Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Turpan, China
1. Kumis (Fermented Mares' Milk)
A traditional beverage made from the fermented milk of mares. It's rich in protein and calcium, and has a unique taste that varies depending on the fermentation process.
- Unique Taste: Unlike regular milk or yogurt, Kumis has a tangy, slightly alcoholic flavor.
- Health Benefits: Kumis is said to help with digestion and strengthen the immune system.
- Local Produced: This beverage is locally produced in Turpan, using mares from the surrounding grasslands.
2. PoluoMian (Grilled Mutton Skewers)
A popular street food made by grilling mutton cubes on skewers. The mutton is often seasoned with cumin and garlic.
- Flavorful Mutton: The mutton used in PoluoMian is local, making it more flavorful than regular mutton.
- Street Food Experience: Enjoy this dish while walking around the bustling streets of Turpan.
- Spicy and Savory: The cumin and garlic seasoning give these skewers a unique, savory-spicy flavor.
3. TuyoMian (Noodles with Uighur Style)
Uighur-style noodles served in a flavorful broth. The noodles are often topped with beef, onions, and carrots.
- Traditional Recipe: This dish is a traditional Uighur recipe passed down through generations.
- Warm and Comforting: The broth and noodles make for a hearty, comforting meal.
- Local Ingredients: The noodles are made fresh daily using local ingredients.
4. Bazhima (Bread Dumplings)
Soft and fluffy dumplings filled with lamb, onions, and spices. They are steamed and served with a side of yogurt.
- Soft and Tender: The dough for Bazhima is very soft, making the dumplings melt in your mouth.
- Savory Filling: The savory lamb and spice filling gives each bite a unique flavor.
- Complemented by Yogurt: The tangy yogurt served with Bazhima helps balance the richness of the dumplings.
5. BurutuPizi (Flatbread Pie)
A savory flatbread pie filled with lamb, onions, and spices. It's baked in a traditional clay oven.
- Clay Oven Baked: The unique flavor of BurutuPizi comes from baking it in a traditional clay oven.
- Handmade Dough: The dough for this dish is handmade, giving each pie a unique texture.
- Savory and Flavorful: The filling of lamb, onions, and spices makes for a savory, flavorful dish.
6. Goubuli (Steamed Buns)
Soft steamed buns filled with sweet red bean paste. They are a popular snack in Turpan.
- Traditional Snack: Goubuli is a traditional snack that has been enjoyed in Turpan for centuries.
- Soft and Sweet: The soft, chewy texture of the buns complements the sweet red bean paste filling.
- Local Delicacy: Goubuli is a must-try delicacy when visiting Turpan.
7. Hami Melon Seeds
Roasted Hami melon seeds are a popular snack in Turpan. They have a sweet and nutty flavor.
- Local Produce: Hami melons are locally grown, making the seeds a true local product.
- Nutty and Sweet: The roasted seeds have a sweet and nutty flavor that makes them addictive.
- Traditional Snack: Hami melon seeds have been enjoyed as a snack in Turpan for centuries.
8. Shaobing (Flatbread)
A flatbread made from wheat flour and baked in a traditional clay oven. It's often served with mutton or pickled vegetables.
- Traditional Bread: Shaobing is a traditional bread that has been enjoyed in Turpan for centuries.
- Clay Oven Baked: The unique flavor of Shaobing comes from baking it in a traditional clay oven.
- Versatile Side Dish: Shaobing can be served with a variety of dishes, making it a versatile side dish.
9. Bugrape (Boiled Grapes)
Boiled grapes are a refreshing dessert, often enjoyed in the summer heat. They are sweet and have a soft texture.
- Refreshing Dessert: Bugrape is a refreshing dessert, perfect for cooling down on hot days.
- Soft Texture: The grapes become soft and juicy after being boiled.
- Seasonal Delicacy: Bugrape is a seasonal delicacy, only available during the grape harvest season.
10. YangrouPaomo (Lamb Soup with Bread Crumbs)
A hearty soup made from lamb, wheat noodles, and bread crumbs. It's often served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread.
- Hearty Soup: YangrouPaomo is a hearty soup that is filling and warming.
- Unique Presentation: The soup is often served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread, making for a unique presentation.
- Spicy and Savory: The soup is spicy and savory, with a rich lamb flavor.
11. Yogurt Drink (Maqaitou)
A traditional yogurt drink made from locally sourced milk. It's often served cold and has a tangy flavor.
- Traditional Beverage: Maqaitou is a traditional beverage that has been enjoyed in Turpan for centuries.
- Cooling Drink: The yogurt drink is refreshing and cooling, making it perfect for hot days.
- Tangy Flavor: The tangy flavor of the yogurt drink comes from the local milk and traditional fermentation process.
12. Pilaf (PiJiuFan)
A rice dish made with meat, vegetables, and spices. It's often served in a large, shallow dish.
- Hearty Dish: Pilaf is a hearty dish that is filling and satisfying.
- Unique Presentation: The dish is often served in a large, shallow dish, making for a unique presentation.
- Flavorful Rice Dish: The rice is flavorful and the meat and vegetables add texture and additional flavors.
13. Fruit Dough (Baozhai)
A dessert made from dough filled with sweet fruits. The dough is then deep-fried and coated in sugar.
- Sweet and Crunchy: The combination of sweet fruit filling and crispy, sugary dough makes for a delicious dessert.
- Versatile Dessert: Baozhai can be filled with a variety of fruits, making it a versatile dessert.
- Local Ingredients: The dough and filling for Baozhai are made with local ingredients.
14. ShishKebab (XianRouGan)
Grilled skewers of mutton, often seasoned with cumin and garlic. They are a popular street food in Turpan.
- Flavorful Meat: The mutton used for XianRouGan is local, making it more flavorful.
- Street Food Experience: Enjoy this dish while walking around the bustling streets of Turpan.
- Spicy and Savory: The cumin and garlic seasoning give these skewers a unique, savory-spicy flavor.
15. Turpan Jade River Watermelon
A famous variety of watermelon grown in the Turpan region. It's known for its sweet taste and crisp texture.
- Sweet and Crisp: The Turpan Jade River Watermelon is sweet and has a crisp texture.
- Local Produce: This watermelon is locally grown, making it a true local product.
- Seasonal Delicacy: The Turpan Jade River Watermelon is a seasonal delicacy, only available during the summer months.