Kazan

A large, thick-walled, wok-shaped cauldron with a rounded bottom, considered the single most essential piece of cookware in Central Asian kitchens, particularly for plov.

Material & Construction

Traditionally cast iron, prized for even heat retention and distribution across its rounded shape; sizes range from small household versions to enormous communal cauldrons for celebrations.

Traditional Uses

Cooking plov (building the zirvak base and then steaming rice on top) and virtually any other slow-cooked, fried, or simmered Central Asian dish.

Modern Availability / Equivalents

Widely available through Central Asian and Russian kitchenware suppliers internationally; a large, thick wok is the closest widely available substitute, though it won't fully replicate the kazan's specific wall thickness and heat retention.

Care & Maintenance

Season like any bare cast iron piece; a well-maintained kazan develops a deep seasoning over years of use and is often treated as a long-term household or family investment.

The kazan is the vessel that zirvak (the plov base) is built in and around.