Khash (dish)

Khash (Armenian: Խաշ, Georgian: ხაში,) is a traditional dish in Armenia and Georgia, originating in the Shirak region. Formerly a nutritious winter food for the rural poor, it is now considered a delicacy, and is enjoyed as a festive winter meal, usually by a company of men.

Modern day convention in Armenia dictates that it should be consumed during the month that has an 'r' in its name, thus excluding May, June, July, and August (month names in Armenian are derivatives of the Latin names). No such restriction on khash consumption exists in Georgia. A similar food is called "piti" in the vicinity of Kars Province, although piti is also made from feet of other livestock, primarily sheep.

Preparation

Khash remains a purist meal with great parsimony in ingredients. The main ingredient in khash is cow's feet, although other cow parts, such as the head and stomach (tripe) may also be used. The feet (known in Armenian as "totikner") are depilated, cleaned, kept in cold water in order to get rid of bad smell, and boiled in water all night long, until the water has become a thick broth and the meat has separated from the bones. No salt or spices are added during the boiling process. The dish is served hot. One may add salt, garlic, lemon juice, or vinegar according to one's tastes. Dried lavash is often crumbled into the broth to add substance. Khash is generally served with a variety of other foods, such as hot green and yellow peppers, pickles, radishes, cheese, and fresh greens such as cress. The meal is almost always accompanied by vodka (preferably mulberry vodka) and mineral water.

Consumption

Armenian families, when preparing khash themselves at home, generally invite some guests. The latters should have been invited not the day before but many days before because this ceremony is not a simple dinner-party and it requires time to "prepare for it". There is much ritual involved in khash parties. Many participants abstain from eating the previous evening, and insist upon using only their hands to consume the unusual (and often unwieldy) meal. Because of the potency and strong smell of the meal, and because it is eaten early in the mornings and so often enjoyed in conjunction with alcohol, khash is usually served on the weekend or on holidays. The guests almost always bring a bottle of vodka which is one of the necessary parts of this great feast. Indeed the hosts have already thought about this detail, but an additional bottle will not be superfluous. Even the toasts are part of the ritual. They start with a "Good Morning" (Armenian: Բարի լռւյս) quick toast, which is later followed by another quick toast for the hosts. The last one of the three mandatory toasts is for the guests.

Health aspects

Khash is widely lauded for its healing qualities. Its ingredients include various joints of the cow's legs and feet, rich in cartilage and other connective tissues. It is widely believed that regular consumption of khash helps heal joint injuries and can even help alleviate or slow down the progress of arthritis. Anecdotal evidence of the medicinal qualities of khash abounds.

References