Basturma also known as Pastirma is an air-dried meat usually made from beef, with many spices and flavors that are eaten in a number of countries. The dried cured beef can have a very raunchy odor that particularly smells like garlic, but after you try the meat it will change your taste buds forever. The process of making Basturma can take over a whole month to prepare!

You will need:

• beef
• salt
• chaimen
• paprika
• black pepper
• cumin
• allspice
• garlic
• water

The recipe calls for the meat to marinate in salt in the refrigerator for three days, under pressure, and turning once daily. Next you will want to wash the meat in cold water and allow it to soak for about an hour. This is where it can take some time, you will want to hang the meat in a cool place to dry out for two weeks. Maybe somewhere in your house that is insulated, or a room with sunlight. Then after two weeks you will want to combine all the spices to make the chairnen adding water to create a thick paste. You will then soak the meat in it for another two weeks, and after that you can hang the meat up again out of the paste in an airy place to dry for (you guessed it), another two weeks.

Even though the process of making this meat is tedious, and takes what seems like an eternity, you will understand if you taste it. Many countries and cultures including the Turkish, Greeks, Armenians, and many more enjoy this delicacy.