Diet
Azeris are proud of their cuisine. The most popular Azeri dish, pilau, is made of rice that has been steamed for a long time and is topped by a variety of foods, such as chicken, lamb, dried fruit, or milk. Kebab is grilled pieces of meat on a stick. Piti is a lamb broth with potatoes and peas cooked in clay pots in the oven. Dovge, (yogurt, rice, and herbs) is often served after the main meal at celebrations. Dinner ends with sherbet or tea, murebbe preserves, and pastries.
Mealtime
People usually eat three meals a day. For breakfast, tea with bread and butter, cheese, or marmalade is common. Dinner, eaten in the afternoon, includes a meat or vegetable soup, followed by pilau (pilaf), a meat dish, potatoes, or macaroni. For supper, people usually eat the same as for dinner, without the soup. The fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right. In most traditional homes, the cook prepares the plates in the kitchen for each person. In other homes, serving dishes are placed on the table. Guests do not serve themselves, they are served by others. In cities, men and women eat together at large social gatherings, but they eat separately in rural areas. Eating in restaurants is not common. The host pays the entire bill and the tip.