Oshi burida
Oshi burida, 'cut noodle soup', is a winter staple in Dushanbe and the villages of the Zarafshan valley: hand-cut noodles in a broth of lamb, chickpeas, carrot, potato and tomato, finished with fresh herbs and a spoon of chakka, the Tajik strained yogurt. Tajik grandmothers cut the noodles thin and long on a big wooden board. A common mistake is skipping the soak for the chickpeas, which then never soften in time. Chef's tip: fry the lamb with the onion and tomato first, before adding water; the browned base gives the broth its depth.





