Beshbarmak recipe history culture origin

Beshbarmak as traditionally served in Kazakhstan. Image from weproject.media on Zen.yandex.ru.

Beshbarmak: The Rich, Meaty Pasta from Central Asia

Published: January 1, 2021

Beshbarmak (ะ‘ะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ) is a dish enjoyed throughout Central Asia as well as regions of Russia and China. It consists of boiled meat served on a bed of thick, flat noodles and covered in an onion sauce called tuzdyk (ั‚ัƒะทะดั‹ะบ). A meal both hearty and delicious, beshbarmakย is particularly popular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan where it holds the privileged position of a national dish. It requires but a few ingredients to prepare, typically feeds an entire party, and, depending on how traditional one wants to be, does not even require eating utensils!

How Beshbarmak Got Its Name

(ะŸะพั‡ะตะผัƒ ั‚ะฐะบ ะฝะฐะทั‹ะฒะฐะตั‚ัั?)

The name โ€œะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบโ€ is a combination of just two words, โ€œะฑะตัˆโ€ (besh) and โ€œะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบโ€ (barmak) which translate as โ€œfiveโ€ and โ€œfingers,โ€ respectively. Combined, it describes the traditional way in which the meal is eaten: with the hands. This and the simplicity of โ€œะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐา›โ€ both speak to the long history of mobile pastoralism practiced throughout the region, lives spent on the move between seasonal grazing grounds, and the peopleโ€™s dependence upon their animals for sustenance.

Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and most other major languages of Central Asia are Turkic in origin. The dish is thus known by similar names across the cultures that traditionally eat the dish. For example, the number five in Kazakh is โ€œะฑะตัโ€ (bes) and the meal is sometimes, though not typically, called โ€œะฑะตัะฑะฐั€ะผะฐา›โ€. The โ€œา›โ€ at the end of the word is unique to the Kazakh alphabet. In Uzbek and Kyrgyz, the number five is โ€œะฑะตัˆโ€ and the dish is thus called โ€œะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบโ€ (beshbarmak). In the Bashkir and Tatar languages, one would eat โ€œะฑะธัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบโ€ (bishbarmak).

Central Asia also occupied a prominent role along the Silk Road. In the Chinese region of Xinjiang, which today boasts a large ethnic Kazakh population, ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ is called โ€œะฝะฐั€ั‹ะฝโ€ (naryn) in Chinese. Naryn refers to a city, river, and region in Kyrgyzstan. It was also the original name of the food, before โ€œbeshbarmakโ€ was first applied to the food during the Soviet era. The new name was originally something of a joke, however, it soon stuck and became the standard. The original, however, naryn, perhaps best reflects the ancient and deep roots that this food has within Central Asian cultures, as it is a name that connects it the food to the wider land and identity of the people.

Lastly, while these are the most common names one would encounter on a trip abroad, some traditionalists, particularly in Kazakhstan, will say that beshbarmakย is not actually the name of the dish but only the style in which it is intended to be eaten. They instead call it simply โ€œะ•ั‚ โ€ (yet) which translates to simply โ€œmeat.โ€

Beshbarmak recipe history culture origin
Potatoes are the most common addition to beshbarmak. Photo from meadowsaffron.

How and When Beshbarmak Is Eaten

(ะšะฐะบ ะฟั€ะฐะฒะธะปัŒะฝะพ ะตัั‚ัŒ ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ?)

While beshbarmak is a delicious meal to eat anytime, most people will tell you that it is difficult to prepare in small portions. Beshbarmak is typically cooked for large gatherings and served family style on platters placed in the center of the table. As a staple of their culture, Central Asians are quite hospitable people and take great pride in their history and traditions. It is not uncommon for guests to be served first with the best cuts of meat though in their absence, this honor is reserved for the eldest in attendance. If you are lucky enough to partake in meal of beshbarmakย and find yourself squeamish about using your hands to eat, fret not, utensils are a perfectly acceptable alternative though at least an attempt to eat with your five fingers will surely elicit a great deal of respect from those at the table.

For those who find themselves in Kazakhstan without a local chef, beshbarmakย can be ordered at restaurants specializing in traditional cuisine.

You can also read much more about Kyrgyz cultural traditions and thought surrounding beshbarmakย in this article, also on our site.

Preparing Traditional Beshbarmak

(ะšะฐะบ ะฟั€ะฐะฒะธะปัŒะฝะพ ะณะพั‚ะพะฒะธั‚ัŒ ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ?)

Beshbarmak can be prepared in a number of ways depending on the type of meat one would like to include in the dish. The most traditional form of the meal is cooked using horse meat, although beef and lamb are common substitutions. Pork and chicken are not recommended. For those looking to go truly authentic, horse meat sausage called โ€œะบะฐะทั‹โ€ (kazy) is cooked along with the other cuts.

Outside of Central Asia horse meat can be difficult to come by. In fact, some western countries have banned the sale and consumption of horse meat altogether. During the 2012 Olympics in London, the Kazakh national team had to petition the UK government to allow them to bring kazy with them, arguing that it kept them fit and healthy for competition. In addition to beef and lamb, beshbarmakย in western Kazakhstan, where people have access to the Caspian Sea, is often prepared using fish. Sturgeon is preferred but salmon and trout are also acceptable.

In addition to meat substitutions, the dish can be altered slightly with additional vegetables. Popular choices include carrots and potatoes.

The only other aspect of preparing beshbarmak that requires mention here is the noodles. Whether one chooses homemade or store-bought is entirely a personal preference, they should be square or rectangular in shape to allow for easy grabbing โ€“ the recipe below calls for diamond shapes. If you happen to be in Kazakhstanโ€™s Kyzylorda region, though, expect to find your beshbarmak meat resting upon a bed of rice rather than noodles, a regional variation that exists due to the abundance of that grain in that area. Other regional variations tend to be almost indiscernible to those without deep knowledge of the food. For instance, the difference between Kazakh and Kyrgyz beshbarmakย is really only that you are more likely to find the onion sauce a bit thicker in Kyrgyzstan than you would in Kazakhstan.

However one chooses to prepare beshbarmak, the most important thing to keep in mind is to make a lot and invite friends and family with whom to feast. Never fear making too much, either. The largest serving of beshbarmak, prepared in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in 2018, weighed in at just over 3,200 lbs. โ€“ and all of it was eaten!

Letโ€™s Cook!

(ะ”ะฐะฒะฐะน ะฟั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะธะผ!)

ะšะฐะทะฐั…ัะบะธะน ะ‘ะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ

ะกะพัั‚ะฐะฒ

โ€ข 1,5 ะบะณ ะผััะฐ
โ€ข 4 ะปัƒะบะพะฒะธั†ั‹
โ€ข ะกะพะปัŒ
โ€ข ะŸะตั€ะตั†
โ€ข ะ›ะฐะฒั€ะพะฒั‹ะน ะปะธัั‚
โ€ข ะŸัˆะตะฝะธั‡ะฝัƒัŽ ะผัƒะบัƒ โ€“ 600 ะณ.
โ€ข ะฏะนั†ะฐ โ€“ 3 ัˆั‚.

ย 

ะ‘ัƒะปัŒะพะฝ

โ€ข ะžั‚ะผะพะนั‚ะต ะผััะพ ั…ะพะปะพะดะฝะพะน ะฒะพะดะพะน, ั€ะฐะทั€ะตะถัŒั‚ะต ะตะณะพ 3โ€“4 ะฟั€ะธะผะตั€ะฝะพ ะพะดะธะฝะฐะบะพะฒั‹ะต ั‡ะฐัั‚ะธ.
โ€ข ะŸะพะปะพะถะธั‚ะต ะผััะพ ะฒ ะฑะพะปัŒัˆัƒัŽ ะบะฐัั‚ั€ัŽะปัŽ, ะฒะปะตะนั‚ะต ั…ะพะปะพะดะฝัƒัŽ ะฒะพะดัƒ (4โ€“4,5 ะป). ะ”ะพะฒะตะดะธั‚ะต ะดะพ ะบะธะฟะตะฝะธั ะฝะฐ ะฒั‹ัะพะบะพะผ ะพะณะฝะต. ะšะพะณะดะฐ ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ ะทะฐะฑัƒั€ะปะธั‚, ัƒะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ะฟะปะฐะผั ะดะพ ะผะธะฝะธะผัƒะผะฐ ะธ ะฒะฐั€ะธั‚ะต 3โ€“4 ั‡ะฐัะฐ.
โ€ข ะŸะพ ะผะตั€ะต ะฟะพัะฒะปะตะฝะธั ัƒะฑะธั€ะฐะนั‚ะต ะฟะตะฝัƒ. ะ’ั‹ั‚ะฐะฟะปะธะฒะฐัŽั‰ะธะนัั ะถะธั€ ะพั‚ะฑะธั€ะฐะนั‚ะต ะปะพะถะบะพะน ะธ ัะปะธะฒะฐะนั‚ะต ะฒ ะพั‚ะดะตะปัŒะฝัƒัŽ ะตะผะบะพัั‚ัŒ.
โ€ข ะงะตั€ะตะท 2โ€“3 ั‡ะฐัะฐ ะฟะพัะพะปะธั‚ะต ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ, ะฟะพะปะพะถะธั‚ะต ะฒ ะฝะตะณะพ ะฟะตั€ะตั† ะธ ะปะฐะฒั€ะพะฒั‹ะน ะปะธัั‚.

ะขะตัั‚ะพ ะฝะฐ ะปะฐะฟัˆะธ

โ€ข ะŸะพะผะตัั‚ะธั‚ะต ะผัƒะบัƒ ะฒ ะผะธัะบัƒ
โ€ข ะ ะฐะทะฑะตะนั‚ะต ัะนั†ะฐ ะพั‚ะดะตะปัŒะฝะพ, ะฒะธะปะบะพะน ะฒะทะฑะตะนั‚ะต, ะบะฐะบ ะฝะฐ ะพะผะปะตั‚, ะธ ะดะพะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ะบ ะผัƒะบะต.
โ€ข ะŸะพะฝะตะผะฝะพะณัƒ ะฟะพะดะปะธะฒะฐะนั‚ะต ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ ะธ ะทะฐะผะตัˆะธะฒะฐะนั‚ะต ั‚ะตัั‚ะพ ะปะพะถะบะพะน. ะšะพะณะดะฐ ะพะฝะพ ัั‚ะฐะฝะตั‚ ะดะพัั‚ะฐั‚ะพั‡ะฝะพ ะบั€ัƒั‚ั‹ะผ (ะฟะปะพั‚ะฝั‹ะผ), ะฝะฐั‡ะธะฝะฐะนั‚ะต ั€ะฐะฑะพั‚ะฐั‚ัŒ ั€ัƒะบะฐะผะธ.
โ€ข ะะฐะบั€ะพะนั‚ะต ั‚ะตัั‚ะพ ะฟะปะตะฝะบะพะน ะธ ะพัั‚ะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ะฝะฐ ะฝะตะบะพั‚ะพั€ะพะต ะฒั€ะตะผั.

ะ‘ะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ: ะทะฐะฒะตั€ัˆะฐัŽั‰ะธะน ัั‚ะฐะฟ

โ€ข ะ’ั‹ะฝัŒั‚ะต ะผััะพ ะธะท ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝะฐ. ะ ะฐะทะดะตะปะธั‚ะต ะตะณะพ ะฟะพ ะฒะพะปะพะบะฝะฐะผ (ั€ัƒะบะฐะผะธ) ะฝะฐ ะฝะตะฑะพะปัŒัˆะธะต ะบัƒัะพั‡ะบะธ.
โ€ข ะ›ัƒะบ ะฝะฐั€ะตะถัŒั‚ะต ะฝะต ั‚ะฐะบ ั‚ะพะปัั‚ะพ โ€” ะฟะพะปัƒะบะพะปัŒั†ะฐะผะธ. ะžะฑะถะฐั€ัŒั‚ะต ะดะพ ะปะตะณะบะพะน ะทะพะปะพั‚ะธัั‚ะพัั‚ะธ ะฝะฐ ัะบะพะฒะพั€ะพะดะบะต, ะธัะฟะพะปัŒะทัƒั ัะฝัั‚ั‹ะน ั ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝะฐ ะถะธั€. ะ’ั‹ะปะพะถะธั‚ะต ะฟั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะปะตะฝะฝั‹ะน ะปัƒะบ ะฝะฐ ั‚ะฐั€ะตะปะบัƒ.
โ€ข ะžั‡ะตะฝัŒ ั‚ะพะฝะบะพ ั€ะฐัะบะฐั‚ะฐะนั‚ะต ั‚ะตัั‚ะพ. ะะฐั€ะตะถัŒั‚ะต ะตะณะพ ะฟะพะปะพัะบะฐะผะธ ัˆะธั€ะธะฝะพะน ะฒ 5 ัะผ. ะšะฐะถะดัƒัŽ ั€ะฐะทะดะตะปะธั‚ะต ะฝะฐ ั€ะพะผะฑะธะบะธ. ะŸะตั€ะตัั‹ะฟัŒั‚ะต ะธั… ะผัƒะบะพะน, ั‡ั‚ะพะฑ ะฝะต ัะปะธะฟะปะธััŒ.
โ€ข ะžั‚ะฑะตั€ะธั‚ะต ะฟั€ะธะผะตั€ะฝะพ ะปะธั‚ั€ ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝะฐ ะฒ ะพั‚ะดะตะปัŒะฝัƒัŽ ะบะฐัั‚ั€ัŽะปัŒะบัƒ, ะดะพะฒะตะดะธั‚ะต ะดะพ ะบะธะฟะตะฝะธั ะธ ะพั‚ะฒะฐั€ะธั‚ะต ะบัƒัะพั‡ะบะธ ั‚ะตัั‚ะฐ ะฒ ั‚ะตั‡ะตะฝะธะต ะพะดะฝะพะน ะผะธะฝัƒั‚ั‹.
โ€ข ะ‘ั€ะพััŒั‚ะต ั€ะพะผะฑะธะบะธ ะฒ ัะบะพะฒะพั€ะพะดัƒ ั ะถะธั€ะพะผ.

ะŸะพะดะฐะฒะฐะนั‚ะต ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ ะฝะฐ ะพะฑั‰ะตะผ ัˆะธั€ะพะบะพะผ ะฑะปัŽะดะต ะธะปะธ ะฟะพะดะฝะพัะต ั ะฒั‹ัะพะบะธะผะธ ัั‚ะตะฝะบะฐะผะธ. ะ’ะฝะธะท ะฟะพะปะพะถะธั‚ะต ะพั‚ะฒะฐั€ะตะฝะฝะพะต ั‚ะตัั‚ะพ, ะฝะฐ ะฝะตะณะพ ะปะพะผั‚ะธะบะธ ะผััะฐ, ะฐ ะฟะพะฒะตั€ั… โ€” ะปัƒะบ. ะŸั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะปะตะฝะฝั‹ะน ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ ะฟะพะดะฐะนั‚ะต ะพั‚ะดะตะปัŒะฝะพ. ะ•ัˆัŒั‚ะต, ะฟะพะบะฐ ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ ะฝะต ะพัั‚ั‹ะป.

Kazakh Beshbarmak

Ingredients

โ€ข 1.5 kg of meat. (1 kg is approximately 2.2 lbs.)
โ€ข 4 onions
โ€ข Salt
โ€ข Pepper
โ€ข 1 Bay Leaf
โ€ข 600 grams of wheat flour (1 U.S. cup holds approximately 120 grams of wheat flour. Other types of flour may vary).
โ€ข 3 eggs.

Broth

โ€ข Wash the meat with cold water, cut it 3-4 roughly equal parts.
โ€ข Place the meat in a large saucepan, pour in cold water (4โ€“4.5 L). Bring to a boil over high heat. When the broth is bubbling, reduce the flame to low and cook for 3-4 hours.
โ€ข Remove foam as it appears. Take out the melted fat with a spoon and pour into a separate container.
โ€ข After 2-3 hours, add salt to the broth, add pepper and bay leaves.

Dough for noodles

โ€ข Place flour in a bowl
โ€ข Beat the eggs separately, beat with a fork, as for an omelet, and add to the flour.
โ€ข Add broth little by little and knead the dough with a spoon. When it becomes thick enough (dense), start working with your hands.
โ€ข Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave for a while.

Beshbarmak: the final step

โ€ข Remove the meat from the broth. Divide it by the fibers (by hand) into small pieces.
โ€ข Cut the onion not too thick โ€“ in half rings. Fry until lightly golden in a skillet using the fat skimmed from the broth. Place the cooked onions on a plate.
โ€ข Roll out the dough very thinly. Cut it into strips 5 cm wide (approximately 2 inches). Divide each into diamonds. Sprinkle them with flour so that they donโ€™t stick together.
โ€ข Take about a liter of broth in a separate saucepan, bring to a boil and boil the dough pieces for one minute.
โ€ข Place the diamonds in the skillet with fat.

Serve beshbarmak on a shared wide platter or high-sided tray. Put boiled dough down, slices of meat on it, and onion on top. Serve the cooked broth separately. Eat while the beshbarmak is warm.

The recipie below from Kyrgyzstan was contributed by Genevieve Gunow, an SRAS graduate who married her Kyrgyz fiancรฉe while abroad (read their story here) and so spent her semester also under the tutelage of her future mother-in-law, in a traditional process that is meant to pass down recipes and domestic skills.

ะšั‹ั€ะณั‹ะทัะบะธะน ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ Kyrgyz Beshbarmak
ะ˜ะฝะณั€ะตะดะธะตะฝั‚ั‹
  • 4 ั‡ะฐัˆะบะธ ะผัƒะบะธ
  • 1 ัะนั†ะพ
  • 1 ัั‚ะพะปะพะฒะฐั ะปะพะถะบะฐ ัะพะปะธ
  • 500 ะณั€ะฐะผะผ ัะณะฝัั‚ะธะฝั‹ย (ะธะปะธ ะณะพะฒัะดะธะฝั‹)
  • 2 ั‡ะฐะนะฝั‹ั… ะปะพะถะบะธ ัะพะปะธ
  • 1 ะปัƒะบะพะฒะธั†ะฐ

ะŸั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะปะตะฝะธะต ะผััะฐ:

ะ’ัะบะธะฟัั‚ะธั‚ะต ะฒะพะดัƒ (5 ั‡ะฐัˆะตะบ). ะ”ะพะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต 2 ั‡ะฐะนะฝั‹ะต ะปะพะถะบะธ ัะพะปะธ. ะŸะพั€ะตะถัŒั‚ะต ะปัƒะบ ั‚ะพะฝะบะธะผะธ ะบั€ัƒะถะบะฐะผะธ. ะ”ะพะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ะฒ ะฒะพะดัƒ ัะณะฝัั‚ะธะฝัƒ ะธ ะปัƒะบ ะธ ะฒะฐั€ะธั‚ะต ะผััะพ ะฒ ั‚ะตั‡ะตะฝะธะต ะดะฒัƒั… ั‡ะฐัะพะฒ. ะงะตั€ะตะท ะดะฒะฐ ั‡ะฐัะฐ ะฒั‹ะฝัŒั‚ะต ะผััะพ ะธ ะฟะพั€ะตะถัŒั‚ะต ะตะณะพ ะฝะฐ ะฟะพะปะพัะบะธ.

ะŸั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะปะตะฝะธะต ะปะฐะฟัˆะธ:

ะกะผะตัˆะฐะนั‚ะต ะผัƒะบัƒ ั ัะพะปัŒัŽ. ะ”ะพะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ัะนั†ะพ. ะ”ะพะฑะฐะฒะปัะนั‚ะต ะฒะพะดัƒ ะดะพ ั‚ะตั… ะฟะพั€, ะฟะพะบะฐ ะพะฑั€ะฐะทัƒะตั‚ัั ะตะดะธะฝะฐั ะผะฐััะฐ, ะฝะพ ะฝะต ะบะปะตะนะบะฐั. ะ”ะฐะนั‚ะต ั‚ะตัั‚ัƒ ะฟะพัั‚ะพัั‚ัŒ 10 ะผะธะฝัƒั‚, ะธ ะทะฐั‚ะตะผ ั€ะฐัะบะฐั‚ะฐะนั‚ะต ะตะณะพ ะดะพ ัะปะพั 6 ะผะผ. ะŸะพั€ะตะถัŒั‚ะต ั‚ะตัั‚ะพ ะฝะฐ ั‚ะพะฝะบะธะต ะฟะพะปะพัะบะธ (ัˆะธั€ะธะฝะพะน ะพะบะพะปะพ 6 ะผะผ). ะŸะพัะปะต ั‚ะพะณะพ, ะบะฐะบ ะผััะพ ะฟั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะปะตะฝะพ ะธ ัƒะดะฐะปะตะฝะพ ะธะท ะฒะพะดั‹, ะดะพะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ะฒ ะฒะพะดัƒ ะปะฐะฟัˆัƒ. ะŸะพัะปะต ะฟั€ะธะณะพั‚ะพะฒะปะตะฝะธั ะผััะฐ ะฒ ะฒะพะดะต, ะฟะพะปัƒั‡ะธั‚ัั ะผััะฝะพะน ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ, ะบะพั‚ะพั€ั‹ะน ะฟั€ะธะดะฐัั‚ ะปะฐะฟัˆะต ะดะพะฟะพะปะฝะธั‚ะตะปัŒะฝั‹ะน ะฒะบัƒั. ะšะธะฟัั‚ะธั‚ะต ะปะฐะฟัˆัƒ ะฟัั‚ัŒ ะผะธะฝัƒั‚. ะงั‚ะพะฑั‹ ัะดะตะปะฐั‚ัŒ ะฒะบัƒั ะฑะปัŽะดะฐ ะตั‰ะต ะฑะพะณะฐั‡ะต, ะฒั‹ ะผะพะถะตั‚ะต ะดะพะฑะฐะฒะธั‚ัŒ ะตั‰ะต ะฝะตัะบะพะปัŒะบะพ ะบั€ัƒะถะบะพะฒ ะปัƒะบะฐ, ะธ ะบะธะฟัั‚ะธั‚ัŒ ะธั… ั ะปะฐะฟัˆะพะน ะตั‰ะต ะฟัั‚ัŒ ะผะธะฝัƒั‚. ะงะตั€ะตะท ะฟัั‚ัŒ ะผะธะฝัƒั‚ ะฒั‹ะฝัŒั‚ะต ะปะฐะฟัˆัƒ ะธ ะปัƒะบ, ะฝะพ ะพัั‚ะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ.

ะกะผะตัˆะฐะนั‚ะต ะผััะพ, ะปะฐะฟัˆัƒ ะธ ะปัƒะบ ะฒ ะณะปัƒะฑะพะบะพะน ั‚ะฐั€ะตะปะบะต. ะ”ะพะฑะฐะฒัŒั‚ะต ั‡ะตั‚ะฒะตั€ั‚ัŒ ั‡ะฐัˆะบะธ ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝะฐ, ั‡ั‚ะพะฑั‹ ะฟั€ะธะดะฐั‚ัŒ ะปะฐะฟัˆะต ะดะพะฟะพะปะฝะธั‚ะตะปัŒะฝั‹ะน ะฐั€ะพะผะฐั‚. ะ‘ะปัŽะดะพ ะผะพะถะฝะพ ะฟะพะดะฐะฒะฐั‚ัŒ ะฝะฐ ัั‚ะพะป. ะšะพะณะดะฐ ะบะธั€ะณะธะทั‹ ะตะดัั‚ ะฑะตัˆะฑะฐั€ะผะฐะบ, ะพะฝะธ ะฟัŒัŽั‚ ะพัั‚ะฐะฒัˆะธะนัั ะฑัƒะปัŒะพะฝ ะธะท ั‡ะฐะนะฝั‹ั… ั‡ะฐัˆะตะบ ะบะฐะบ ะฟั€ะตะบั€ะฐัะฝะพะต ะดะพะฟะพะปะฝะตะฝะธะต ะบ ะฑะปัŽะดัƒ.

Ingredients
  • 4 cups of flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1.5 pounds of lambย (or beef)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 onion

Preparing the meat:

Boil 5 cups of water. Add 2 teaspoons salt. Slice the onion into thin circles. Add the lamb and onion to the water and continue to boil the meat for two hours. After two hours, remove the meat and cut into strips.

Preparing the noodles:

Mix the flour with the salt. Add the egg. Stir in warm water until the mixture holds together but is not sticky. Kneed the dough for five minutes. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes and then roll out the dough until it is ยผ inch thick. Cut the dough into thin strips (about ยผ inch wide). Once the meat has finished cooking, and has been removed from the water, add the noodles. Cooking the meat in the water will create a meaty broth, which will give the noodles extra flavor. Boil the noodles for five minutes. For additional flavor, you can add some more onion slices at this time, letting them boil with the noodles for five minutes. After five minutes, remove the noodles and onions while saving the broth.

Combine the meat, noodles, and onion in a bowl. Pour ยผ cup of the broth on top of the noodles, giving them extra flavor. The dish is now ready to serve. While eating beshbarmak, the Kyrgyz drink the remaining broth in tea cups, which complements the dish nicely.

Our Favorite Beshbarmak Videos

A great video from Kazakh TV in which a guest circus performer, ะœัƒั€ะฐั‚ ะœัƒั‚ัƒั€ะณะฐะฝะพะฒ, joins the host of a cooking show to not only demonstrate how to prepare beshbarmak, but also discuss some of the culture, history, and tradition in making the dish.

Join these three Kazakh women as they prepare Kazakhstanโ€™s national dish, beshbarmak, and share their secrets to creating the most delicious feast.

Ever wonder how to make a 1.5 ton serving of beshbarmak? Look no further! Enjoy this video from 2018 when Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest serving of beshbarmak ever made! The majority of the video is in Russian, but you will also be treated to a bit of Kyrgyz as well.

More About Beshbarmak

If you are interested in learning more about beshbarmak, see this article about Kyrgyz cultural traditions and thought surrounding beshbarmak, also on our site. More on Central Asian food traditions and recepies can also be found on our site.

Of course, one of the best ways to experience Central Asian culture (and try traditional beshbamak!) is to immerse yourself in it in Central Asia. Students on SRAS study abroad programs in Central Asia can learn language, history, geopolitics, and more, all with an extensive cultural program.

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About the author

Sean McDaniel

Sean McDaniel is a PhD of Russian and Soviet History who has particular interest in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. He is currently an adjunct instructor of history and as a Fulbright-Hays Scholar in 2017, he resided in Almaty, Kazakhstan and St. Petersburg, Russia conducting research for his dissertation, โ€œEquine Empire: Horses and Power in the Kazakh Steppe, 1880s-1920s.โ€ When he wasnโ€™t inside a library or archive, Sean enjoyed exploring the rich history and culture of each locale. In particular, this included sampling lots of local cuisine.

Program attended: Online Internships

View all posts by: Sean McDaniel