Mast-o-Laboo - Persian Beet & Yogurt Dip

There are many types of street food vendors here in NY. They sell fruits, soft pretzels, hot dogs, toasted chestnuts, and so on. We took a stroll down Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center, looking at the holiday decorations and lighting. My daughters bought some roasted peanuts from a vendor on the street. It reminded me of my growing up in Iran and the time that my mother would buy me fresh whole salted walnuts, grilled corn (balal) and warm and juicy cooked beetroot (laboo). Is it just my nostalgia that the food we ate seems to have tasted much better back then?

Beets are an interesting root vegetable, they add so much color to your life! They color everything that they come in contact with including your hands and nails. I wonder if beets were used as make-up to color the cheeks and lips before modern times.

Cooked beetroot (choghondar) could be served sliced in salads, sliced or quartered with a dash of sugar, or mixed in with yogurt. The green part of it could also be used in the vegetable and been stew (ash). They add a delicious flavor to the stew, however, it is usually disposed of. That must be the reason behind the Iranian saying used when someone feels neglected, unappreciated or overlooked in decision-making situations: "Am I a beetroot leaf here?"  (pas man inja barg-e choghondaram?) ماست و لبو/ بورانی لبو  Mast o Laboo/ Borani Laboo is a simple yet delicious side dish.

Mast-o- Laboo/Borani Laboo - Persian Beet & Yogurt Dip

Ingredients:
Serves 4-6

3 small-size beets

2 cups plain thick yogurt
1 teaspoon sugar *optional

Garlic powder
Salt

Method:

1. Place the beets in a pan, cover with water, cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes or until tender.
2. Remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool.
3. Peel, cut into small bite-size pieces or grate the beets using a food processor or a hand grater.
4. Combine the yogurt, beets, and a dash of garlic powder, salt, and a pinch of sugar. a pic. Mix well. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Serve cold.

Enjoy!