Aush facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Āsh, Aush, Aash |
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| Type | Soup |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Region or state | Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Caucasus, Pakistan |
| Serving temperature | hot |
| Main ingredients | Noodles, vegetables, broth, chaka |
| Variations | ash-e anar (pomegranate stew), ash-e-jo (barley stew), ash-e doogh (yogurt soup), ash-e sak (spinach stew). |
Ash, also called aush or āsh, is a yummy, thick soup. It's often served hot. This soup is a big part of cooking in Iran and Afghanistan.
In Afghanistan, it's more like noodles with a curry sauce. But in Iran, it's a thick, hearty stew. You can also find Ash in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Pakistan, and the Caucasus region.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name of this dish can be spelled in many ways. Some common spellings are āsh, aush, or aash. In Iranian languages, "aush" means "thick soup."
The word for "cook" in Persian is "Ashpaz." This word combines "aush" (soup) and "paz" (cook). So, an "Ashpaz" is someone who cooks ash. Also, the word for "kitchen" in Persian is "Ashpazkhaneh." This means "house of the cook."
What's in Ash?
Ash is usually made with many different ingredients. It often includes:
- Flat wheat noodles
- Turmeric
- Vegetables like broccoli, carrots, onions, celery, and spinach
- Legumes such as chickpeas and kidney beans
- Fresh herbs like dill, mint, coriander, and cilantro
Sometimes, people add meat like ground lamb, beef, or chicken. Depending on the type of Ash, it might also have:
- Different grains
- More legumes like black-eyed beans or lentils
- Tomatoes
- Other herbs like parsley and spring onion ends
- Yogurt
- Onions and garlic
- Spices like salt, pepper, turmeric, and saffron
Ash can be a full meal on its own. Or, it can be served as a first course before a main meal. You can often buy Ash in stores. It comes in cans, dried mixes, or frozen.
Ash Around the World
Ash is popular in many countries. It tastes a bit different depending on where you are.
Ash in Afghanistan
The Afghan version of Ash usually has noodles and different vegetables. These are cooked in a broth that often has tomatoes. It's usually topped with a creamy yogurt sauce called chaka. People also add fried garlic and crushed dried mint leaves. Afghan food, including Ash, often mixes flavors from India and Iran.
Ash in Iran
There are more than 50 kinds of thick soups (āsh) in Iranian cuisine. One of the most famous is Ash reshteh. This one uses special noodles called reshteh.
Other well-known Iranian Ash dishes include:
- Ash-e anar (pomegranate stew)
- Ash-e-jo (barley stew)
- Ash-e doogh (yogurt stew)
- Ash-e sak (spinach stew)
- Ash-e torsh (beet or pickle stew)
- Aush-e-shalqham (turnip stew)
Iranian Ash is often topped with a special garnish called na’na dagh. This is made from fried mint oil, garlic chips, or crispy shallot chips. In Jewish Iranian cooking, Ash is usually not served with dairy or yogurt.
See also
In Spanish: Aush para niños
