Traditional Armenian breakfasts, lunches and dinners: what to try in Armenia in the summer

Armenia is a country where a meal is always more than just food. Here, every meal is part of the culture and warm family traditions. Armenian cuisine is especially rich in the summer season, when aromatic fruits, fresh vegetables and fragrant herbs ripen. In this article, you will learn what Armenians usually eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, what summer dishes are worth trying, and where to find the most delicious traditional recipes.

Armenian Breakfast: Lightness and Health in the Morning

Armenian breakfast is always fresh and simple. In summer, the table is decorated with seasonal vegetables, greens and soft cheeses.

Traditional breakfast dishes and products:

Zhingyalov hats
Thin bread baked with up to 40 types of greens. The assortment of greens is especially abundant and delicious during the season when the herbs are collected in June–August.

Matnakash and lavash
The main bread in an Armenian home. Served with cheese, honey or apricot jam.

Cheese and matsun
Lori, chanakh and chanakh-brynza cheeses with matsun (natural yogurt) are a wonderful refreshment in the morning.

Fresh vegetables and herbs
Tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, tarragon – everything straight from the garden.

Scrambled eggs with tomatoes
One of the favorite summer dishes: eggs fried with large slices of juicy tomatoes.

Armenian coffee, oriental style.
Brewed in a cezve, strong and aromatic.

Summer accent:
Add Armenian cherries, apricots or watermelons to your breakfast – they are the sweetest in July.

Lunch in Armenia: Hearty Meals and Seasonal Treats

An Armenian dinner always includes a first course, a second course and a mandatory salad. In summer, the menu includes more light and vegetable dishes.

Traditional dishes for lunch:

Khashlama
Meat stewed with potatoes, onions, and herbs. In summer, more fresh tomatoes are added.

Tolma
Stuffed grape leaves are a symbol of Armenian cuisine. In summer the leaves are fresh, not pickled.

Vegetable salads
Tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, cilantro – the real taste of summer.

Harisa
Wheat with chicken, thick porridge. Often prepared in mountainous regions.

Tan
A fermented milk drink that cools you down in the heat.

Lavash and fresh herbs
There are always greens and flatbreads on the Armenian table.

Fruits for dessert
Apricot, watermelon, melon, peaches, cherry plum – a summer lunch is not complete without them.

Summer accent:
Salads and tolma with fresh leaves, cold tan and fruits straight from the garden.

Armenian Dinner: Warmth, Feast and Summer Flavors

In the evening, Armenians like to gather with the whole family. In summer, dinners often take place on the terrace or in the garden.

What do they eat for dinner:

Shashlik (khorovats)
The main summer dish. Prepared from pork, beef or chicken on the grill.

Kyufta
Tender veal meatballs. Served hot or cold.

Cold appetizers
Cheeses, fresh tomatoes, eggplants, pickled peppers.

Dolma made from eggplants and various vegetables
In summer, vegetables are stuffed with fresh minced meat and rice.

Gata and baklava
For tea or coffee – traditional Armenian sweets.

Homemade wine or mulberry vodka
For guests and special occasions.

Summer accent:
Outdoor shashlik, dolma made from young vegetables and desserts with apricots.

If you visit Armenia in the summer, be sure to try seasonal dishes: grape leaves, fresh vegetables, barbecue on coals and famous Armenian pastries. Such a gastronomic experience will make your trip unforgettable and will allow you to feel the real atmosphere of Armenian hospitality.