Details Regarding 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, it is common to see stacks of this dried flatbread. Prior to eating it, sprinkling some water over this can rehydrate it and make the bread flexible again. Dried lavash is often used for quick meals and can be quickly rehydrated. It might also be broken into pieces and included in a khash recipe.

Fresh out of the oven, this is often used as a wrap that contains herbs, cheese and other ingredients. In Iran, Turkey and other middle east areas, this is used along with kebabs to create special wraps. It is a staple of Armenia cuisine. In Kashmir, this flatbread is referred to as lavase and is a basic food item that locals eat on a regular basis, often with breakfast. It is also tradition for these people to give it as a symbol of food abundance or good omen.

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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