Beshbarmak

Beshbarmak is Kyrgyzstan's most famous or iconic dish. I must admit that I was perplexed when I looked it up online... The first explanations offered stated that beshbarmak is a direct translation for 'five fingers,' because Kyrgyz people traditionally eat the dish with their hands. Given that it is primarily a (flat) pasta dish, I am not entirely convinced. Aside from the utensils, beshbarmak is quite tasty.

The dish was traditionally made with horse or sheep meat. Nowadays, it appears to differ quite a bit depending on where you eat (in a city restaurant or nomadic family homestay).

Cooked meat is served on top of traditionally prepared pasta cut into thin squares or strips. And beshbarmak is frequently accompanied by a liquid meat broth on the side or poured over the top.