In Mongolia, most of the national food is meat-based. The reason for this is because, historically, nomadic people caught, killed and cooked their own food. Additionally, the brutally cold winters meant that a diet high in protein is important. While there are only a few options for food in the countryside, Ulaanbaatar has many options from different cuisines.
I tried budz, which are dumplings filled with sheep meat. Next I tried hoshuur, which are like fried pancakes filled with sheep meat. I tried tsuivan, which is thick, rubbery noodles with potatoes, carrots and beef. I also had aarul, which is a thick, chewy snack made from dried yogurt, and airag, which is a drink made from the milk of a female horse. I had plenty of vegetable soup with big chunks of mutton. Finally, I tried horhog, which is a traditional meal of potatoes, carrots, and meat cooked with hot stones.
At first when I tried all these foods, I felt strange because I am not used to eating meat. However, I soon got used to it, and in a few places, I was able even to order tsuivan with just vegetables and no meat! Overall, I was happy to be experiencing the local cuisine of Mongolia. I was also happy to accept meals from the families who offered it to me. Mongolian families love serving food to guests.
