4-Hours Pilav Masterclass in Khiva with Hands on Cooking and Cultural Feast

Palov

Pilav Masterclass

Highlights

Enjoy a hands-on Pilav Masterclass in a traditional Khivan family courtyard

Savor Khorezm cuisine with guided preparation of lamb, carrots, and devzira rice

Learn the "cone and channel" technique for steaming rice without stirring

Relish a family-style feast under grape-vine shade with green tea and apricot juice

Khiva

cultural, photography, Cooking

Group Tour

4 Hours

Easy

English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

Description

Experience an unforgettable culinary adventure with a hands-on Pilav Masterclass in Khiva. Learn the secrets of traditional Khorezm pilav, prepare fresh ingredients, and master cooking techniques like managing a wood fire and baking tandoor bread. Enjoy a delicious feast with local dishes, followed by a cultural story-circle about Khivan wedding feasts and dining etiquette.

Itinerary

Pilav Masterclass in Khiva – 4-Hour Itinerary
- 09:45: Meet & Greet in front of the West Gate (Ata-Darvoza) or hotel pickup (optional). Short walk to the host family’s courtyard.
- 10:00: Welcome Tea & Spice Talk – Sip green tea while the chef introduces devzira rice, yellow carrots, wild cumin, barberry, and dried apricots that distinguish Khorezm pilav.
- 10:15: Ingredient Prep – Wash rice, julienne carrots, dice onions, trim lamb, and measure spices together at outdoor prep tables.
- 10:45: Fire-Up the Kazan – Learn how to manage a wood fire, render lamb fat, sear meat, and layer vegetables.
- 11:00: Side-Dish Sprint – Chop tomatoes & chilies for achichuk salad; watch a mini-demo of herb-green shivit-oshinoodles.
- 11:30: Cone & Channel Stage – Pour rice into a cone, poke steam “chimneys,” test salinity with the brine spoon, then cover the kazan to steam.
- 11:45: Tandoor Bread Stamping – Press patterns into mini non loaves and slap them onto the hot clay walls of the courtyard tandoor.
- 12:15: Cultural Story-Circle – While plov steams, hear tales of Khivan wedding feasts, etiquette, and the “osh pullari” tasting ritual.
- 12:45: The Big Flip – Crowd around as the kazan is inverted onto a lagan platter revealing a jewel-studded mountain of pilav garnished with quail eggs and pomegranate. Group photos!
- 13:00: Feast Time – Sit beneath grape-vine shade to enjoy pilav, salads, bread, melon & halva, unlimited green tea or apricot juice.
- 13:45: Recipe & Spice Kit Handover – Receive PDF recipe link, wild-cumin & barberry sampler, and airdropped photos/videos of your class.
- 14:00: Farewell – Stroll back to Ichan-Qala or meet your pre-arranged car transfer.

What's Included

Private use of the family kitchen and courtyard

All ingredients, spices, and equipment provided (kazan, tandoor, knives, aprons)

English-speaking culinary host and assistant

Unlimited green tea and homemade apricot juice

Full lunch, including plov, salads, bread, and dessert (melon & halva)

Recipe booklet in PDF format (emailed) and spice sampler (zira & barberry) to take home

Photos and short video clips shot by the team, shared via a link

What's Excluded

Hotel transfers available for an additional $10 round-trip per car

Alcoholic beverages (BYO allowed, no corkage fee)

Tips for chef and assistants (customary $3–5 per person)

Optional bazaar tour available for an additional $8 per person

Know Before You Go

Classes are private and fill quickly in high season (April – October). A 30% deposit via PayPal or credit card secures your slot. Balance is paid in cash (USD or Uzbek soum) on the day. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before start-time. Later cancellations forfeit the deposit.

The courtyard is a 5-minute walk from Ichan-Qala’s West Gate (Ata-Darvoza). A pin drop and photo of the blue door are sent after booking. Optional hotel pick-up inside Khiva old town costs US $5 per group. Motor-vehicles cannot enter the pedestrian core, so expect a short walk.

Khiva summers are hot (35 – 42 °C). Sessions are partly outdoors. Dress in breathable fabrics and bring a sun hat. Winter mornings can dip below freezing. The wood fire keeps the kitchen warm but bring a jacket.

Standard recipe includes lamb fat and meat. Vegetarian, vegan, or no-pork/halal versions are available with 24-hour notice. Gluten enters only with the tandoor bread. Advise if you are gluten-free so we can skip stamping non.

Closed-toe shoes are mandatory. Loose sleeves should be rolled up near the fire. We maintain food-handler certifications and keep a first-aid kit on-site.

Instruction is in English. Russian, Spanish, French, or German interpreters cost +US $15 per group (subject to availability). Your hosts love questions—feel free to ask about recipes, culture, or everyday life in Khiva.

Uzbek soum or crisp USD notes accepted. Local ATMs can run out of cash, so withdraw a day early. Tipping is optional but appreciated (US $3-5 per participant is typical).

Wi-Fi is patchy in the courtyard. Download maps, e-tickets, and playlists in advance. A power strip is available, but bring your own adapter (Uzbekistan uses Type C/F, 220V).

You’re welcome to film and photograph every step. Tripods are allowed if they don’t block walkways. We send complimentary phone photos and short video clips afterward. A pro DSLR package is +US $30.

Hosts appreciate modest dress (shoulders and knees covered) though it’s not strictly enforced. Greetings start with “Assalomu alaykum” and a handshake—feel free to try it!

What To Bring

Comfortable, lightweight clothing

Closed-toe shoes

Sun hat or scarf & sunscreen

Reusable water bottle

Small hand towel or wet wipes

Camera or smartphone (charged)

Notebook & pen (optional)

Light jacket or shawl

Cash for extras

Good appetite and curiosity

Meeting Point

Khiva, Uzbekistan

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.

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4-Hours Pilav Masterclass in Khiva with Hands on Cooking and Cultural Feast

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Pilav Masterclass in Khiva – 4-Hour Itinerary

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4-Hours Pilav Masterclass in Khiva with Hands on Cooking and Cultural Feast

Highlights

Languages

Description

Itinerary

Pilav Masterclass in Khiva – 4-Hour Itinerary

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

Check Availability Hide

Starting from

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

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