The cuisine of every nation is formed depending on the lifestyle that people have been leading for centuries. A huge role in the formation of food culture is played by climatic conditions, implying an abundance of some and a lack of other products. For centuries, nomads lived in Bashkortostan, who waited out the severe frosts in winter in stationary villages, and went traveling in the summer. Consequently, traditional Bashkir cuisine is extremely diverse.

In order to give the dish an interesting taste, the Bashkirs use greens, sometimes literally abusing parsley, dill and so on. As for the sweets, honey was traditionally eaten here - today it is considered one of the best and is famous for its delicious taste and useful properties. Speaking of the cuisine of any nation, it is necessary to separately consider all the dishes and drinks that are usually served by hostesses.

Bashkir snacks

Since the basis of Bashkir cuisine is meat, traditional snacks often consist of slices of horse meat, lamb or liver, well cooked, and then sliced ​​and cooled. Potatoes that came to Bashkortostan only in the 19th century, but firmly rooted on every table, can be served with them. The hallmark of Bashkir cuisine is horse meat sausage - it is customary to call it "kazy". Many local residents simply love horse fat, they put it on the table not only as a snack, as is usually done with similar products in other areas. It’s not considered shameful to eat a meat dish together with a piece of bacon - traditionally nobody bothers about extra calories.

First and second courses

Historically, the line between the first and second dishes of the Bashkirs is transparent and almost indistinguishable from the point of view of foreigners. Most dishes can be served with equal success in any order, without losing either their value or taste. This feature can be safely called distinctive and very characteristic precisely for the descendants of nomads.

But some differences, more far-fetched than real, still exist. So, various soups cooked on meat broths are served as first courses. Usually horse meat is used for this, and mutton or beef, poultry or game can be used. All depends on personal tastes and what is available in a fridge. Sometimes the first dishes can be pastry or cooked from grains. The first include sumar, tukmas and some others. Among the second, it can be millet or rice rya. Among the vegetables used for cooking of first courses, pumpkin and cabbage are especially popular.
The second dishes of the Bashkirs necessarily mean meat. In the past, it was usually boiled. Today, fried or stewed dishes, generously flavored with herbs and vegetables, are found no less rarely. The most popular are potatoes. Residents of Bashkortostan have a special love for cereals: even on the festive table you can see wheat or rice side dishes.

As for sweet pastries, Bashkirs like 'vatruyshki' (cottage cheese pies). Sour-milk products and cottage cheese are in a special honor - they are so often used in everyday life that one should not be surprised to find such a filling in baked goods. Since the nomads prepared many dishes for the future, so that they could be transported from place to place, they came up with a recipe for jujuas - a dish from unleavened dough, which included milk and eggs. Today, sometimes it is replaced with yeast dough, but the characteristic taste of this does not change much.

Bashkir desserts and honey

Bashkirs are very fond of eating honey, they are truly proud of it. Bright yellow and transparent, it is obtained according to special technology from bees that live in hollows of trees located at high altitude. Local honey is a legend; it is in great demand far beyond the borders of its native land. At the beginning of the last century, experts who had gathered from all over the world at a thematic fair in Paris recognized it as one of the best and most useful for the human body.

Locals do not neglect jam, which is necessarily served for tea. Most often it is boiled from berries, which are in abundance in these parts during summer and autumn. Each hostess has her own recipes, no one will ever share them. The most popular dessert is 'chuck-chuck', it is served literally everywhere. Do not be surprised that it's made with honey - a favorite product of the Bashkirs - since ancient times replacing sugar. It’s impossible to imagine any feast without 'chuck-chuck'!

Nowadays there are even special health resorts where patients are given koumiss. The properties of this drink were studied by prominent scientists at different times. Many famoues people chose to heal their bodies not with traditional medicine, but with the use of dairy products. One of them was the world famous writer L.N. Tolstoy.
Bashkirs also love ayran made from katyk. It is an excellent substitute for kefir not only in this region, but among many other Turkic peoples, and among the inhabitants of the Balkans. Eremsek, prepared from hot milk, is in no less demand, and Ayran is often used as a cooking basis for it. Another popular national sour-milk drink is dry kurt or korot, which is also common in Mongolian cuisine.
The tradition of drinking sour milk with almost any dish is associated with the fact that such drinks break down fats perfectly and help heavy foods to be absorbed, which nomads have long preferred. These drinks help to get rid of a hangover - this property of ayran and other Bashkir goodies has long been recognized by residents of all regions of Russia.

Bashkir tea drinking

Tea drinking in understanding of the Bashkirs has nothing to do with a widespread concept which residents of the central regions of the country know. In fact, this is a ritual and a full meal. For tea, made with only tea leaves or incorporating special herbs, pastries, honey and jam are served. Often cold meat snacks and sausages are placed on the table as well. Noone drinks black tea in Bashkortostan, milk is always added. There is even ideological debate: people try to figure out when to add milk - after the tea is already in the mug or before that.

Bashkir balms

As far as alcohol consumption goes, Bashkirs most often drink balms - they are used both for pleasure and for the treatment of many diseases. They are made according to ancient recipes based on a variety of plants and fruits. Herbs, roots and other ingredients are added so as to bring minimum harm and maximum benefit. The use of artificial components is not allowed. That is why all Bashkir balms have such a delicious aroma!