chak-chak recipe history culture origin

Сладкое лакомство с необычным названием «чак-чак» готовится из традиционных продуктов — муки, молока, яиц, масла и меда. Чак-чак считается национальным блюдом Татарстана, расположенного в центральной России.

Chak-chak: A Glorious and Celebratory Fried Honey Cake

Published: August 18, 2019

Chak-chak (Чак-чак) (chak-chak) is a dessert food made from deep-fried dough drenched in a hot honey syrup and formed into a certain shape, most commonly a mound or pyramid. It is popular all over the former Soviet Union. In Russia, chak-chak is especially associated with the Tatar and Bashkortostan republics, where it is considered a national dish. However, Central Asian nationalities such as Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz also lay claim to the dish… and it may have been originally taken from the Chinese. While the basic recipe is always very similar, how it is made differs from region to region.

How Chak-chak Got Its Name

(Почему он носит такое название?)

Although commonly spelled and pronounced chak-chak in Russia and Tatarstan, there are alternative, though related spellings and pronunciations. In Kazan, for example, it is often spelled “чэк-чэк” оr “шек-шек.” The name most likely came from the Tatar word “чәк-чәк,” which means “just a little bit” (it is related to the Russian “чуть-чуть,” which means the same thing).

Some say that the word was applied because the food is made up of tiny pieces. some say that, given the light, addictive taste of this very caloric food, one can imagine mothers admonishing their children to eat “чәк-чәк” as they put a batch of the dessert on the table. Some say that word actually came from the sound that a knife makes as it works through the noodles, cutting them up in preperation for their addition to the dish.

The finished “торт” is most commonly formed into a big smooth mound, but people also might form it into circles, pyramids, loafs, or, as a dish for weddings, make the final shape more complex such as a heart or even a basket (which the symbolizes a “cornucopia,” wishing the newly weds a happy and successful new life together). Modern, mass-produced chak-chak tends to be square, as that ships the most efficiently, although some homemade chak-chak is also made in blocks.

chak-chak recipe history culture origin
The people of Ufa, Bashkortostan set a record by preparing more than 100 kilograms of chak chak at once. The Bashkirs also consider чак-чак to be part of their national cuisine.

When and How to Eat Chak-chak

Как привильно есть чак-чак?

Chak-chak is a symbol of celebration and hospitality. A whole made of many pieces, it symbolizes unity. Covered in honey, a natural preservative, it also lasts for a fairly long time – up to three weeks so long as it isn’t devoured quickly.

Long ago, travelers were offered the treat upon their arrival in Tatarstan. One story says that chak-chak spread so widely around the former Russian empire because, as these travelers left, they would often ask to take more of the tasty treat with them and would share with others. Likewise, Tatars would bring chak-chak with them when traveling and offer it as gifts to people in other cities. One modern blogger reports that her mother has actually paid for taxi rides with chak-chak; thus, perhaps it’s not too far of a stretch that the Tatar people could indeed use their treat as a kind of currency in other lands that had yet to experience the magic of chak-chak.

Chak-chak is most traditionally eaten at special occasions (such as the arrival of a traveler) or for festive events (especially weddings, where it often substitutes for cakes in Tatarstan and even in Russia as a wider whole. However, chak-chak is also now a common snack food throughout Eurasia. In this sense it resembles cake in the West: a treat that can be a major part of important cultural institutions such as birthdays or weddings, but also readily available to anyone who gets the hankering for sweet goodness.

Chak-chak is most often eaten by cutting little pieces from the mound.

chak-chak recipe history culture origin
Timosha is a commercially-produced version of chak-chak that is widely available in Russian supermarkets.

How to Prepare Chak-chak

(Как правильно готовить чак-чак?)

Chak-chak is an incredibly simple dish to make and requires no special ingredients that you might have to hunt for.

The ingredients in chak-chak rarely change, but the shape of the noodles (the individual pieces are actually called “лапша,” or “noodles”) and the shape of the finished version does (which, whatever shape is given, is always called a “торт” or “cake”). Sometimes the noodles are rolled into balls, sometimes formed into short pillars, and sometimes cut into short, thin strips. Its simple, soft dough is cut into small pieces that can resemble either short noodles, (such as is common in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), or balls, (as is common among Tatars and Kazakhs).

The Tatars were traditionally a rural people and famed beekeepers, so it seems natural that even a food so important to the culture would be made of simple, available ingredients (flour, eggs, salt, milk, oil, and, of course, honey). The procedure for making chak-chak at important events like weddings also became something of a cultural institution: some of the young ladies attending would make the dough, others would cut it, the bride would fry the pieces, and the eldest in attendance would make the syrup and form the final product. This practice is still widespread at Tatar weddings which serve chak-chak.

Свадебный чак-чак” (wedding chak-chak) is common in Kazakhstan and Tatarstan and is not unheard of for Russians as well. Wedding chak-chak is often decorated with candy, dried fruit, hazelnuts and other “украшения” (decorations) as the hot syrup cools and the dish solidifies.

Chak-chak doesn’t need any special hardware to make it. All that’s necessary is a bowl to beat the eggs, another to mix the dough, a thick pan with about a liter of oil (vegetable oil is the best choice) for frying, a pot for making the syrup, and a place to put the finished chak-chak and combine it with the syrup.

You can make one big final cake, a bunch of smaller ones, double or triple the recipe if you’re having a huge party, cut or form the finished chak-chak into any shape you want, and choose your favorite candy, nuts, and/or dried fruits to add tasty decoration.

You can now buy packages of chak-chak – including individual servings – in most Russian supermarkets for a relatively low price. However, if you won’t be in Russia sometime soon – or if you really want to taste how fantastic a fresh, homemade batch of chak-chak can be, you’ll need to follow the recipe below.

Let’s Cook!

(Давай приготовим!)

See below for a free recipe for chak-chak. See also the free videos online. If you are interested in cooking from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and other places in Eurasia, make sure to see our full, free Eurasian Cookbook online! You might also be interested in the following specialized cookbooks we’ve enjoyed:

51M7OxYdMNL 51EOQWvYmfL._SX379_BO1,204,203,200_ 51gf+bAbAzL._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_ 41Y8R0wcVBL

 

Чак-Чак по-татарски Tatar Chak-Chak
Ингредиенты
  • 5 яиц
  • 3,5-4 стакана муки (стакан на 250 мл)
  • ½ стакана молока (125 мл)
  • 2 чайные ложки сахара
  • ½ чайной ложки соли
  • масло для жарки (лучше всего растительное масло)

Для сиропа;

  • 350 г мёда
  • 250 г сахара

Приготовление

  1. Разбить в чашку яйца, добавить сахар, соль, пол стакана молока. Муки добавить столько чтоб получилось мягкое тесто примерно как на пельмени. Готовое тесто выложить в чашку,  накрыть слегка влажным полотенцем, и оставить стоять на 1 час.
  2. После этого раскатать тесто в пласт толщиной примерно 1 см и разрезать на тонкие жгутики.
  3. Жгутики нарезать на очень маленькие кусочки и скатать шарики.
  4. Нагреть масло во фритюре или кастрюле и обжарить шарики до золотистого цвета. Обжаривать небольшими порциями чтобы шарики плавали в масле свободно.
  5. Сложить уже обжаренные шарики в глубокую посуду.

Приготовить сироп:

  1. В кастрюле на среднем огне подогреть мёд, постепено, помешивая, ввести сахар. Держать на огне, помешивая, пока сахар не растворится.
  2. Готовый, горячий сироп залить к шарикам, все хорошо и осторожно перемешать. Чак-чак переложить на плоское блюдо и сформировать смочеными в холодной воде руками пирамиду.
Ingredients
  •  5 eggs
  • 3.5-4 cups flour
  • ½ cup milk (substitute vodka or cognac if you’re so inclined)
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • frying oil (vegetable oil is best)

Syrup:

  • 12 oz honey
  • 9 oz sugar (about ½ cup)

Preparation

  1. Beat the eggs in a bowl, adding the sugar, salt, and milk. Add just enough flour to make a soft dough that resembles pelmeni dough (i.e. nice and soft). Put the dough in a pan, cover with a lightly damp cloth, and let rest for an hour.
  2. After that, roll out the dough to a thickness of about one centimeter and cut it into small, thin strips.
  3. Make tiny balls from the strips.
  4. Heat some oil in a saucepan or pot (enough for deep frying) and fry the pieces until golden. Work in relatively small batches so the pieces can move freely in the oil and won’t stick to one another.
  5. Place the fried pieces in a deep bowl.

Preparing the syrup:

  1. Pour the honey in a saucepan on medium heat and gradually stir in the sugar. Hold the mixture over the heat, stirring constantly, until all the sugar is dissolved.
  2. Once this is prepared, pour the hot syrup onto the чак-чак and mix it well and carefully. Lay the чак-чак on a flat plate, wet your hands with cold water (to prevent both sticking and burning) and form the чак-чак into a pyramid.

Our Favorite Chak-chak Videos

This charming cooking program features a woman making chak-chak of the noodle variety. Notice that she wets her hands before shaping the chak-chak at the end to prevent herself from getting burned by the “очень горячий” chak-chak.

 

There is a popular science program in Russia called “Galileo.” In this longer, humorous, and amusing video, you’ll learn how to make (and not make!) chak-chak, as well as how it is mass produced, why various steps and proportions are needed, and more!

You Might Also Like

jewish kyrgyzstan guide study abroad

Jewish Bishkek: A Brief History and Guide

Though the concrete details of Jewish presence in the area of Kyrgyzstan itself is largely unknown before the Soviet Union, Bukharian Jews have resided there since the 4th century. In the modern day, the population of Jews in Kyrgyzstan is estimated to be approximately 500 with most located in Bishkek. For visitors and locals alike, […]

0 comments
Nowruz Novruz Navruz Nooruz history traditions foods

Navruz, Nooruz, Nowruz: The Ancient Spring New Year of Central Asia

Navruz is a spring solstice celebration that marks the beginning of the New Year according to the traditional Persian calendar. It has been a beloved holiday for some 3,000 years, surviving cultural change caused by centuries of tumultuous history. It was once celebrated on the vernal equinox but is now celebrated on the set date […]

0 comments

The Women Who Shaped Kyrgyzstan

In traditional Kyrgyz culture, women have been long regarded as the keepers of culture, the managers of the household, and nurturers of children.  Despite this vaunted position, Kyrgyzstan remains, overall, a patriarchal society and women are also often expected to be quiet and submissive. Below are several Kyrygz women who have broken that mold. They […]

0 comments
Kyrgyz Holidays

Kyrgyz Holidays 2024: A Complete Guide

Kyrgyz holidays include many inherited from the USSR (although most of those have changed their form at least slightly). Kyrgyz holidays also include many adopted from Russian culture. However, many holidays have now been added to the calendar to celebrate patriotism toward independent Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstan’s long-held Muslim heritage. Thus, Soviet, national, Orthodox, Muslim, modern, […]

0 comments
lagman recipe history culture origin

Lagman: The Noodles of the Silk Road

Lagman is a dish that is very common in Central Asia, China, and many Middle Eastern countries. It can also be found in Russia and the Caucasus and is a popular dish among the Crimean Tatars. The basic recipe, which combines noodles with meat, has hundreds of variations. In Uzbekistan, the dish tends be a […]

1 comment

About the author

Kyle Mendes

Kyle Mendes has a degree in European and 20th Century Russian History from UC Santa Cruz. He studied on SRAS's Russian as a Second Language Program in Moscow.

View all posts by: Kyle Mendes