Desserts of Mongolia

Mongolian cuisine is traditionally meat- and dairy-focused due to the nomadic lifestyle and harsh climate, so desserts are generally simple and made with ingredients that are readily available—primarily dairy, flour, and sometimes fruits or nuts. Here are some traditional Mongolian desserts:

Dairy-Based Desserts

1. Aaruul (Dried Curd)

   • Description: Hard, sour-sweet dried curds made from milk (cow, goat, or yak).

   • Texture: Chewy to rock-hard; can be sweetened or plain.

   • Note: Aaruul is a staple Mongolian snack, often eaten like candy.

2. Byaslag (Mongolian Cheese)

   • Description: Fresh cheese made from yak or cow milk.

   • Use: Sometimes served with sugar or honey as a dessert or sweet snack.

3. Tarag (Fermented Yogurt)

   • Description: Homemade yogurt, usually served plain, sometimes with sugar or berries.

   • Cultural role: A traditional summer treat; also considered healthy.

4. Urum (Clotted Cream)

   • Description: A rich cream skimmed off the top of boiled milk.

   • How it’s eaten: Spread on bread or eaten with sugar as a treat.

Flour-Based Desserts

5. Boortsog

   • Description: Deep-fried dough pieces, similar to doughnuts or beignets.

   • Often eaten with: Urum or dipped in tea; sometimes dusted with sugar or honey.

6. Gambir

   • Description: A fried flatbread, often layered and slightly sweet.

   • Variants: Sometimes served with sugar, butter, or jam.

Sweet Preserves and Treats

7. Jams and Preserves

   • Common flavors: Sea buckthorn, wild berries, rhubarb.

   • Use: Served with bread, pancakes, or yogurt.

8. Fruit Leather (Tsatsal)

   • Description: Traditional dried fruit puree rolled into sheets, somewhat rare and seasonal.

Other Notables

• Airag (Fermented Mare’s Milk) can be used as a refreshing drink, sometimes sweetened for festive occasions.

• Suutei Tsai (Milk Tea) is sometimes lightly sweetened and consumed with sweets like boortsog or aaruul.

Mongolian desserts tend to be modest, focusing on natural dairy sweetness rather than heavy sugary confections. If you’re ever in Mongolia or at a Mongolian cultural festival, boortsog with urum or aaruul are must-tries.