Nesti

Named after a either a place or more likely was once the name of a group of Sal'diri who pioneered a surprisingly complex and effective style of cooking, with an emphasis on preservation. The Nesti method arose from the barren landscape difficult conditions that the Sal'diri reside in, namely how difficult it is to maintain a reliable food source in the desert. Smoking meats was as common as there are animals are, so a limited supply especially when typically the only animals in the area are small or lack meat. What was not lacking are vegetables growing under the upper layers of sand and even fruits growing near the oasis that dot the area, the only issue is that this produce tends to rot very quickly once foraged, sometimes one of these items picked at dawn will be rotted all the way through by dusk. So with more than just a dash of ingenuity, a method of fermentation was utilized to help keep the produce edible. It's believed initially they would carry this fermenting food stuff in jars or other air tight containers. However, a tradition developed of leaving giant caches of these fermented food stuffs (as well as water) in case a person finds themselves lost in these barren lands.

Execution

A major component to this process is accepting the high chance that by the time you get back or find a hole you are preparing nesti in, will be gone. The Sal'diri will say prayers and incantations, for it to be found. This is because in their culture their is a strong belief in the reversal of "fates," i.e. today we are eating well and we have enough water for a month, all for it to be blown away in a sandstorm the next day.

Related Ethnicities