Tuesday, July 28, 2015

What To Know About Armenian Lavash Bread

By Kathrine Franks


There are many dishes and styles of cooking that are associated with various regions and cultures worldwide. Many people have a fond appreciation for the foods they grew up eating, especially those associated with their heritage. Lavash is the name given to a type of flatbread that originated in Armenia but is eaten in many regions. This Armenian lavash bread may be homemade or available at various restaurants and stores around the world, including in Los Angeles CA.

Lavash is typically soft and thin. This unleavened flatbread is cooked in tandoor. People around the world enjoy eating it, but it is consumed in high amounts in areas around the Caspian Sea, as well as Caucus, Western Asia.

The primary ingredients are salt, water and flour. Thickness of this will vary. Often this is relative to how it is rolled out. Sometimes poppy seeds or sesame seeds are sprinkled on top of the bread before it is baked.

Traditionally, dough is rolled out flat. Then it is slapped against hot walls of a clay oven. When fresh, this is often flexible. It will dry out quickly and become hard and brittle. The softer kind is easier to use for wrap sandwiches. The dried form can be stored for a long time, up to a year, and is often used in place of leavened bread in the Eucharist traditions by the apostolic church.

In villages of Armenia, the crisp version is stacked in layers for later use. When the time comes to use it, it can be rehydrated by sprinkling water over it. The dry form of lavash is used for making quick meals after rehydrated with water, cheese and butter. This dried food might also be broken up and added to khash.

Fresh lavash is often used for wraps that contain cheese and herbs. In Turkey, Iran and other parts of the middle east, this bread is used with kebabs to make special wraps. This is recognized as a staple of the Armenian diet. Lavase is another term used for the bread in Kashmir. This is a basic food that Kashmiri people eat regularly with breakfast. The Kashmir tradition is to give it to people, including relatives, friends and neighbors, as a good omen and symbol of abundance of food.

Many Armenian painters have works featuring women baking this bread. A popular portrait of this kind was done by a famous painter from the Soviet era known as Minas Minassian. This piece is on display at the National Museum of Art located in Yerevan. The print by Armenian-American Manual Tolegian titled Armenian Ladies Baking Lavash was chosen by President Gerald Ford to hand in the White House bicentennial collection. Lavash-related art is common in this culture.

A number of recipes incorporated this item of food. People looking for recipes can find many online or use ones passed down from the family. The bread can be used soft or crispy in many dishes. This may be a cuisine staple in Armenia and nearby areas but it is also popular and well-liked among other regions and cultures.




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