Bukhari Green Rice – “Bachash”

“Bachash” is stirred Bukhari green rice (i.e. rice with herbs) and is considered one of the most favorite foods in the Bukharian community. It’s usually made for particularly large events, so this recipe is for large a quantity (don’t worry - there won’t be any leftovers once served...). Bukharian patriots make it with fine lamb and mutton fat, but you can also prepare it with other types of meat. Due to the fact that this is no small amount of work (it’s not very complicated, but there is a lot of tinkering), you can divide the recipe of preparation into two parts. The first part can be made in the morning, or the night before, and kept in the refrigerator until you’re ready for the second part.

Ingredients

Meat - A pound of turkey, beef, mutton, lamb, or chicken gizzard, or a mixture of the above meats (any combination is possible).

Small, round grain rice - 3 cups for sushi or Risotto

Cilantro - 4 Bundles

Parsley - 2 Bundles

Green onions - One bunch

Canola Oil or lamb fat

Salt - As needed

Water – A lot!

Instructions

1. Grind the meat with a meat grinder or chop large holes with a mixer or manually. Note: Do not get to the texture of minced meat; it must remain textured blocks. If using turkey, do not remove the fat!
2. Soak the rice in boiling water.
3. After half an hour, wash the rice well in a colander and leave to dry.
4. Chop the spring onions small.
5. Finely chop the cilantro and parsley - including the stems, which add a lot of flavor to the dish. It’s important to cut them as thinly as possible, especially the stems, but do not grind in any way! (Use a cleaver to streamline the process.)
6. Fry the beef with green onions and half a cup of oil.
7. After the meat changes color, add a cup of water and a little salt and simmer for about half an hour.
8. Add the meat into the chopped parsley and coriander, stir, and cover everything with water.
9. Bring to a boil, close the pot, and cook over a low heat for another half hour. Up to this point, everything can be done in advance
10. Add the washed rice (if you prepared the meat ahead of time you have to bring the pot to a boil before adding the rice).
11. Mix well.
12. Add another half cup of oil or melted lamb fat.
13. Add water to the height of the rice plus one finger (approx. 1 centimeter more than the rice).
14. Bring to a boil and place on the lowest possible flame, close the pan, and cook for about 20 minutes.
15. Once the rice absorbs all the liquid, stir gently with a fork to open the rice.
16. Wrap the lid and sides of the pan with a kitchen towel to save steam and cook on a low flame. Occasionally open the pot and stir gently with a fork.
17. Leave on the back burner (or the oven at 280 degrees, without a towel - but wrapped in aluminum foil) for 45-50 minutes.

It’s now ready. Bon Appetite!

Usually, a type of roasted rice forms at the bottom of the pot, which is considered particularly tasty. Bukharians call it “tdigi” and it’s traditionally served to the head of the family or the most important person attending the dinner.