Persian cooking and more!

Tomato juice pickle

2023-09-16T18:18:00.005-04:00

Ingredients:

1. Tomato 7 pound

2. Cauliflower 1 bunch

3. Carrots 4 long

4. Celery 1 bunch

5. Garlic 1 bunch

6. Hot Green pepper 2-6

7. Vinegar 3 cups

8. Salt 3Tbsp

9. Turmeric 1 Tsp

10. Cumin 1Tsp

11. Coriander 1 Tsp

Description:

Cut the vegetables in small Pieces, wash them and spread them over a cotton cloth over night to became completely dry.

Cut tomatoes put them on a pot on stove and let them boil until you are able to separate skin. let get a little cool, using a colander separate tomato seed and skin. Boil tomato juice for 20 min. Add vinegar and boil for another 15 minutes. Add salt, turmeric, cumin and coriander and turn the heat off.

Add vegetables to just after it get a bit cool. Do not add al the ingredient at once or you may need to mace some more tomato juice. pour them in clean dry glass container, close the lid. let them stay for 24 hours out then put them in fridge. they will be ready in 1-2 week.

Enjoy!

Chicken Curry

2023-04-24T10:17:00.005-04:00

Ingredients

1. Chicken thigh (bonless) 8 pieces

2. Onion 1 medium

3. Bell pepper 1 or 5 Mini pepper

4. Tomato 2 medium

5. carrot 1 large

6. Potato 3 medium

7. Curry powder 3 Tbsp

8. Red pepper flake

9. black or white pepper 1/2 tsp

10. Salt 1 tsp

11. Oil ( I use olive oir fo baking and frying you can use any vegtable oil)

12. Lemmon juice 2 Tbsp

13. Garlic powder 1 tsp

14. Cumin 1 tsp

Instruction

Chop chicken thigh and try to seperat the fat attached to them as much as possible. Put the in a bowl and add 2 Tbsp oil 2 Tbsp of curry powder and pinch of salt and mix. Cover and let it marinate for 1-2 hours. You may put them in fridge. Chop Onion, carrot, tomatos, and pepper in small cubes. Pill potatoes and chop them in medium cubes.

Add 2 Tbsp of oil to a nonstick pan and let it get hot for 30 to 45 sec. Add the chicken th the pan, saute chicken until their color change. make a whole between chicken in the middle of the pan add all chopped vegtables except potato. Add the rest of curry, black papper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cumin and some salt mix well and cover the pan, let it cook for 20 min. Add patatoes and cover and let it be on medium heat until potatoes cooked. add the end add lemon juice and turn off the heat. I don't add any water to the dish but if you feel it is burning you may add a few Tbsp of water.

This dish will be good with or without rice

Enjoy!

2018-12-20T08:25:00.002-05:00

Hello to all my dear followers I have not been active for a long time. Recently I have been asked about my food recipes after a few pot lock ceremonies at my husband and my own work place. I just want to thank everybody that come here, read my blog and enjoy using my food recipes. Please feel free to send me any questions or any requests for any special food recipe I will be more than happy to help if I can. Thank you and have a very happy holiday and merry Christmas.

Love you all

Carrot cutlet (Shami Havij)

2014-03-12T15:02:00.003-04:00

Ingredients

1. Ground meat (turkey, beef or lamb) 5 ounces

2. Carrot (finely shredded) 1 cup

3. Onion 1 small

4. Bread crumbs ½ cup

5. Egg 1

6. Turmeric 1 tsp

7. Salt

8. Oil

Sauce ingredients

1. Tomato paste 1tbsp

2. Vinegar 2tbsp

3. Sugar 2tsp

4. Saffron powder 1/8 tsp

5. Warm water ¾ cup

Direction

In a medium size bowl shred the onion and add the other ingredients, except oil. Using your hand combine all of them together. Set aside

In a small bowl mix the sauce ingredients and set aside.

Add 2-3tbsp oil to a nonstick skillet pan. Take a large walnut size from the mixture and make an oval shape in your hand. Put it on the oil and fry on both sides. Continue until the mixture is finished.

Add the sauce all over the patties cover the pan turn the heat on medium low let it cook for about 20 minutes or until not much liquid is left in the pan.

Serve with bread and salad

Enjoy!

Pancake

2013-07-31T15:14:00.001-04:00

Ingredients

1. All-purpose flour 1½ cup

2. Milk 1½ cup

3. Egg 1

4. Unsalted melted butter 3 Tbsp.

5. Baking powder 3 ½ tsp.

6. Sugar 1 Tbsp.

7. Salt ½ tsp.

You will also need some maple or any other pancake syrup or honey or even sugar powder, whip cream and butter as much as you like for top of the pancakes.

Directions

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the pan, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Enjoy!

Fatir

2013-07-20T21:34:00.001-04:00

Fatir is kind of sweet bread that is baked traditionally in my hometown. It may be use for breakfast or as an afternoon snack as well.

Ingredients

1. All-purpose Flour (white, whole or mixed)   4 cups
2. Sugar                                                                   1.5 cup
3. Oil (you may use butter instead)                   0.5 cup
4. Milk                                                                       1 cup
5. Lukewarm water                                                0.5 cup
6. Yeast                                                                     1 Tbsp
7. Baking powder                                                    0.5 tsp
8. Egg                                                                         1
9. Sesame seed
10. Saffron, rose water, vanilla extract (optional)

Directions

Mix yeast with 1 Tbsp of sugar then add the warm water, cover the container and leave it for 15 minutes. Mix the rest of ingredients (except egg) with yeast you may add 1 tsp vanilla extract, ¼ tsp saffron and/or 2 Tbsp rosewater if you want. Knead with hand until all the ingredients get together. (If dough is too loose add some more flour and if is too dry add some more milk). After kneading well, cover the dough with a damp towel for couple of hours. Make balls as large as a big walnut from the dough. Spread them in your hand palms or on a cutting board to make a small circle (thickness should be about 1.5 cm). Place them in a cooking tray. Using a fork or cookie cutter make some shapes on fatirs. Beat egg in a small bowl and brush on the fatirs surface. Garnish with some sesame seeds. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. put fatirs on oven for 25 minutes or until the surface turn brown. Let them get cool down on wire rack. You may store them in zip lock bag or in a container with lid. If you put them in fridge, microwave them about 15 seconds before use.

Enjoy!

Taco salad

2011-09-26T11:12:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1. Tortilla 1 piece

2. Iceberg lettuce (chopped) 2 cups

3. Tomato (chopped) 1 cup

4. bell pepper (chopped) ½ cup

5. cucumber (chopped) 1/2 cup

6. Ground turkey (you may replace with chicken or beef) 3 oz

7. Fried onion 1 Tbsp

8. Tomato paste 1 tsp

9. Olive oil

10. Hot chili pepper (powder or liquid)

11. Fresh lemon or lime 1

12. Salt

Directions

Fry ground meat in 1-2 Tbsp of oil and mix it with fried onion, tomato paste and some salt set aside.

Brush both side of the tortilla with olive oil and put them in preheated oven for about 10 min. or until get a little crispy let them cool down and put in a plate.

Cover the tortilla with lettuce then cover the lettuce with tomato, bell pepper and cucumber at the end spread the fried ground meat over them.

For dressing mix juice of one lime or lemon with 2 Tbsp of olive oil some salt and some hot chili pepper.

Add the dressing right before serving! (You may add some chopped avocado and/or sour cream if you like)

Enjoy!

Spring rolls

2011-09-06T09:37:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1. Rice wrapper sheet 10
2. Rice vermicelli 3 oz
3. Shrimp 20 medium size
4. Leek 1 bunches
5. Parsley 1 bunch
6. Basil and/or mint 1 bunch
7. Sweet chili sauce
8. Lemon juice

Directions

Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until get soft and drain.

Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimps, a handful of vermicelli, leek, basil, mint, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, and then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Cut the rolls into half and serve with sweet chili sauce or lemon juice with salt or even peanut sauce.

Enjoy!

Chicken kabob (joojeh kabob)

2011-08-19T21:06:00.001-04:00

Ingredients

1. Chicken breast, wing, wing drum stick (1 whole chicken breast, 10 wings and 10 wing drumsticks)
2. Lime/lemon juice ¾ cup
3. Large onion 1
4. Roma tomato 10 small or 6 large
5. Whole Garlic 5
6. Hot pepper/ bell pepper (optional)
7. Saffron
8. Olive oil
9. Salt
You will need metal skewers, grill, charcoal and aluminum foil as well.

Directions

Usually chicken breast then wings and wing drumsticks are used for this kabob but if you like thigh more you may use it as well. Remove breast and thigh skin and cut the meats in pieces, leave skin on wings and wing drum sticks.

Mix lemon/lime juice with 4 Tbsp of olive oil, add grated onion and some salt to them. Marinade meat in the mixture for hours or over night in a covered container in your fridge. Add ¼ cup hot water to ¼ tsp saffron set aside

Take the meat out of marinade and pu them on skewers (6 pieces for big ones and more for small ones) , brush both side using saffron witch already has prepared. Meanwhile prepare your grill; the fire shouldn’t be too sharp when putting your skewers on it. Put tomatoes on skewer, whole if are small or half them vertically if are large! Wash garlic and put them one by one in piece of foil, pour 1tsp olive oil over it and cover with foil, put then directly over the charcoals. If use hot pepper skewer them but if use bell pepper cut them to four, seed them and then put on skewer! Put the skewers on the grill and let them cook in all sides watch them closely, practically tomatoes are ready sooner also chicken breast cook earlier than other parts, before take them out of the skewer check a piece, if center is red and looks raw lets stay more on fire.

If you think the fire is going to die while kabob is cooking blew on it with a piece of card board.

After you are sure the kabob are fully cooked pull the skewers out and serve kabob in a dish on flat bread! Check the garlic when remove their skin they should be soft as butter! Serve the food with bread or rice.

Enjoy!!!

Abgousht (deezi)

2011-08-14T15:12:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1. Lamb shoulder or leg shank 1 piece (you may use any other part such as lamb ribs or neck but
in any case you should use bone in meat. You also may use goat meat instead).
2. Garbanzo bean (chickpea) 1 cup
3. Dry white bean 1 cup
4. Onion 1 large
5. Potatoes 3 medium
6. Turmeric 1 Tsp
7. Black pepper ½ tsp
8. Tomato 2 medium size
9. Tomato paste 1 Tbsp
10. Salt to taste
11. Small whole dried lime 2-3 (before use make some hole on them using a knife tip)

Directions

Wash meat put in a pot. Wash beans and add to the meat. Chop onion and tomatoes in cubes and add to the pot (you also may add 2-3 small whole dried lime). Pour water over them until all ingredients are covered by water.
Bring to boil cover the pot and let cook in medium low heat for about one hour and half or until beans and meat are cooked.
Add turmeric, pepper, tomato paste, some salt and potatoes (regularly potatoes use unpeeled but sometimes I preferred to peel them depends on potatoes. Add water if needed.
Cover the pot again potatoes will be cooked in about 15 minutes.

Pour the broth in a small bowls. Peel the potatoes and mash beans and potatoes well. And serve with meat in a plate.
If you have flat breads available cut them in bite size pieces (every body will do it for him/herself)
And mix in broth then eat:)

You then will eat meat and mashed ingredient because of these some people call abgusht as a double joy (2 zogheh) food!

Enjoy!!!

Tarkhineh soup (Ash tarkhineh dough)

2011-08-11T14:38:00.000-04:00

This soup is one of very delicious soup originally from my hometown (Arak).

First you have to prepare the tarkhineh itself.

Tarkhineh Ingredients

1. Bulghur or burghul wheat (cracked wheat # 2) 3 cups
2. Yogurt (whole fat and sour is preferred) 2 pounds
3. Turmeric 1 Tbsp
4. Dry aromatic herbs 1 Tbsp (optional)
5. Salt to taste

Tarkhineh making direction:

Soak bulghur in 2 cups warm water for 4-6 hours or over the night.

Put the presoaked bulghur in an appropriate, mix yogurt with ½ liter water and stir then add the mixture to the bulghur pot, stir well bring to boil then reduce heat and let bulghur cook in yogurt for a couple hours, stir occasionally and add turmeric and dry herbs while stirring also add some water if needs, continue cooking until you have a homogeneous mixture. 1/3 of that is enough for your soup place the rest in to freezer safe containers and put in the freezer for next times!

Now is time to make soup!

Ingredients

1. Tarkhineh 1/3 of what you have made as tarkhineh dough
2. Spinach 1 pond
3. Parsley and Cilantro 1-2 cups chopped
4. Beans 2 cups (you may use chickpea, white bean, pinto bean, black eye pea, lentil and mung bean use them all or mix of some of them I usually use pinto bean and lentil and some black eye pea or white beans!)
5. Onion 1 medium
6. Dry mint 2 Tbsp
7. Turmeric 1tsp
8. Salt to taste
9. Oil ¼ cup

Directions

Cook the beans; add tarkhineh in halfway when beans are cooking add some salt too. Chop the onion and sauté in some oil; add half of the onion to the soup set half of that aside.
When the beans cooked add fresh green veggies to the soup and let cook for 15 minutes add water if needs! Add dry mint and turmeric to the sauté onion which you had sat aside and fry them a little bit. Serve the soup in a bowl and garnish with fried onion and dry mint.

Enjoy!!!

Cold yogurt soup (Ash mast)

2011-07-27T11:22:00.000-04:00

My sister taught me how to make this soup. She also learned it from a very dear friend of hers and me. Our friend is from Sabzevar, one city close to Mashhad so the soup is.

This delicious cold soup is very nice for hot summer days and is too easy to make

Ingredients
1. Spinach 1 kg
2. Leek 1 bunch
3. Noodle about 200 g
4. Yogurt 2 cup
5. Dried mint 1Tbsp
6. Salt to taste
7. Dried red pepper to garnish

Directions

Wash the spinach and leek separately and let get dry a little bit. Cut the spinach in not very small pieces, pour them in a pot and add 4 cups of tab water and bring to boil. Turn the heat to medium let cook for 5 min. then break the noodles in pieces (about 10 cm) and add them to the boiling spinach. Always have some hot water in another pot when making soup if needs some add it. stir occasionally! When the noodles cooked (after about 10 min.) turns off the heat set aside and let it get cold.

Cut the leeks in pieces, and then you should mash them. I used a food processor and in the end my leeks were like a thick green liquid which seemed great for my soup!

In a large bowl beat the yogurt a little and add mashed or so leek and mix well add salt and dried mint to.

Add the cooked material to the yogurt mix (be sure it is almost at room temperature)

Mix them thoroughly. Put in the fridge for 1-2 hour. That is ready to serve. Garnish with some dried red pepper powder or crushed. (It can wait more at fridge, until you are ready to eat)

Enjoy!!!

Fish stew (ghaliyeh mahi)

2011-07-20T00:19:00.001-04:00

Ingredients

1.Fish fillet 12 pieces stew size (I used tilapia you may use salmon, cat fish or flounder)
2.Parsley 2 bunches
3.Cilantro 1 bunch
4.Dried fenugreek 1 Tbsp
5.Garlic 8 cloves
6.Tamarind paste ½- 1 cup (seeded and a little diluted)
7.Hot red pepper
8.Oil
9.Salt to taste

Directions

Peel garlic and cut them in small pieces, sauté on 4 Tbsp of canola oil.

Take the parsley and cilantro leaves from their stems, wash them and let get dry then cut them in small pieces. Add the greens and fenugreek to the garlic and fry for 7-10 minutes. With adding 1 cup of water and ½ cup of tamarind paste let them cook in low heat. You may need more water or if you like more sour taste add more tamarind!

In a nonstick skillet pan fried fish pieces in both sides.

When the stew boils for 15 minutes add salt and pepper then fish and let cook for another 10 minutes.

Serve on rice

Enjoy!

Mushroom soup

2011-01-28T18:53:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

1. Mushroom 3 cups (chopped in small pieces)
2. Chicken broth 2 cups+ more if needed
3. Milk ½ cup
4. Sour cream ½ cup
5. Flour 2Tbsp
6. Garlic 5 cloves
7. Onion 1 small to medium
8. Parsley ¼ cup (finely chopped)
9. Oil for frying
10. Salt to taste
11. Cumin ½ tsp

12. Lime or lemon juice (optional)

Directions

Heat about 2-3 Tbsp oil in a pot and add chopped onion. When onion start to turning gold add chopped garlic stir for a few minutes. Add cumin and some salt. Add mushrooms and stir occasionally for about 5-7 minutes. Add flour and stir for a few more minutes.

Pour the broths, stir, and bring to boil then cover the pot and let cook in a lower heat for 15 minutes or until liquid get thicker. Add chopped parsley. Mix milk and the sour cream and pour in the soup, bring to boil and turn the heat off after a couple minutes!
Use sour cream and parsley leaves as garnish.
You may have the soup with lemon/lime juice if you like sour taste!

Enjoy!!!

Cake 1

2011-01-28T11:20:00.001-05:00

Ingredients

1. All purpose flour 2 cups
2. Butter (unsalted) 50 gram
3. Milk 1 cup
4. Oil ¼ cup
5. Sugar 1 cup
6. Egg 3 medium size
7. Baking powder 2tsp
8. Baking soda ¼ tsp
9. Vanilla extracts 1tsp
10. Cocoa powder 1 Tbsp

Directions

Separate egg whites from the egg yolks. Pour them in a separate bowls.
Beat egg whites thoroughly until turn white and stiff. Beat egg yolks as well and while you are beating add sugar to the yolks and mix until their color turn lighter and look creamy.

Add milk, melted butter oil and vanilla to the yolks and sugar and mix. Fold beaten egg whites on the other ingredients and mix. In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder and baking soda, (I preferred to sift flour before adding to the cake)

Add sifted flour to the cake, mix well. Get 1 cup of the batter and mix with cocoa powder.
Pour the batter in a floured 9” round cake pan (you may also use loaf pan)

After that you pour the chocolate color batter over it in any shape that you like you may like round or cross line or etc.

Bake in preheated oven on 300 F degree for 50 minutes.

Enjoy!

Semi stuffed open side eggplants (Shekampareh)

2011-01-07T19:21:00.001-05:00

Although I love this food I don’t make it so much at home, because I am the only one at home who likes it. In this post the photo belongs to last time I was at my mom’s place so this is my mom's kitchen and the food which my dear mommy was cooking for us!

Ingredients

1. Eggplant 4-5 (long and thin ones are preferred)
2. Ground beef or turkey 8 oz
3. Tomato 1 large
4. Green bell pepper 1
5. Onion 1 small size
6. Tomato past 1 Tbsp
7. Turmeric 1 tsp
8. Oil to fry
9. Salt to taste
You may also use some hot pepper or cumin or any other spices that you like with eggplant.

Directions

Wash the eggplants, cut the stem but leave some part which is attached to top of eggplant (according to picture) using a sharp knife make a shallow cut along the length of each eggplant. Fry all sides of eggplants until they get soft a little bit, set aside.
Sauté onions in 2 Tbsp of oil, when they turned golden brown add ground meat stir frequently, add turmeric, salt and other spices if you are using any. When all the meat juice absorbed stir for a few minutes more and add half of tomato paste and stir for a few more minutes (add oil if needed).

Now slightly open the eggplants in the cut place and fill them with the meat mix as much as you can and arrange them in a shallow skillet pan with lid.

Cut the bell pepper and the tomato in slices and put all over the filled eggplants.

Mix the rest of tomato paste with 1 cup of water, 2 Tbsp of oil and some salt and pour to the pan slowly (never pour the watery mixture over eggplants)

Turn the heat on bring to boil and turn to low cover the pan and let the dish cook for about half an hour or until eggplants are cooked. at the end not so much water should remain in the pan (you may add more or less water depending on how you like)

Serve with rice or bread.

Enjoy!!!

Spinach and prune stew ( khoreshte aloo sfenag)

2011-01-06T18:56:00.001-05:00

Ingredients:

1. Meat 10 oz (chopped beef or chicken)
2. Spinach 1.5 pound
3. Dried yellow or red Prunes 10-15
4. Onion 1 medium size
5. Turmeric ½ tsp
6. Oil 5 Tbsp
7. Salt to taste

Directions:

Chop onion and sauté in 2 Tbsp of oil until turn golden brown add meat and stir fry for about 10 minutes or until all juice absorbed.

Wash spinach and chop them then fry them in rest of oil separately, set aside.

A few hours earlier soak prunes in warm water and set aside.

Add turmeric and salt to meat and stir for a couple more minutes add 1 cup of water cover the dish and let cook for half an hour then add prunes with their soaked water cover and let cook for another half an hour then add fried spinach and cook for 10 minutes.

(Depend on what kind of meat you are using, timing should be different)

Serve on rice.

Enjoy!!!

Stuffed grape leaves (Dolmeh)

2010-11-29T12:23:00.000-05:00

Ingredients:

1. Rice 2 cups
2. Yellow split peas ¾ cup
3. Ground beef/turkey 1 pound (low fat ground meats are preferred)
4. Dry or fresh herbs (basil, tarragon, parsley, mint, rosemary and …) ½ cup dry or 3 cups fresh copped.
5. Onion 1 large
6. Vinegar 1 and ½ cup
7. Sugar 1 cup
8. Turmeric 1 Tbsp
9. Salt to taste

10. Oil 1 cup
11. Grape leaves as much as need.

Directions:

Chop onion in small pieces, sauté in half of oil, when turned to a golden color add meat stir frequently so you wont let meats pieces attach to each other, meat should be cooked and a little bit fried at the end, now add turmeric and herbs, mix well cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.

Wash the rice and add 2 tsp of salt and 6 cups of water bring to boil and let it boil until rice is almost done drain it and add it to meat mixture.

Cook the yellow split peas in the separate pot and add it to other ingredients as well.

Pour all ingredients in a large bowl, mix vinegar and sugar and pour all over the mixture and mix well. (Taste it if you like more sour or more sweet just adjust it using more vinegar or sugar)

If you are using fresh grape leaves wash them and let get dry a little. I used packed leaves in salt and vinegar if you are using them take them out wash them thoroughly and soak them in cold tab water for a few hours I changed the water several times through these hours for eliminate the salt from the leaves as much as possible.

You may cook the dolmehs in oven or on stove.

First put a layer of leaves in the bottom of you cooking pan then pick a leaf, put some mixture in the center and wrap it using edges of the leaf (depends on how big is the leaf you find how much mixture you need to pick so you can wrap it thoroughly. Make as mush as you have leaves and mixture and put in you cooking pan.

Put cooking pan on medium heat mix ½ cup oil and ½ cup water pour all over the dolmehs. It is better you put some heavy thing on them to prevent to open, especially if you are using fresh leaves.

when steam start to come out from the pan turn heat to low and cover the pan lid in a towel and let steam for at least 2 hours after 2 hours taste them if they are sour and you like them more sweet just mix 2Tbsp of sugar with ½ cup water and boil them and pour all over the wraps and let stay in low heat for half an hour.

If you are using the oven add oil and water and cover the oven dish using aluminum foil and put in the middle rack on 350 Fahrenheit degree for 2 hours.

Enjoy!

Whey Abgusht (Abgusht e kashk)

2010-11-09T21:40:00.003-05:00

Abgusht is a Persian specialty food. It is usually made with Garbanzo beans, dried white beans, lamb meat, peeled onions, tomatoes,potatoes, turmeric (zardchube), salt and pepper to taste and dried limes (limu ammani). The final step is to strain all solids ( Gusht meaning meat) from the broth . The solids are then mashed and served with the broth, but in a separate dish. The original form of this meal referred to as Dizi is cooked in pots carved from stone.
Original form of abgusht is making with tomatoes or tomato paste. In different parts of Iran people make different form of abgusht using different things for example in my hometown we finish it with whey (abgusht e kashk) or sometimes we add some fried herbs to it (abgusht e sabzi) I have heard about some other abgush which I may never tried. I can name some of them as abgusht e boz baash (with dry apricot and yellow split peas) or abgushte apple, garlic, and sour grapes.

Basic Ingredients: (use all of them in any kind Abgousht)
1.Lamb shoulder or leg shank 1 piece (you may use any other part such as lamb ribs or neck but in any case you should use bone in meat. You also may use goat meat instead).
2.Garbanzo bean 1 cup
3.Dry white bean 1 cup
4.Onion 1 large
5.Potatoes 3 medium
6.Turmeric
7.Pepper
8.Salt

These are the base ingredients I am explaining abgusht e kashk (whey abgusht) so the next ingredients are specific for that

1.Whey (kashk) 1 cup
2.Dry mint ¼ cup
3.Oil 1-2 Tbsp
4.Sliced beet 2 small or sliced and fried eggplants 2 small (optional)
We have some kind of beets which are using for food they don’t have color if you have those ones available use them. I preferred to don’t use red beets because I don’t like red abgusht

Directions:

Wash meat put in a pot. Wash beans and add to the meat. Chop onion in cubes and add to the pot if you are using beet add it in this point. Pour water over them until all ingredients are covered by water.
Bring to boil cover the pot and let cook in medium low heat for about one hour and half or until beans and meat are cooked.
Add some salt and potatoes (regularly potatoes use unpeeled but sometimes I preferred to peel them depends on potatoes. Add eggplants at this point if it is applicable. Add water if needed.
Cover the pot again potatoes will be cooked in about 15 minutes.
Pour the whey in the pot mix it and let to come to boil and boil for 5-10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
In a pan fry dry mint using 2Tbsp of oil add 1 tsp of turmeric to the pan and mix with mint then add them to the pot.
For serving:
Pour the broth in a small bowls. Peel the potatoes and mash beans and potatoes well. And serve with meat in a plate.
If you have flat breads available cut them in bite size pieces (every body will do it for him/herself)
And mix in broth then eat muahhhhhh
You then will eat meat and mashed ingredient because of thes some people call abgusht as a double joy (2 zogheh) food!
Try it I am sure you will love it!

Enjoy!!!

Walnut and Pomegranate stew (Fesenjoon)

2010-11-09T11:27:00.004-05:00

Ingredients:

1.Chicken 1 small one or half of a large one skinless (boneless also is preferred)
2.Walnuts 2 cups chopped using food processor or grounded using a grinder
3.Pomegranate paste ¾ cup
4.Onion 1 medium size
5.Sugar 2-3 Tbsp
6.Turmeric/Saffron 1 tsp
7.Oil 3-4 Tbsp
8.Salt to taste

I have to directions for cooking this delicious meal.

Direction # 1:Roast grounded walnuts in a pan using 1 Tbsp of oil for a few minutes while it is roasting don’t stop stirring.
Mix pomegranate past with 2 cups of water and add it to walnuts, bring to boil and in a lower heat lets cook for about 40 minutes, set aside.
.
Sauté chopped onion in 2 Tbsp oil then add turmeric and salt.
Chop chicken in not very small pieces and fry them in onions.
Add pomegranate and walnuts sauce to the chickens and let cook in a low heat for about 2 hours if needs add some water but in the end add sugar this stew should not have water in the end or it should not be watery!

Direction # 2:

Cook chicken using chopped onion 2 cups of water and some salt and turmeric.
Roast walnuts in a pan using some oil for a few minutes.
Add chicken broth from you cooked chicken to the walnuts, also add pomegranate paste and more water if needs let cook for about 40 minutes at the end add sugar and mix.
For serving you can put some chicken in a serving dish and pour the pomegranate walnut sauce all over it!
Serve with rice.

Enjoy!!!

Green herbs omelet (Kou kou sabzi)

2010-09-08T15:27:00.003-04:00

Ingredients:

1.Parsley, Cilantro, Chive and Dill 2 pounds
2.Spinach leaves 1 cup finely chopped
3.Eggs 4 large size
4.Dry fenugreek ½ Tbsp
5.Garlic 2 cloves or garlic powder1 tsp (optional)
6.Turmeric 1 tsp
7.Salt to taste
8.Oil to fry

Directions:

Separate all herbs leaves from their stems, wash and left for a few hour until extra water from washing is evaporated.

On a cutting board chop all the herbs finely.
In a bowl beat the eggs with some salt and turmeric add herbs and spinach add minced garlic or garlic powder if you like, mix them thoroughly .
Pour 5 Tbsp on oil in a nonstick medium size skillet pan and let oil get hot.
Pour the ready ingredients in the pan at once add shake the pan slowly until everything spread in the pan. You may use a spoon to flatten the mixture.
Turn heat to medium and let the bottom of food get fried.
If you are able to turn the food over do that if not you may cut it first in pieces (like pizza) and then turn each piece over. Any time you feel need more oil you may add some.
Let the other side get fried.
Serve it warm or cold with bread. You may also serve it with rice or with lima beans and dill rice!

Enjoy!!!

Flat bread wrap (Sambouseh)

2010-09-07T19:52:00.004-04:00

Ingredients:

1.Ground meat 10 oz
2.Potatoes 4 medium size
3.Tomatoes 4 medium size
4.Onion 1 large
5.Fresh, chopped parsley 1 cup
6.Tomato paste ½ Tbsp
7.Turmeric ½ tsp
8.Salt to taste
9.Canola oil
10.Flat bread (naan lavaash) 5 sheets
11.Tamarind paste 2 Tbsp
12.Hot pepper (optional)

Directions:

Peel and chop onion in small pieces then sauté onion in 2 Tbsp of oil.
Add meat to onion stir frequently to avoid meat pieces attach together.
Cut tomatoes in small pieces and add to meat. Add parsley, tomato paste and turmeric and some salt as well mix them and put the pan cap on until tomatoes are cooked thoroughly.
Peel potatoes and cut in small cubes and fry them using 4 Tbsp of oil separately.
Add fried potatoes to other ingredients mix and set aside.

Cut the bread in 2”.6” rectangle pieces.
Fold as shown in photos put a spoon or ready ingredients inside the bread pocket close the pocket and fried both sides in hot oil.

When both sides are fried remove from oil and put on piece of paper towel to extra oil come out.

In a bowl add a cup of hot water to tamarind paste and solve the paste in hot water left for an hour then using drainage separate the seeds and …. From paste add some salt and pepper it would be a very delicious sauce to eat with Sambouseh.

Enjoy!!!

Garlic pickles (seer torshi)

2010-09-07T18:26:00.003-04:00

Ingredients:

1.Garlic 10 bulbs
2.Vinegar 4-5 cups
3.Balsamic vinegar 5tbsp
4.Sugar 2tbsp
5.Salt 3-4 tbsp

Directions:

Wash the garlic thoroughly and left in kitchen table for a few hours to get almost dry.
Put garlic on a pot and add 4 cups of vinegar.
Put pot on heat.
Bring to boil, low the heat and let cook for about half an hour. Add sugar and turn off the heat .Let them to get cool for awhile.
Put them in a glass jar and pour all the vinegar over them.
Add balsamic vinegar and salt. If the jar is not full yet you may add 1 cup left vinegar so you will cover garlic bulbs with vinegar.
When it is not hot close the jar cap keep it out of refrigerator for 2-3 months.

Check a few times every week if vinegar decrease add some more.
When it is ready taste the vinegar if you like the pickles more salty add some salt.

You may keep it out or in refrigerator.

Enjoy!!!

Stuffed whole chicken

2009-12-30T12:07:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:
1. Whole chicken about 4 pound 1
2. Garlic 5 gloves
3. Black pepper powder ½ tsp
4. Garlic powder ½ tsp
5. Saffron ¼ tsp (dissolves it in 5 Tbsp of hot water and set aside)
6. Olive oil or sesame seeds oil 1 Tbsp
7. Lime 1
8. Salt to taste

Stuffing ingredients:

1. Barberries 1 cup
2. Almond (peeled and chopped) 1 cup
3. Rice ½ cup dry (or 1 cup half cooked)
4. Sugar 2 Tbsp
5. Onion 1 medium
6. Oil 2 Tbsp
7. Cumin 1 tsp
8. Salt to 1 tsp
9. Butter 2 Tbsp melted
10. saffron

Directions:

Chop onion and fry it in 2 Tbsp oil until turn golden brown.
In another skillet pan fry barberries in 2 Tbsp of butter, at the end add sugar and turn heat off and add it to fried onion.
Add almond and cumin, some salt and one Tbsp of liquid saffron which has been prepared already!
Boil the rice with 1 tsp of salt and combine with other ingredient set aside.

Wash chicken and put it in salt water at least 1 hour then remove from salt water, pat dry using a paper towel.
Try to put garlic gloves under its skin all around. Cut lime in six round pieces and use them inside/outside of chicken.
Brush inside and outside using olive oil/sesame seeds oil and sprinkle with black pepper salt and garlic powder.
Fill chicken with prepared stuff and stitch it together using a needle and string, it will prevent to stuffed come out.
Preheat oven in 400 Fahrenheit degree.
Place chicken in a roaster pan and bake in oven for 30 minutes on the same temperature.
Turn oven to 350 Fahrenheit brush chicken surface with remaining liquid saffron and bake for 70-80 minutes. I served it with barberries and rice it was very delicious.

Enjoy!!!

Yellow rice pudding (shole zard)

2009-12-30T12:04:00.001-05:00

Ingredients:

Rice 2 cups
Sugar 3 cups
Almond 1 cup (pealed and chopped)
Saffron ¼ tsp
Rose water ½ cup
Cinnamon

Directions:

Wash rice and add 10 cups of water and bring to boil after 30 minutes add sugar and saffron and let boil on medium heat until all rice grains are broken.
Add rose water and almond and let cook for about 30 minutes if it needs add some water too.
Cooking time is about 2 hours.
Serve in a deep bowl and garnish with cinnamon and pistachio powder (optional)

Enjoy!