Method
- Make the noodles: combine flour, salt, egg, warm water. Knead 10 minutes. Rest 30 minutes. Roll thin (2mm). Cut into 2cm squares.
- Boil the soaked beans in 1L water for 60 minutes until tender. Drain, reserving liquid.
- Heat oil. Cook minced lamb 5 minutes. Add onion, garlic, tomato wedges and tomato paste; cook 4 minutes.
- Add lamb broth, cooked beans, cumin, salt and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes.
- Drop noodle squares in; cook 6 minutes — noodles should be tender.
- Off the heat, scatter dill. Serve hot.
Common questions
Can Unash be made ahead?
Unash is best made and eaten the same day, but the components can be prepped earlier — chop and measure the ingredients up to a day ahead, refrigerated separately. Final cooking takes about 60 minutes.
Is Unash spicy?
Unash as written is mild to mildly warming — the heat comes from aromatics rather than chili. Add fresh sliced chili or chili oil at the end if you'd like to push it spicier.
Is Unash vegetarian or gluten-free?
This recipe is suitable for most diets. If you have specific restrictions, the substitutions section in each ingredient note covers the most common swaps.
How hard is Unash to make at home?
Unash sits at intermediate difficulty — total time about 105 minutes. The ingredients are not unusual but the timing requires attention.
Can Unash be scaled up or down?
This recipe is written for 4 servings. To scale, multiply each ingredient proportionally; the cooking times stay the same up to about double the volume. Beyond that, expect to cook in batches because of pan size and heat distribution.
Cultural Note
Unash is the Turkmen square-noodle bean soup — uniquely Turkmen with the regional preference for kidney beans. The dish is winter food and a staple of Turkmen home cooking.
