Truly Love Egypt Minya
December 2015 Issue 19
Beni Hassan Tel El Amarna EXTRA: Happy Prophet Mohamed’s birthday & Merry Christmas! Recipe: Kishk Saedi
PLEASE TURN ON YOUR SOUND
The music that’s playing is Upper Egyptian flute by unknown
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EDITOR’S MESSAGE Men’at Khufu ; Upper Egypt’s Bride whose history dates back to pre-dynastic Egypt!
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Cont
EXTRA: HAPPY PROPHET MOHAMED’S BIRTHDAY & MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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TRULY LOVE NATURE The landscape, Ibrahimiya Canal and agriculture!
12 TRULY LOVE
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DAY ACTIVITIES Relaxing by the Nile, fun for the kids and necropolises for lovers of Ancient Egypt!
16 SCRAPBOOK PAGE 18 TRULY LOVE HISTORY Tel El Amarna; Akhenaten and Nefertiti’s capital and the birthplace of monotheism! 2
12 Beni Hassan
tents
24 TRULY LOVE SHOPPING All the basics and a little bit more!
28 TRULY LOVE NIGHTLIFE Both a culinary and a cultural experience!
32 TRULY LOVE INVESTING A tourism development plan and 3 new industrial zones! 18 Tel El Amarna
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FEATURED WRITER Amal Sarkiss
36 TRULY LOVE CUISINES Kishk Saedi; a delicious wheat based dish from ancient Egypt 28 Nightlife!
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UPCOMING ISSUE 3
Safaga
EDITOR’S MESSAGE Our mission is to deliver the most accurate, up-to-date information in order to show different kinds of visitors what may interest them. Minya, located along the Nile in Upper Egypt, is strategically half way between both the northern cities and the southern ones. The origin of the name Minya is Men’at Khufu which, in ancient Egyptian, means “Breast Feeder of Khufu.” Khufu, or Cheops, is the pharaoh whose tomb was the largest pyramid on the Giza Plateau. Minya’s known history dates back to the Gerzean culture or pre-dynastic Egypt -3400 BC to 3100 BC- which is the culture that later gave rise to the dynasties of ancient Egypt. Minya was the birthplace of Akhenaten (born “Amenhotep IV”), Egypt’s capital when Akhenaten ruled alongside his wife, Nefertiti, and therefore it also became the birthplace of monotheism, with Akhenaten being the first pharaoh to believe in only one god, Aten or Aton, the sun god. The idea of one deity was also continued by Akhenaten’s son, Tutankhamun (born “Tutankhaten”) even though the latter preferred the god Amun as his changed name illustrates. The time of Akhenaten had another first. Before Akhenaten, depictions of people in engravings showed only perfect features. However, during Akhenaten’s rule, as he had an elongated head, wide hips, big buttocks and full thighs, his wife and
daughters were depicted similarly. During the Roman era, Minya became the center for worshipping the god Thot, god of knowledge and wisdom. During the Christian era, the holy family stayed in Minya for some time. At that time, Minya was called “Mony”; Coptic for “house”. During the Islamic period, Minya was visited by several prominent Muslim figures, including Khaled Ibn ElWalid and Amr Ibn AlAas. One of Prophet Mohamed’s wives, Maria the Copt, was from Minya. In modern day Egypt, Minya is nicknamed “the Bride of Upper Egypt” for its beautiful landscape and the Nile being its most prominent feature. The locals are friendly, cheerful and hospitable.
Manager, Editor and Designer Amani Adel Sarkiss Freelance Writers Aisha Abdelwahab Basma Amer Enas Elmohands Omar Ibrahim Amal Sarkiss Photography: Yasser El-Rasoul: cover, p2, p3, p8, p10, p11, from p13 to p23, p28, p29, p32,
Amal Sarkiss: p36 P34 & 35 : individuals
To get there: several trains daily from Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan. Trains vary in cleanliness and general maintenance. The general rule of thumb is the more expensive the ticket, the cleaner is the train.
Yahoo images: other pics
Average temperature: April to October 32C and November to March 22C
Ideas and content are copyright and property of Sarkiss Publicity and Advertising Registered in Egypt: 64958
Manager, Editor and Designer
Amani Adel Sarkiss
truly-love-egypt@sarkiss.net 5
PROPHET MOHAMED’S BIRTHDAY (PEACE BE UPON HIM)
For answers to the following questions, please check out Truly Love Egypt issue 8. What were his war ethics? What were his views on women? What were his views on non-Muslims? When is his birthday and how is it celebrated in Egypt?
For answers to the following questions, please check out Truly Love Egypt issue 7. Who are the Copts and what is Coptic? When and how did Christianity start in Egypt? How do Egyptian Christians view themselves? What is the percentage of Christians in Egypt? Which church do they follow? Are Egyptian Christians discriminated against in Egypt? What is the difference between Eastern and Western Christmas? What are the signs of the approach of Christmas in Egypt?
TRULY LOVE NATURE By Basma Amer
Minya has an intricate history, spanning over thousands of years with beginnings in Ancient Egypt. Its historical monuments should be explored. However, one should also allocate time to appreciate its various breathtaking views. The city, a green spectacle along the Nile, is a beautiful destination. It is the home of the Ibrahimiya Canal, an important agricultural and industrial region and a place where people come together to create self-improvement projects. Ibrahimiya Canal: In the early 1870s, the Ministry of Public Works built the Ibrahimiya Canal. The canal was established as an irrigation system for the Khedive’s private estates and plantations. Most of the canal flows parallel to the Nile
River. A few decades later, in the early 1900s, Sir William Wilcocks, a British civil engineer, constructed the Assiut Barrage as a means of controlling the amount of water discharged. The canal’s shore is beautifully cultivated. There are brilliant greens of different shades; some are even adorned by intricately and delicately woven red flowers. There is, however, not very much information in regards to the specific species of plants grown. But the one thing that is certainly observable in Minya is Egypt’s famous display of palm trees. Agriculture and Industry: Minya, once the center for Greek and Egyptian cotton barons, remains to be an important agricultural and industrial arena. Cont.
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There are many industries, such as food processing (especially that of sugar and onions), cotton spinning, perfume, soap and oil making, cement and brick manufacturing and quarrying (limestone in specific). Some of the most magnificent sites, the tombs in Beni Hassan, have been built amongst the crystal infused limestone with grand mountains along the horizon, creating a panoramic view of Minya. The contrasting green from the agricultural land adds a simple, yet royal, finesse that takes us back to Ancient Egypt. The city is infused with rich green lands responsible for various produce, such as sugar cane, cotton, beans, soya beans, fava beans, wheat, clover, sunflower, corn, garlic, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons and grapes. In addition to the already existing agricultural market, the Minya Agricultural Development Project was created in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. According to the IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) in Egypt, the focus of the project was to create as much “selfsufficiency in food as possible and to generate foreign exchange.”And according to the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) in Egypt, a solid waste management project was launched in 2010. This was constructed based on an environmentally sustainable goal that would create sanitary landfills, improve recycling processes and transform organic waste to compost. This is a great step to creating a healthier natural environment in Minya. These projects, along with Minya’s once thriving cotton industry, give you an idea of the importance of Minya’s natural resources and rare rural aesthetics. It is a wonderful place to explore a different aspect of Egyptian life. 11
TRULY LOVE DAY ACTIVITIES
By Basma Amer
Pharaonic nobility ruled Egypt for thousands of years. And even though the pharaohs are now an era of the past, their history and legacy are still prevalent throughout today’s Egypt, including Minya. Minya is an unlikely destination for many domestic tourists; however, it has several hotels, which may help you get started on your journey. Depending on the hotel of your choice, you may find a spectacular and relaxing view of the Nile, and the children may even enjoy the bumper cars or swimming pools. If you are more interested in taking a tour of the historical sites, then your first stop must be the tombs in Beni Hassan. The tomb site is approximately 20 km away from Minya and consists of 39 tombs with drawings depicting
the life of Ancient Egyptians. Many of the illustrations describe warfare and military training during the Middle Kingdom. There are other works of art showing the harvesting of grapes and papyrus, women playing sports and dancing, and people enjoying music. Beni Hassan is one of many necropolises in Minya. Tel El Amarna (Horizon of Aten/Aton) consists of another necropolis with 25 tombs, six of which are in the north and nineteen in the south. The site is well known for being the home of King Akhenaten and his wife, Queen Nefertiti, and the capital of Egypt during this pharaoh’s reign. Some of the most notable tombs are those of Aye, Huya, Meri-Re I, Meri -Re II and Panhesy. Another remarkable feature of this site is the incredibly vivid engravings. The pictures depict intimate moments within the palace, such as girls Cont.
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playing the harp while others are cleaning and preparing a meal, a girl getting her hair done, King Akhenaten with Queen Nefertiti and their children, visitors in their native attire, a group of Aton worshippers, King Akhenaten’s sister and two of her servants, King Akhenaten’s hospitality and the palaces and gardens of the ancient city. These engravings and sites are most definitely some of Minya’s most magnificent pieces of art. They prove the existence of a pharaonic legacy that continues to thrive thousands of years later. So whether you are after total relaxation by the Nile or a tour of some of the royalty of Ancient Egypt, Minya has to be at the top of your bucket list. Tips: Hotels: The facilities available vary from one
hotel to another. So be sure to check out their websites. Beni Hassan: 4 out of the 39 tombs are accessible to the public. The following are the names of the accessible tombs: Amenemhat, Khnumhotep, Baqet II and Khety. Note that the entrance fees are EGP 30 but it is advisable to ask your tour guide if any changes have been made.
Tel El Amarna: Due to an excavation project that started in 2013, the site may not be open or accessible to the greater public. So please check with your hotel or tour guide. It is advisable to have a tour guide to help you navigate this area. The area was constructed in such a way to make it highly complicated for tomb robbers. 15
SCRAPBOOK PAGE
TRULY LOVE HISTORY
By Aisha AbdelWahab
Minya was the capital of Egypt from 1348 BC to 1332 BC, built by the 18th Dynasty’s 10th ruler, Pharaoh Akhenaten (or Amenhotep IV) and his wife, Nefertiti, one of the most beautiful pharaonic queens. Akhenaten ordered Tel El Amarna to be built 5 years after he became Pharaoh and had abandoned the worship of Amun. He chose a new, unused site for his city. Tel El Amarna became the center of worship of only one god Aten/Aton, the sun god. The city had temples dedicated to Aten, palaces, storehouses, animal pens, government offices, public dwellings and necropolises, etc. The way the buildings were
situated, along with well thought out roads and a bridge, shows an emphasis on town planning. Akhenaten's ruling period was quite controversial as he was the first monotheistic Pharaoh and 4 years after Akhenaten’s death, the court returned to Thebes, Amun became the most important god once more and Tel El Amarna was partly destroyed and partly left to crumble. The temples were dismantled and the stone blocks were reused for other construction projects such as Ramses II’s nearby Hermopolis. Cont.
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Excavations of Tel El Amarna brought to light many artifacts, such as the famous bust of Nefertiti. Another is an archive of state documents, written in cuneiform on 350 clay tablets. But although what remains onsite are minor -compared to the number of artifacts that existed in ancient times when the city extended over a surface area of around 15 kilometers from South to North- they are still interesting nonetheless, and definitely a sight to remember, especially that the ruins and the remains are scattered across a wide area, allowing you to imagine how it used to be at the height of its glory.
The tombs of Tel El Amarna are situated on cliffs at both extremities of the town. There are over 25 tombs on site, all with inscriptions of the “Hymn to the Sun� written by Akhenaten and beautiful, unique carvings illustrating life in ancient Egypt at this absolutely distinctive period of time, in comparison with other tombs of different dynasties and under other rulers. The most notable tombs that you should definitely visit are those of Ay, Huya, Mery-Re I and Panhesy. The tomb of Huya is full of life and colors. It depicts the daily activities and events of the royal family, giving a much Cont.
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more authentic and personal representation of the characters ruling at this time rather than a mere representation of the regime. The tombs of Ay are the most beautiful ones, situated in the southern part of Tel El Amarna and built by the King's vizier, his favorite official. The tomb showcases scenes of the vizier's family interacting with Akhenaten and Nefertiti. The tombs of Meri-Re, situated on the eastern part of Tel El Amarna, is the best decorated, with colorful scenes of some of the important events at the time still seeming vibrant and
lively, such as the worshipping of the god Aton/Aten by Akhenaten and the different rituals and procedures which took place during the various ceremonies, etc. The tomb of Akhenaten and his family contains a scene of the royal family in mourning over the death of princess Meketaton, one of Akhenaten’s 9 children (7 daughters and 2 sons). Tel El Amarna, one of many historical sites in Minya, is considered one of the most important archeological finds in Egypt. It is a definite must see! 23
TRULY LOVE SHOPPING By Aisha AbdelWahab
Minya is a city with so many things to be seen, so many aspects to explore and so many alleys, routes and places to discover. However, shopping in Minya is quite different from other cities in Egypt. Minya is not considered a place for a shopping spree. Nevertheless, the variety of products will still make it worth it and rewarding when that one sought after item is found. So grab a bag, an energy bar, plenty of water and you will be good to roam the streets of this beloved city. Just like any other city in Egypt, Minya has the basic facilities that you might need in
your day to day life; supermarkets, kiosks, pharmacies, etc. You will have the supplies needed at your disposal, at any time of day or night (since it is the norm around here that shops usually close really late or, sometimes, not at all). As for their locations, shops are scattered everywhere and on every corner. So there is no need to worry regarding this issue. Typical, local Egyptian shops are at an arm's length, giving you a more focused experience of Egyptian products. Some of the objects are unique and made by the locals while others can be found more or else anywhere else in Egypt. Cont.
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What is interesting is that some workshops are held in Minya every now and then, either for specific events or to raise awareness regarding certain issues. Many of these workshops focus on handicrafts. A symbol of uniqueness and beauty, a handmade product, is seen as a gift given from the creator of the masterpiece to the owner-to-be. Handicrafts mostly consist of typical Egyptian objects such as beautiful pottery, gorgeous artistic products such as paintings, drawings and carvings, stunning traditional clothes of every shape, size and color, handmade baskets, tools and decorations. You name it, they have it. The
workshops are sometimes held by organizations such as Hayat and Ana Hunna, empowering and supporting people in need. These organizations are widely spread across Egypt to raise the awareness of local youth by teaching them commitment and responsibility as well as values such as honesty, equality and patience.
Therefore, all in all, Minya will provide you with all your basic needs and a little bit more! So enjoy the experience and don’t forget to share it with us via email. :) 27
TRULY LOVE NIGHTLIFE By Enas Elmohands
“Upper Egypt’s Bride” is a beautiful, tourist-friendly city with hotels and restaurants available to ensure a relaxing vacation. After spending the day visiting the landmarks of Minya, you will have no problem finding a delectable, fulfilling meal. Hotels have dependable restaurants with various items from the Egyptian cuisine such as typical kofta and kebab grills and the traditional om ali desert. Alcohol is served at several of these hotel restaurants so you will be delighted to find a bottle of wine or whiskey to share. There is also an old sailing boat that has been
anchored on the Nile bank for years and has a cafe on the top deck which locals love populating for a cup of tea or a cold drink. A new independent cultural center called Megraya opened in the past year in the small town of Mallawi, bringing in theatre, music and cinema for the local culture. On the ground floor of an apartment building, it is a unique space in the small town that is dedicated to both conserving the city’s cultural heritage and exploring modern culture. Here, you can attend a weekly independent film screening, attend a concert or even join their open mic poetry Cont.
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nights. There are plenty of workshops on photography and journalism by field professionals and there is even a one day theater festival in March where troupes can freely perform separately from religious or governmental boundaries. And as if all this weren’t enough, it does transform into a cozy cafe on some quiet days, where you can enjoy a hot beverage and pick one of the many English or Arabic novels they have on their shelves. In Minya, ancient artifacts are central to most activities but after the sun sets, a walk
along the corniche is always refreshing and, as usual, there are plenty of local cafes to choose from so that you can watch the moon shimmer across the Nile. As always, I suggest engaging with the locals to get a clearer taste of the city and its culture; Egyptians in Upper Egypt tend to be warmer and light-hearted, as happy as -shall we say- a bride. Be sure to drop us an email after your visit. We would love to hear from you! Happy travelling! 31
TRULY LOVE INVESTING By Omar Ibrahim
This section is dedicated to small and medium sized investors looking for possibilities to invest their money from afar or move to a country where sunshine, sea and relaxation are a way of life.
Minya is considered a point of relay between significant northern cities (Egypt’s capital, Alexandria and Suez) and the whole of the city-studded Nile Valley of Upper Egypt. With its enormous potential that you’ll get acquainted with herein, Minya can easily be looked upon as another major Egyptian city of a special interest to investors. Within the scope of a national scale tourism development plan concluded in 2014, Minya will be provided a new airport with a total of USD 2 billion in investment, set to boost Minya’s tourism sector as well as cater for various other investments. This suggests an increase in the feasibility of new tourism oriented businesses like hotels and restaurants. A five star hotel would be quite a timely venture to go for, especially that the city lacks a single hotel of that spec! It would be rather reasonable to suppose that a city implanted in a fertile valley and known for its proliferative countryside would rely almost completely on agriculture for a source of income. However, although green is the color that genuinely dominates the city’s background, three industrial zones are being established in addition to the four existing ones, namely Matahra, Zone 32, Wadi Sarisa and New Minya industrial zones. In 2012, a decree was issued by Minya governorate with the approval to establish a public free zone at the expansion area to the south of Matahra industrial zone which will be hosting export-oriented industries, inviting investors to inject capital and expertise into a number of different projects. Building an electronic chips factory is an example of the envisaged plans. One of the new zones – the West Desert Road industrial zone – is allocated for agricultural industries. To further reinforce the potent agricultural industry sector in
Minya, a wide range of agricultural projects are proposed, exemplified by animal feed and food industries like dairy products, tomato processing, bee-keeping and many more. The city’s industrial sector is also expecting to receive investments in certain industrial businesses such as car parts; rubber based parts and brake disks and pharmaceutical industries, such as sterilized plastic syringes, pharmaceutical packaging and dietary supplements. Sheikh Fadl is another new industrial zone, specializing in mining industries. A number of new proposed projects in the mining sector include a calcium carbonate grinding facility and a lime stone plant, both making use of the natural resources available in Minya governorate, including the world’s finest limestone. Generally speaking, Egypt’s persistent efforts to promote earnest contribution from local and foreign players in the business world have served to put Minya right in the visual field of companies and businesspeople, allowing its potential to get observed and seized.
Regulations and Safety Issues 1. Do not drink tap water. 2. Taxis in Minya have a set fare for travelling within the city. They are also allowed to take different customers at the same time. If you want to travel outside of the city, always negotiate and agree on the fare first. 3. Minya is quite conservative so it is best to avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless tops. 4. Do not eat food sold on the street. 5. Although there is no real reason for it, it’s safer to keep your passport at your hotel. 33
Amal Sarkiss Amal has been an ophthalmologist for 28 years. Her love for travel led her to work in Zimbabwe 20 years ago. She has been living there since. When her sister, Amy, decided to start Truly Love Egypt e-zine, Amal was an instant fan and supporter. Amal believes that a country’s cuisine is a true reflection of its culture and civilization, which is clear in the Egyptian cuisine. There are ancient Egyptian dishes which have been passed on from mother to daughter for centuries as well as other dishes, introduced to Egyptians via settlers from other cultures, which Egyptians have adopted and modified. From here came the idea of adding the “Truly Love Cuisines” to the e-zine. Amal enjoys good food, especially traditional Egyptian dishes, but doesn’t like to spend too long in the kitchen. She looks for tried and trusted recipes that don’t take too long to make but she makes sure she sticks to the traditional style and recipe when it comes to a true Egyptian dish. In addition to her love for travelling and learning about different cultures and customs, Amal loves animals, both wild and domesticated, and likes to learn about their habits and habitat. She also enjoys several hobbies: reading, listening to music, photography and handcrafts, especially the art of quilt making.
A few years ago, she took her quilting passion seriously and decided to learn it in depth to be able to teach it to others. After passing a year long course with the South African Quilters Guild, she was certified as a quilt teacher. With a few years to go before retirement, slowing down is not in her future plans. She believes one should keep on learning and keep on being useful to others; otherwise life would not be worth living.
Amal Sarkiss
TRULY LOVE CUISINES By Amal Sarkiss
Kishk Saedi
“Saedi” means from Upper Egypt, the region that starts at Beni Sweif and ends at Egypt’s southern border. Upper Egypt was not much affected by foreign invasions, thus it has maintained most ancient Egyptian traditions, including certain dishes which have been kept intact and passed on from one generation to another. Since ancient times, Egyptians have planted wheat every October -after flood rains recede from the Nile Valley. The golden harvest is ready by May/June. Ancient Egyptians had to invent methods to store wheat to last till the following harvest. They built small clay granaries and developed methods of preserving wheat at home, like making kishk saedi. First, the skin is removed. Then the wheat is washed, cooked in water, drained and laid out for 3 days, until completely dry. It is then taken to mills to be ground, just enough to fragment the seed. Women add salt, cumin and a dash of peri peri to the wheat, along with sour milk, just enough to make the seeds stick together. The mix is shaped into ping-pong sized balls and left to sun-dry for 3 to 5 days. When completely dry and hardened, they are stored in a cool, dry place to use for the rest of the year. This tradition is part of the harvest celebration. In Egypt, you can find kishk saedi balls at some spice shops. The amount of spices in the mix depends on the maker’s personal preference. The farther south you go, the more cumin and peri peri added. 36
Homemade Kishk Saedi Balls Ingredients: ½ Kg (1Lb) wheat (or break wheat) 2 cups water
½ tsp salt 1 tsp cumin seeds A dash of peri peri powder
Directions: Give the whole wheat a quick spin in the kitchen machine or use break wheat. In a pot, cover and cook in water for about 30 minutes, adding water when needed. Do not let the wheat go soft and soggy. It should retain a bit of its crunch. Drain the water and spread the wheat in a large sieve or on a tray. Cover with a clean light cloth and allow the wheat to become completely dry. This should take 24 hrs. Add salt and spices to the wheat. Then gradually mix in about ¼ to ½ cup sour milk, enough to be able to shape the wheat into balls. Shape the wheat and sour milk mix into ping-pong sized balls, place on a tray and cover with a clean cloth. Let them dry for 2 to 3 days. Some people then store them in a deep freezer. Others prefer to bake the balls for 15 minutes, until they are golden in color, to make sure they are completely dry and to seal their outside layer for better preservation and then place them in a large tin container.
Making Kishk Saedi Preparation time
Cooking Time
Serves
15 – 20 min (excluding making wheat balls and chicken broth)
25 min
4
Ingredients: 4 – 5 kishk saedi balls 4 cups chicken broth 2 tbsp flour
Salt and pepper to taste 1 medium onion 1 tbsp butter or ghee
Directions: Soak the kishk balls in 1 cup chicken broth (or milk) for 15 – 20 minutes until they become soft. Press with a fork so there are no clumps. Boil 2 cups of the broth, add the softened kishk mix and cook on low heat for 20 minutes. Mix the flour in the last cup of broth (preferably when cold) and strain into the mix. Taste it before adding salt and pepper as the kishk balls already contain salt. Cook for 5 minutes until it is thick like custard. Dish in one large bowl or several small bowls. Braise the diced onion in butter or ghee till golden brown. Garnish with the braised onion. Serve hot. Variations: *Either chicken or beef broth can be used. *When soaking the kishk balls, you can use either 1 cup broth or 1 cup milk. *Some prefer to add 1 cup yogurt to the mix when adding the flour. *Boiled chicken may be cut into small pieces and added into the kishk before dishing it out. 37
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