August 21, 2010

Khoresh-e Khalal Badam & Zereshk - Slivered Almonds & Barberry Stew


I've been wanting to make this nutty and tangy saffron flavored lamb stew for a long time. You must try this gorgeous, flavorful and aromatic stew -- you will be very pleased with the taste. I generally use barberries to make the rice with barberries dish (zereshk polow), which has been a staple in our family, but another great use is to make this delicious stew with it. Barberries/Berberis (Zereshk) is widely grown in the north eastern part of Iran, in the region of Khorasan.


I like خورش خلال بادام khalal badam stew to be filled with slivered almonds and barberries. The more common version of  this stew is usually made without any yellow split peas but I like the addition of its flavor. If you prefer a thinner khoresh you may omit or the yellow split peas. 

Khoresh-e Khalal Badam- Slivered Almonds & Barberry Stew

Ingredients:
Serves 4-6

1 1/2 pound meat (lamb, beef ), washed and cubed
1 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted
1 cup dried barberries, picked over, rinsed, can be found in most Persian grocery stores
1 cup yellow split peas, picked over, rinsed *optional
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon crushed saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoons of hot water
1-2 tablespoons rose water (optional)
 Oil
Water 
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
  1. Lightly toast the almond slivers in a dry pan for 3-5 minutes over medium to low heat. Set aside
  2. In a small frying pan lightly saute the barberries in 1-2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Set aside.
  3. In a small pan saute the tomato paste in a tablespoon of oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Set aside. This step is optional but it improves the taste of the stew.
  4. Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a large pot, saute the sliced onion over medium heat until translucent, add the garlic and saute for another 2-3 minutes then add the turmeric. Stir well to blend every bit of onion and garlic with turmeric powder.
  5. Add the meat and brown on all sides. Add cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, blend well.  
  6. Make some room in the center of the pot by pushing the meat and onion mixture to the side of the pot and place the split peas in the center and fry them for a few minutes. This will harden the peas and gets rid of their raw smell. You may also cook the split peas separately with two cups of water and add them to the stew half way through cooking if you prefer. 
  7. Scoop in the tomato paste and pour in enough water to cover meat and to come about two inches above. 
  8. Cover and cook for 30 minutes on medium to low heat, add the almond slivers, mix well, cook and cover for another 20 minutes. Add water if needed.
  9. Add barberries and saffron, stir well, taste and adjust seasoning. Cook for another 20-30 minutes until meat is tender and the flavors are well blended. Pour rose water in the last 10 minutes of cooking. 
Serve warm with rice, pickles (torshi), fresh herbs and yogurt.

Enjoy!

August 05, 2010

Doogh - Persian Yogurt-Drink and Homemade Yogurt


Persian Yogurt Drink

دوغ Doogh is a popular and refreshing drink in Iran. Doogh is made with yogurt, water, and salt. However, another variation is to add club soda instead of water for a tastier doogh. Yogurt soda is usually served with kabab dishes, and grilled chicken or it's just served as a cooling and healthy drink. The best kind of yogurt soda is a homemade one where you can adjust the amount of club soda, salt, and yogurt to your liking. I find the store-bought doogh somewhat harsh and hard to swallow. This is very easy and takes little time and effort to make. I like to add almost equal parts of both yogurt and water, considering that the added ice will melt quickly, especially in hot weather, therefore it will dilute the content.

Yogurt Drink (Doogh)

Ingredients:
Serves 4

1 1/2 cups whole-milk plain yogurt, whisk until smooth 
2 cups of water
1 cup (8 oz) club soda *optional
Salt to taste
A good pinch of dried mint or other aromatic dried herbs 
A pinch of crushed rose petals
Lots of ice cubes

Method:
  1. Gradually combine yogurt and water. Mix well using a hand mixer, blender, or whisk.
  2. Add salt to taste, dried mint, crushed rose petals, and ice cubes, stir well.
Serve chilled.

Persian Yogurt Drink


Dried Herbs For Doogh is a wonderful and aromatic combination of the following herbs:
Dried mint, dried wild mint, dried rose petals, dried wild mountain celery, thyme, and a herb called "tigh daroogh" in Persian/Farsi which is native to the Alvand mountain of Hamadan, Iran.

Yogurt
Homemade Yogurt

Homemade yogurt is refreshing and healthy. Yogurt is so versatile and is used in many Persian recipes and is usually served as a side dish for lunch and dinner. Making homemade ماست yogurt is easy and while the whole process does take some time it is usually ready by the next day. You can use any whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, or skim milk if you like. You can use a few tablespoons of store-bought plain yogurt if this is the first time you're making your own yogurt. Save and put aside some of this yogurt for the next batch of yogurt you make. Also, it's helpful to have a thermometer. Since I bought a candy thermometer a while back, I no longer use the old-fashioned method of using the tip of my finger to tell if the milk is at the right temperature before adding the yogurt.

Homemade Yogurt - Mast-e Khanegi 

Ingredients:

1 gallon of milk (whole milk)
1/4 cup whole-milk plain yogurt with active cultures

Method:
  1. Pour the milk into a heavy saucepan and place over medium heat.
  2. Place a thermometer on the side of the pot.
  3. Heat the milk until it reaches 180-185 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the milk occasionally.
  4. Remove from heat and let it cool to 110-112°F.
  5. Place the yogurt (with active culture) in a small bowl, add a cup of warm milk to the yogurt, stir well. 
  6. Add the yogurt and milk mixture to the pot, gently stir.
  7. Put the lid on, wrap it with a large towel or a light blanket, and place it in a warm place. It should be left untouched for 10 hours. 
  8. Refrigerate the yogurt overnight or for at least 10-12 hours. 
 Enjoy!

August 01, 2010

Mast-o-Khorfeh - Yogurt with Purslane

Yogurt with Purslane

ماست وخرفه/ بورانی خرفه Mast o Khorfeh Yogurt with Purslane is healthy and very helpful to beat the summer heat. There's nothing more refreshing and satisfying than a cool cup of yogurt mixed in with coarsely chopped fresh purslane picked right from your own garden. I've never planted purslane since they grow on their own and are actually considered weeds. I used to pull them out and discard them, until one summer that my mother came to visit us at our new home and she had discovered purslane in the vegetable garden. I knew they looked familiar from back home but since I didn't plant them in my garden I was hesitant to eat them. But when my mother handed me a bunch of purslanes and said to make a mast-o-khorfeh for lunch, I made it and loved the taste and the texture of it. That summer we got to have purslane with yogurt, mixed in with salads or simply added to the vegetable platter (sabzi khordan).

Purslane

Ever since then, I look for them in our garden during the summer and we don't use any pesticides in order to try and grow everything healthy and safe for consumption. However, it seems that more and more people are discovering the health benefits and the nutritional values of purslane. They are known as a source of Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants, vitamin C and E.

Purslane

Ingredients:
Serves 2-3

2 cups plain yogurt
A handful of purslane, pull the leaves off the stems, wash and drain, coarsely chopped if leaves are big
1/2 teaspoon dried mint
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
  1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients, mix well.
  2. Transfer into a serving bowl, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until ready to serve.
Serve cold with warm bread.

Variation:  Purslane may be added to Yogurt and Cucumber (Mast-o-Khiar), Salad Shirazi, and the platter of Sabzi Khordan.

Enjoy!
Purslane