Narsharab – a unique sauce, created and widely used in sunny Azerbaijan!
2 min read
This thick, dark, ruby-red liquid has a piquant acidity, a light fruity sweetness and a deep, enticing aroma. Inside this classic product there is nothing but fresh pomegranate juice and sugar. There are, however, other kinds of Narsharab containing various additions and herbs.
The best sauce is made from the Goychay pomegranate variety. The product made from this fruit is rich and aromatic. Translated from Azerbaijani, “Narsharab” means pomegranate wine. And indeed, people who have tried it notice that it is full of pleasant winey notes and gives a unique fruity taste.
Narsharab goes perfectly with meat dishes. Its sweet-and-sour taste brings out the excellent flavour of meat and fish. Narsharab can be used as a marinade when preparing various dishes, or served straight with the finished dish as a seasoning. Either way, Narsharab gives many dishes a special taste. Its distinctive acidity stimulates the appetite, and its rich, spicy and fruity flavour rounds off the dish.
The best Narsharab is made in Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, the recipe is passed down from generation to generation. Every household that makes Narsharab has its own secrets for creating this culinary speciality. It is easy to guess that the best Narsharab is made in Azerbaijan. Fresh pomegranates grown under the gentle rays of the Azerbaijani sun and pure crystal sugar form the basis of this thick, sweet and piquant accompaniment to meat. And it is in this country that the fruit with ruby seeds is available fresh and in sufficient quantities.
Ordinary Narsharab is made from cleaned and pressed fresh pomegranate seeds. The finished juice is left to steep for several days. The juice is then reduced to the desired consistency by gentle heating, with sugar added gradually. A product like this can be kept for a long time, so in Azerbaijan it is customary to make a large amount of this exquisite sauce at once. Industrial production of Narsharab differs little from home-made: the only difference is that the quantities are much larger and the heat treatment is done with modern industrial equipment.
Recipes with Narsharab
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