House of culinary delights: Uzbek plov conquers the Alum Street!

House of culinary delights: Uzbek plov conquers the Alum Street!

A new culinary hotspot has opened in Dresden! Fans of Central Asian cuisine can now look forward to the “House of Plov” on Alaunstrasse. Maik Keppel and his father Valeri launched this snack bar at the beginning of October, which is dedicated to preparing plov, the national dish of Uzbekistan. This dish is also very popular in Kazakhstan and promises to be a delight for all rice lovers.

Preparing plov is a true work of art that requires time and love. Beef is first sautéed in onions in lamb fat until it turns a nice color. Fresh carrots are then added, followed by water and stock to give the dish depth. The rice is added later along with raisins and chickpeas. The secret also lies in the salting: Here the chefs only use rock salt to bring out the full flavor of the ingredients. The plov is served in a bowl with the tender meat on top.

Diverse offers at affordable prices

The pricing of the snack bar looks extremely fair. The Tashken plov with beef is available for 10 euros, while the version with lamb goes for 12 euros. In addition to the well-known plov, a selection of other regional dishes are also offered. These include hearty samsa – puff pastry pockets filled with meat, pumpkin or a delicious spinach-mint mixture – as well as tender pelmeni served in broth. A selection of salads and soft drinks complete the offering.

The “House of Plov” is open from Tuesday to Sunday. In the first few weeks after opening, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many guests even bringing their own containers to take home even more of the delicious plov. Maik Keppel also plans to convince his father to work at the snack bar every day in the future.

The Plov – more than just a dish

Plov is not just a simple rice dish, but reflects the cultural identity of Uzbekistan. This popular dish, also known as “pilaf” or “palov”, is a source of pride for many Uzbeks and is traditionally served at large celebrations such as weddings or holidays. Preparing it in a large pot, often a Dutch oven, enhances the dish's distinctive flavor and texture. In addition to the classic preparation with beef or lamb, there are numerous regional variations that can be prepared with chicken or even vegetarian.

A few tips are helpful for perfect preparation: The rice used should be long-grain to achieve the optimal consistency. And most importantly - the rice should not be stirred during cooking to preserve the structure. Plov is traditionally served with a side of tomato and cucumber salad and a glass of tea, which authentically rounds off the culinary experience.

For everyone who has now developed an appetite for Plov: You can find the “House of Plov” at Alaunstrasse 30, where various concepts have previously opened their doors. Maybe a visit to this new taste experience is on your afternoon agenda too?

If you would like to find out more about the preparation, you can visit Momsdish or Emilia recipes look around!

With this in mind: enjoy your meal and enjoy discovering Central Asian cuisine!