000 beats which
helps it to ferment with air. The culture of fermenting airag in Khukhuur
was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity by UNESCO in 2019. In Mongolia, the milking season for horses
traditionally runs between mid June till early October.
Suutei Tsai (Milk Tea)
Mongolian Nomad’s hospitality starts from offering milk tea to every visitor.
Main ingredients of milk tea are a tea (typically from southern China,
Georgia and Sri Lanka), milk and little bit of salt. Milk tea is the most
common consumed beverage in Mongolia and during holidays such as lunar
New Year and Naadam all families must prepare milk tea to the offer guests.
BUUZ
Mongolian Buuz are considered THE traditional food in Mongolia. Mongolian
families make buuz for respectful guests or family members on special holidays
such as lunar New Year. During the national Lunar New year holiday, all
family relatives visit each other and show respect on the third to fifth
days of the holiday. The main ingredients are minced meat (typically beef
but sometimes mutton, horse’s meat, goat’s meat can be used), chopped onion,
salt, garlic and other spices (caraway is common).
KHUUSHUUR
Mongolian Khuushur is a meat pastry or what westerners
refer to meat pockets. Khuushuur is quite common food at most cafés and
restaurants across Mongolia. Mongols celebrate the National Naadam
Festival in July and August and it’s during the Naadam Festival that the
main foods are khuushuur and Mongolian Barbecue that is called
Khorkhog. The main ingredients are minced meat, onion, garlic, salt and
spices – though Khuushuur with alpine wild leeks or wild onions are
popular in Mongolia.
TSUIVAN Another common dish
you’ll encounter in every Mongolian family household or in the menu of a
local restaurant or diner is Tsuivan (Цуйван). It’s a kind of fried
mixture of steamed noodles, meat and vegetables. The Tsuivan is a really
easy-to-make dinner, that probably each household prepares it several
times a month.
BITUU SHOL/AIR-TIGHTLY COOKED MEAT SOUP
MONGOLIAN TRADITIONAL SOUP BITUU SHUL OR AIR-TIGHTLY COOKED MEAT SOUP.
The traditional way of cooking the Bituu Shul is to put the soup ingredients
in an animal gut and boil in water or cook on steam. Nowadays, we cook
the Bituu Shul putting the ingredients in a bowl and cook on steam. The
bowl top should be air-tightened by flour. We trust that Bituu Shul helps
us gain the strength and cure fatigue as all the nutrients can remain in
the bowl while cooking.
Khorkhog/Mongolian BBQ
A hearty meal, Khorkhog (Хорхог) consists of big mutton pieces, some vegetables
like potatoes & carrots, sometimes steamed Mongolian noodles and heated
river stones. It is a festive and family meal consumed more commonly in
the countryside during trips, or a visit to a family of nomads in the steppes.
AARUUL
Mongolian “Aaruul” is a
dried curd (called aaruul in Mongolian) that is the most widely consumed
traditional dairy product in Mongolia. During the summer, nomadic
families milk animals (mainly cows, sheep, yaks and camels) twice a day
to make plenty of aaruul and other dairy products to consume year
around. Nomads usually make aaruul from goat and cow’s milk.
BUDAATAI KHUURGA Stew with rice, vegetables, and meat.
To eat mongolian can sometimes also remind of China. Since
the old times, rice was imported from the southern neighbours, because
it obviously doesn't grow in the mongolian climate.
BOORTSOG
It would seem that this
Mongolian pastry is nothing special. In essence, the boortsog is a
small, delicious donut that is served as an appetizer for tea.The
“right” boortsog is deep-fried until golden brown, using animal fat
(although in the modern world it is increasingly being replaced by
vegetable oil). They are often sprinkled with powdered sugar or
sprinkled with liquid honey. Incredibly tasty, especially with tea.
Boortsog can be of various shapes and sizes, especially a lot of this
baking is being prepared for the holiday Tsagan Sar.
BANTAN
National Mongolian soup with the simplest composition. It is prepared on
a strong meat broth from lamb or beef. Additionally, add a little flour
and vegetables to make it more satisfying, but not to interrupt the natural
taste of meat. Of the spices, only salt and pepper are put in the traditional
Mongolian soup. If bantan is made from lamb, sometimes milk is added to
the broth to make the dish more tender. In Mongolia, this soup is considered
medicinal.
Guriltai Shol
Mongolian Noodle Soup is a hearty soup with meat and noodles is commonly
consumed in the cold months. Most family prepares the bone broth (simmering
lamb or beef) and then adds on hand made noodles with chopped onion. Mongolian
foods generally don’t rely on a lot of spices and herbs due to the extreme
continental climate. But people in central places lately prefer to add
some vegetables such as potatoes, carrot and cabbage to noodle soup.
Chanasan Mah
It’s a slow cooked meat in a broth, seasoned with onions and
salt, then added vegetables and wide noodles. The meat is commonly
mutton and beef, but can be goat or horse sometimes. After everything is
done cooking, the tender meat and the vegetables are put on a platter
and served, with the broth in a different bowl. Basically, it’s a
deconstructed noodle soup.