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Best Sarburma in London

“A spiral of lamb and dough named for the act of wrapping—sarmaq means to wrap, burmaq to curl.”

Sarburma

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Sarburma, also known simply as burma among Crimean Tatars and as pierekaczewnik among Lipka Tatars, is a traditional meat pie in Crimean Tatar cuisine. In Crimean Tatar language sarmaq means "to wrap" and burmaq "to curl". Its name among Lipka Tatars comes from the Russian verb перека́тывать "to roll up." Nowadays, it is a widespread snack in Crimea, neighbouring regions of Ukraine (Ukrainian: сарбурма), and in Turkey (Turkish: etli kol böreği). In Poland it is a distinctive cuisine of the Lipka Tatars, and is registered under the name pierekaczewnik in the European Union and United Kingdom as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed. The main ingredients are traditionally lamb and dough. The same are used in another popular Crimean dish, çibereks.

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Sarburma is a Crimean Tatar meat pie where the name itself tells you what's happening: sarmaq means to wrap, burmaq to curl. Lamb and dough come together in this spiral form, a technique so valued it travelled with Lipka Tatars to Poland, where it's now officially protected as pierekaczewnik. You'll find it across Crimea, Ukraine, Turkey, and Poland—a snack that moved where its people moved.

Order it here when it has

  • Protected as Traditional Speciality in EU and UK
  • Widespread across multiple regions and cultures
  • Simple, traditional ingredients

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