At the table
Pick up a piece or break it apart and eat it as bread. Milk tea is a customary accompaniment, not a filling. Let a freshly fried piece cool before biting.
Contains wheat and dairy. If avoiding animal fats or egg, ask about both dough and frying fat.
Other versions may use butterfat or sheep fat, or add egg. Frying fats vary; these alternatives are not all in this version.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Other versions may use butterfat or sheep fat, or add egg. Frying fats vary; these alternatives are not all in this version.
Typical ingredients
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Mildly milky and buttery, with a little sweetness.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- A lightly crisp fried surface and soft, airy bread inside.
- How it’s made
- Milk, wheat flour, butter, sugar, salt and yeast form a risen dough, which is cut into small pieces and deep-fried.
Other versions may use butterfat or sheep fat, or add egg. Frying fats vary; these alternatives are not all in this version.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Xinjiang.
About this regional connection
Xinjiang: Documented Kazakh cooking in northern Xinjiang; no exclusive invention claim.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有包尔萨克吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Fried bread to share with tea
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
In Xinjiang Kazakh food traditions, baursak is offered to guests and at celebrations. A plate of the fried bread with milk tea makes a simple shared snack or breakfast.
