Beshbarmak - A Political Dish
The most expensive dish in the world is Beshbarmak!!!
This is because making authentic beshbarmak requires a WHOLE sheep or horse! A dish made from separate pieces of sheep is not beshbarmak.
The most political dish in the world is Beshbarmak!!!
When dividing the ustukans (body parts), the two sides indicated their level of respect or contempt towards certain individuals and parties. After the distribution of ustukans, everyone learned their place and status in that household. Wars began over improperly distributed ustukans to guests. Beshbarmak is served to welcome and see off particularly respected people – kudalars, rulers, official delegations, etc.
The most respected dish is Beshbarmak!!!
Beshbarmak is exclusively prepared by men. This is a taboo for women, a forbidden and sacred zone. Women are only allowed to prepare the noodles for Beshbarmak.
The cleanest and lightest dish is Beshbarmak!!!
Before eating beshbarmak, nomads MUST wash their hands and give a bata (blessing) to the one pouring the water (usually children) from a jug. Medicine has proven that boiled meat of Beshbarmak cooked in a cauldron over an open fire for more than 2 hours GUARANTEES the destruction of all negative substances in the meat and is easily digested in the stomach.
The most social dish is Beshbarmak!!!
Real Kyrgyz people and nomads never serve it separately for each person; instead, they serve it in large platters for SEVERAL people, where they, sitting closely SIDE BY SIDE, can enjoy the dish while sharing the meat and discussing COMMON topics. Beshbarmak unites and brings people closer together!
The most ethical dish is Beshbarmak!!!
Only Beshbarmak teaches children to be respectful to the elders – they wait until the elder touches the meat first, wait for their ustukan, and, upon receiving it, thank the elders, eating only their "own" part of the platter. The elders (aksakals) first divide and distribute the ustukans to all present at the meal, and when serving the ustukans, the elder always gives their wishes and bata to the younger ones and to those being served. Everyone sitting at the Beshbarmak table must wait until everyone, especially the elders, has finished eating and gives thanks to Almighty Allah and bata to the host or dastorkon.
Without scientific theories, it has been proven that one of the first dishes of humanity was indeed beshbarmak – boiled meat. This dish was widely used by nomads and was developed by other peoples to its current level, i.e., beshbarmak began to be prepared with dough, vegetables, fish, and other unconventional food components. But the undeniable attribute of true beshbarmak is, of course, the meat – ustukans. There are many varieties of Beshbarmak - "Beshbarmak Talas style," "Naryn style," "Ozgoko Beshbarmak," "Balban Beshbarmak," "Kazakh Beshbarmak," "Gulchetai" (shredded Beshbarmak), etc. And of course, beshbarmak would not meet its requirements without the nomads' sauce – "Chyk" (finely chopped onions boiled in the meat broth of Beshbarmak with black pepper).
In ancient times, batyrs competed not only in physical strength but also in endurance – they could eat a whole sheep or drink entire jugs of bozo. Only true batyrs could do such things.
Also, one of the oldest dishes of the Kyrgyz and nomads was "Kuurdak." Before the advent of metal (bronze and copper), people were already cooking kuurdak. Specifically, kuurdak on stones – Tash kebek. Of course, not every stone is suitable for cooking kuurdak on stones; a special type of stone is required. The advantage of stones is that they evenly transmit heat and retain the temperature of the fire for a long time, thus ensuring perfect roasting of the meat in its own juice – kuurdak!
In the age of hamburgers and hot dogs, the dishes of our ancestors not only have beneficial properties but also educational and philosophical meanings.
There are also desserts of the nomads, such as "Koolongon talkan with honey" and cocktails made from national drinks. But that is a completely different story)))
Maksat Chakiev
