Ash-e Goje Farangi with Koofteh Ghelgheli - Hearty Iranian Tomato Soup with Tiny Meatballs

Early this summer, we planted two rows of different types of tomatoes in our vegetable garden. We are so pleased with the results that we are now planning to only plant tomatoes next summer, along with some basil. Tomatoes are easy to grow and are very nutritious. They turn out incredibly tasty, and harvesting them is truly gratifying. Many Iranian recipes call for tomatoes, tomato sauce, or paste. These recipes include the dizi, khoresh gheymeh, khoresh bademjan, and estamboli polo, and they are usually served with a side of salad shirazi: a simple salad with tomatoes, cucumber, and onion. A ripe and juicy tomato wedge wrapped up in a warm lavash is also a great snack on any given day.

As we are nearing the end of summer, there's still time to take in the sunshine, walk on the beach, and enjoy the abundance of fresh summer produce. With tomatoes still in season, it's time to make آش گوجه فرنگی Ash-e goje farangi (tomato soup). This is a very flavorful soup that can be had all year round, but is especially delicious as a late summer soup. Every region of Iran has its own version of ash-e goje farangi. They may use different kinds of herbs or spices, add beans, or peas. The Khuzestani (southern-style) آش تماته ash-e tamate is hot and spicy.

Ingredients

Serves 6

-5 large tomatoes, peeled, chopped
-1/2 cup basmati rice, rinsed
-1 large onion, chopped
-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
-1 bunch parsley, chopped
-1 bunch chives or scallions, chopped
-A handful of basil, roughly chopped
-1 tablespoon tomato paste
-1/2 teaspoon turmeric
-A pinch of red pepper
-Salt and pepper to taste
-Vegetable oil/olive oil
-Juice of 1 lime or 1-2 tablespoons abghooreh (sour grape juice)

For کوفته قلقلی Koofteh Ghelgheli - Meatballs

-1/2 pound ground beef or lamb
-1 small onion, grated
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon pepper

Method:

1. In a bowl, combine beef, onion, salt, and pepper, and shape into mini meatballs. Place on a large plate and set aside.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cut an "x" in the bottom of each tomato with a sharp knife. Place the tomatoes in the boiling water and cook for a minute or two. Remove from the pot, allow to cool, and peel the skins. Chop or grate the tomatoes on a box grater. Remove the seeds if you prefer.
3. Add 3 tablespoons of oil to a pot, saute chopped onions over medium-high heat until the onions become translucent. Add turmeric, stir, and add the chopped garlic. Sauté for a couple of minutes.
4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add the rice, parsley, scallion, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of red pepper.
6. Add six cups of water, stir, bring to a boil, add the meatballs, reduce the heat, cover and cook over low heat for 45-50 minutes. Periodically, stir the soup and add a little water if needed.
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Add lime juice/verjuice just before serving.

Serve hot with fresh herbs and warm bread.

Note:

For a vegetarian version of this soup, you can make it without the meatballs.
For a lighter soup, you can reduce the amount of rice to 1/4 cup.
You can drizzle نعنا داغ nana dagh (fried dried mint) on top.

Enjoy!

Ash-e Anar - Persian Pomegranate Soup with Fresh Herbs and Mini Meatballs

I've let many winters and pomegranate seasons go by without writing about آش انار ash-e anar. But today, as I watch the icy snowflakes hit the windows and pile up all around the house, I can't think of a better reason to post a recipe for this hearty and tasty ash-e anar. 

The tradition of making warm ash on cold days, or when you're feeling under the weather and need a little comfort, was passed down to me by my mother. I make ash reshteh all the time, and chances are, if you open my refrigerator, you'll find a bowl tucked in somewhere. And after all these years living in America, it's only recently that I've begun to find large, ruby-red, juicy pomegranates at the markets nearby, just the kind I grew up with. 

You can make this soup with brown or green lentils if you prefer them to yellow split peas. If you choose to use لپه lapeh (yellow split peas), I would recommend boiling them for 7-10 minutes on medium heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface, then draining them before adding to the stew. When making the کوفته قلقلی (koofteh ghelgheli, mini meatballs), try to shape them as tiny as possible, small enough to scoop up easily with a tablespoon. 

If you find the soup a little too sour for your taste, add a touch of sugar to balance the flavors. This recipe serves 6-8 people, but you can easily cut it in half for a smaller batch. And don't skip the نعنا داغ (nana dagh), the fried mint and oil mixture.

Ash-e Anar - Pomegranate Soup

Ingredients
Serves 6-8

-1 pound ground meat (lamb, beef, or turkey)
-1 cup rice, rinsed and drained
-1/2 cup yellow split peas, rinsed
-1 large onion, chopped
-2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
-1 bunch parsley, stems removed, finely chopped
-1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
-1 bunch scallion, green parts only, finely chopped
-2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
-1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
-1/2 cup pomegranate molasses (add  more to taste)
-1/2 teaspoon turmeric Powder
-Salt and pepper to taste
-2 tablespoons dried mint
-2-3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, for garnish
-Vegetable oil or olive oil


Method:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the yellow split peas and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam from the surface. Reduce the heat, and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until golden brown. Add the garlic, and saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, stir well.
3. Add the rice, split peas, and 8 cups of water to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes with the lid slightly ajar, stirring occasionally. 
4. In the meantime, combine the meat with 2-3 tablespoons of the chopped vegetables, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Form the meat mixture into tiny meatballs.
5. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat and fry the meatballs until brown on all sides. Set aside.
6. Add the meatballs, pomegranate molasses, remaining chopped herbs, salt, and pepper to the pot. Cover and simmer on low heat for another 30-40 minutes.
7. In a small pan, heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil over medium heat, add a pinch of turmeric and 2 tablespoons of dried mint, stir, and remove from heat. 

ladle the ash into a large serving bowl. Drizzle with nana dagh and garnish with pomegranate seeds, if desired.  Serve with warm bread.

Enjoy!

Sholeh Maash - Persian Green Mung Bean and Kohlrabi Hearty Soup

Ever since I saw the recipe for shole maash online in the 19th-century Qajar Women Cookbook, I have been thinking about giving it a try. شله ماش  Sholeh Maash (mung beans with kohlrabi) makes a tasty and nutritious autumn soup. This recipe, like the others in the book, consists of a brief description of what the necessary ingredients are, and the word yek-meghdar (some) is frequently used to describe the amount needed for each ingredient. Persian cuisine is forgiving in terms of measurements, and when you ask a grandmother for a recipe, the answer is basically a list of the ingredients with yek-kami (a little bit) of this and yek-meghdar (some) of that, and that's how I, along with many other Iranians, learned to cook. I learned that you can use a little less or a little more of most ingredients in a recipe, depending on your taste and preferences. A few months into blogging, I bought a food scale to measure the ingredients by weight, but I have rarely used it.

Sholeh maash is not a thin and watery soup. It's a rather rich soup that can be served as a main dish. The original recipe calls for meat, but I've decided that it is substantial enough without the addition of any lamb or beef.

Sholeh Maash - Persian Green Mung Bean and Kohlrabi Hearty Soup

Ingredients:
Serves 6

1 1/2  cups green mung beans, rinse 2-3 times
1/2 cup rice, rinse well
3-4 medium-sized kohlrabi, peel and cut into small cubes, leave one cubed kohlrabi for the topping
1 large bunch of fresh tareh or scallions (green parts only), washed and chopped
1 small bunch of fresh tarragon, stems removed and chopped
Water
Salt and pepper to taste
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2-3 garlic cloves, diced
1/3 teaspoon turmeric
1/3 teaspoon red pepper *optional
1/3 teaspoon cumin *optional
Oil

Method:

1. Place the beans and the rice in a large pot, add 6 cups of water, and bring to a boil on medium-high heat.
2. Add the small pieces of kohlrabi, salt, pepper, cover, and cook for 45 minutes on low heat.
3. Periodically check to see if you need to add more water to the soup.
4. Add the chopped vegetables, taste and adjust the seasoning, add more hot water if needed, and let it simmer for another 15 minutes for the flavors to blend in.
5. In the meantime, fry the sliced onions in 3-4 tablespoons of hot vegetable oil in a skillet until golden brown. Add the turmeric powder and the minced garlic to the oil, stir, and saute further for another five minutes.
6. Add a large tablespoon of the fried onion to the soup and gently mix well.
7. Lightly fry the cubed kohlrabi in 2-3 tablespoons of hot vegetable oil until soft and golden on medium heat. Add a pinch of salt, turmeric, cumin, and red pepper and stir well.

To serve, ladle the soup into a soup bowl, top with the fried onions and kohlrabi. Serve hot with bread and yogurt.

Enjoy!