Tag: yogurt

Falafel

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Falafel is one the most favourite fast foods in the Middle East. Falafel is an Arabic word,and plural ‘ filfil’ meaning “pepper”. Falafel is a meatless food and good source of protein and suitable for vegetarians.

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Originally it is spicy but in any country it has adjusted based on the taste of people. Falafel is made of chickpeas or fava beans. Egyptians make falafe with fava beans and sometimes with combination of both. But if you make with chickpeas, they should be soaked and then should be ground up or mashed and mix with beautiful spices and vegetables such as onions, garlic parsley.

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Falafe serves with flat bread ( Naan ), pita bread, or Budget bread and garnished with different things such as tomato, cucumber, lettuce, fresh herbs, tahini sauce, spicy sauce, humus, chutney, garlic yogurt. Or they are just perfect on their own.
Falafel can be eaten cold or hot. This chickpea balls are mostly popular in S and SW of Iran but in other cities of country such as Tehran is very popular too.

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Ingredients

  • 450 g chickpeas, soaked overnight
  • 1 1/2 tbsp  plain flour or chickpeas flour
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 large onion
  • A bunch of parsley
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2tsp cumin
  • 1tsp coriander powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Oil

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Ingredients for mint-parsley sauce

  • 3 tbsp plain yogurt
  • Small bunch of mint and parsley
  • 1 small bell pepper
  • Salt to taste

 

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Preparation
If you want your falafel to turn out right, you need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. So they will be double in size. Next day, drain and rinse them. Pour chickpeas into a food processor. Then add all ingredients ( except flour)  for falafel into the food processor and make smooth mixture.

 

Then add flour and   season the chickpeas mixture with all above mentioned spices. Mix all together very well. Using wet hands or a falafel scoop, form falafel mixture into round balls or oval shape. By the way,  If you wish, sprinkle some sesame seeds on each chickpeas ball too .Then place chickpea balls in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

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Falafel is traditionally fried but you can bake it instead too. So bake falafel in 175 C degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
And if you want to fry falafel, add enough oil for deep frying in a deep saucepan. Place the pot over a high heat and heat the oil, then drop falafel balls in the oil and fry until brown ( 7-8 minutes).


For making sauce, you need to place all ingredients for sauce in a blender and make a smooth sauce.

 


When all falafels are fried. You can serve them plain or Wrap 3-4 of falafels in a pita bread, topping with sauce and enjoy it.

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Falafel

Ingredients
300 g chickpeas, soaked overnight
2 cloves of garlic
1 large onion.
A bunch of parsley
Salt – pepper to taste
1 tsp turmeric
1tsp coriander powder
Oil
Ingredients for mint-parsley sauce
3 tbsp. plain yogurt
Small bunch of mint and parsley
1 small bell pepper
Salt to taste
Preparation
If you want your falafel to turn out right, you need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. So they will be double in size. Next day, drain and rinse them. Pour chickpeas into a food processor. Then add all ingredients for falafel into the food processor and make smooth mixture.
Then add and season the chickpeas mixture with all above mentioned spices. Mix all together very well. using wet hands or a falafel scoop, form falafel mixture into round balls .Then place chickpea balls in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
Falafel is traditionally fried but you can bake it instead too. So bake falafel in 175 C degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
And if you want to fry falafel, add enough oil for deep frying in a deep saucepan. Place the pot over a high heat and heat the oil, then drop falafel balls in the oil and fry until brown ( 7-8 minutes).
For making sauce, you need to place all ingredients for sauce in a blender and make a smooth sauce.
When all falafels are fried. You can serve them plain or Wrap 3-4 of falafels in a pita bread, topping with sauce and enjoy it.

Persian Stuffed Zucchini (Dolmeh Kadoo)

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Dolama or dolmeh is a tasty dish found in Iranian cuisine, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, Arabic countries and Central Asia. The word dolma is a Turkish word and means to fill.  Dolma is the Persian version of stuffed vegetables. You can use eggplant, zucchini, onion, or tomato and stuff with either ground beef or turkey and aromatic herbs.

Up to now, I have shared several recipes for my collection of dolma recipes including: stuffed grape leaves, cabbage rolls, stuffed eggplants, stuffed onions, and today I am going to share my Persian stuffed zucchini.  In Persian language zucchini or courgette  is called Kadoo .

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Dolma is considered comfort food. These different kinds of dolma are stuffed with either meat and spices, or meat – herbs and rice, or there are vegetarian version with rice and herbs and GOOD NEWS IS, all are DELICIOUS.
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Ingredients

  • 2 large zucchini or Courgette,
  • 300g ground beef or lamb meat
  • 5tbsp semi cooked rice
  • 100g mixed herbs: mint, parsley, coriander, spring onions
  • 1tsp turmeric
  • 2tbsp tomato paste
  • 1tbsp dried dill (I use dried dill because it is more aromatic rather than fresh dill)
  • Olive oil
  • Greek yogurt
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic, grated

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How to make it??

First of all wash the zucchini. If the skin of the zucchini has been waxed , peel the skin but leaved the skin of if it’s unwaxed. (However large zucchini should be peeled because the skin might be bitter).

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Then cut each each zuchini into 3 tubes. Scoop out the insides. Keep the insides and add into the pot where you are going cook the zucchini dolma.

For stuffing you need, add rice, chopped fresh herbs, salt, pepper, some turmeric and dried dill to the ground meat and mix ingredients until combine well. Fill each zucchini with the stuffing and settle stuffed zucchini in the pot.

Fill each zucchini with the stuffing and settle stuffed zucchini in the pot.

In a saucepan, add tomato paste, olive oil,  pinch of salt, turmeric and Chilli powder. Saute for 2 minutes. Then, add a cup of water to the tomato paste and bring it to a quick boil.

Pour the sauce on the stuffed zucchini. Simmer over the low heat for about 30-40 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce.

Meanwhile, mix yogurt with grated garlic. Serve the stuffed zucchini with garlic-yogurt.

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Persian Stuffed Zucchinni

 

Ingredients

  • 2 large zucchini or Courgette,
  • 300g ground beef or lamb meat
  • 5tbsp semi cooked rice
  • 100g mixed herbs: mint, parsley, coriander, spring onions
  • 1tsp turmeric
  • 2tbsp tomato paste
  • 1tbsp dried dill
  • Olive oil
  • Greek yogurt
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic, grated

How to make it??

First of all wash the zucchini. If the skin of the zucchini has been waxed , peel the skin but leaved the skin of if it’s unwaxed. (However large zucchini should be peeled because the skin might be bitter).

Then cut each each zuchini into 3 tubes. Scoop out the insides. Keep the insides and add into the pot where you are going cook the zucchini dolma. For stuffing you need, add rice, chopped fresh herbs, salt, pepper, some turmeric and dried dill to the ground meat and mix ingredients until combine well. Fill each zucchini with the stuffing and settle stuffed zucchini in the pot.

Heat some olive oil in the saucepan. Add tomato paste, pinch of salt, turmeric and Chilli powder. Saute for 2 minutes. Then, add a cup of water to the tomato paste and bring it to a quick boil. Pour the sauce on the stuffed zucchini. Simmer over the low heat for about 30-40 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce.

Meanwhile, mix yogurt with grated garlic. Serve the stuffed zucchini with garlic-yogurt.

 

 

Vegetarian kebab

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This is one of the  tastiest vegetarian kebabs which is made with bread and vegetabls. It is simple but super tasty and easy to make it, with crispy texture, golden outside and fulllllllllllll of flavour. You may serve it with yogurt, sweet chilli sauce, any kind of chutney or ketchup.

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Ingredients

  • 5 slices of fresh white or brown bread
  • 1 cup chickpeas, cooked
  • 1 onion
  • 1 lemon juice
  • Handful fresh mint leaves
  • Handful fresh coriander leaves
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic
  • Small piece of fresh ginger
  • 3 tbsp yogurt
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp Olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

How to make it???

Put slices of bread into a food processor or blender and blend it until crush and look like soft bread crumbs and set aside.

Put cooked chickpeas into a mixing bowl. Add onion, garlic, ginger, mint and coriander leaves, lemon juice, yogurt and oil to the chickpeas. Blend until become purée. Add puree mixture and all spices to the bread crumbs, mix until combine well.

Grease your hand, take a small portion of mixture and roll it like a hot dog, however you can give ball shape or cutlet/ round burger shape too. Once all kebabs are done, you may push the wooden sticks into the kebab . it ‘s just optional.

Now heat the oil or butter in a saucepan. Place kebabs into the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes, until golden crispy.

Serve it with your favourite sauce.

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Vegetarian kebab

Ingredients

  • 5 slices of fresh white or brown bread
  • 1 cup chickpeas, cooked
  • 1 onion
  • 1 lemon juice
  • Handful fresh mint leaves
  • Handful fresh coriander leaves
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic
  • Small piece of fresh ginger
  • 3 tbsp yogurt
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp Olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

 

How to make it???

Put slices of bread into a food processor or blender and blend it until crush and look like soft bread crumbs and set aside.

Put cooked chickpeas into a mixing bowl. Add onion, garlic, ginger, mint and coriander leaves, lemon juice, yogurt and oil to the chickpeas. Blend until become purée. Add puree mixture and all spices to the bread crumbs, mix until combine well.

Grease your hand, take a small portion of mixture and roll it like a hot dog, however you can give ball shape or cutlet/ round burger shape too.

Once all kebabs are done, you may push the wooden sticks into the kebab . it ‘s just optional.

Now heat the oil or butter in a saucepan. Place kebabs into the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes, until golden crispy.

Serve it with your favourite sauce.

 

Potato Salad

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Potato salad is a popular dish,  made with boiled potatoes and other ingredients. There are so many variations of potato salad and today I have also two good ones. This is an instant and easy salad.

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Ingredients

  • 5 potatoes
  • small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
  • ½ cup yogurt or Mayo
  • 1 clove of garlic, grated
  • 1tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to make it??

Place the potatoes in a pot. Add enough cold water to cover the top of potatoes. Add 1 tsp salt to the water. Cook the potatoes until tender. Drain the potatoes. skin off potatoes, add butter or olive oil, lemon juice, and mash with potato masher.

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Now, add all above munitioned spices and chopped parsley. Mix all together. Taste again, if needs add more salt and pepper.

Take an orange size of potato mixture and shape it like a bowl ( as you see in the photos). Once all potato bowls are done, place them in a plate and set aside.

Now, mix yogurt with grated garlic, pinch of pepper and mix them.

Pour 1-2 tbsp of yogurt inside each potato ball. Serve potato salad topped with sweet chilli sauce.

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سالاد سیب زمینی

سالاد سیب زمینی غذایی است که از ترکیب سیب زمینی آبپز با مواد مختلفی تهیه میشود. این ساالاد تقریبن در بیشتر کشورهای دنیا و با دستورهای متنوع تهیه میشودو بسیار پرطرفدار است. من هم قبلن سالاد اولویه و سالاد میموسا را در کوکپد به اشتراک گذاشتم و امروزطرز تهیه دو نوع سالاد سیب زمینی دیگر را به اشتراک میگذارم.این سالاد ها خیلی فوری تهیه میشوند..

مواد لازم

پنج عدد سیب زمینی

یک دسته جعفری خرد شده

نصف پیمانه ماست یا سس مایونز

یک حبه سیر له شده

یک ق غ آبلیمو ترش

نمک و فلفل به میزان لازم

یک ق چ پودر پاپریکا

دو ق غ روغن زیتون یا کره

طرز تهیه

سیب زمینی ها را داخل قابلمه ریخته و آن را با آب پرکنید تا روی سیب زمینی ها پوشانده شود. یک ق چ نمک هم به آب اضافه کنید. بگذارید سیب زمینی ها خوب پخته و نرم شوند.

پوست سیب زمینی ها را جدا کرده – کره یا روغن زیتون – و لیمو ترش را اضافه کرده و با گوشت کوب یا بلندر سیب زمینی را کوبیده و له کنید.

در این مرحله تمام ادویه های ذکر شده در بالا را همراه با جعفری خرد شده به سیب زمینی اضافه کنید و همه ی مواد را با هم مخلوط کنید. دوباره سیب زمینی را مزه کنید و اگر نیازی به نمک یا فلفل بیشتری هست اضافه کنید. حالا به اندازه ی یک پرتقال از سیب زمینی را برداشته و مطابق تصاویر به شکل پیاله در آورید. وقتی همه ی سیب زمینی ها به این ترتیب آماده شدند داخل یک ظرف چیده و کنار بگذارید.

ماست را با سیر له شده و فلفل مخلوط کنید و یا اگر دوست دارید از مایونز استفاده کنید دیگر نیازی به سیر نیست. ماست یا مایونز راداخل سیب زمینی پیاله شکل ریخته و روی آن کمی سس چیلی شیرین بریزید و سرو کنید.

 

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Potato Salad

Ingredients

  • 5 potatoes
  • small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
  • ½ cup yogurt or Mayo
  • 1 clove of garlic, grated
  • 1tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to make it??

Place the potatoes in a pot. Add enough cold water to cover the top of potatoes. Add 1 tsp salt to the water. Cook the potatoes until tender. Drain the potatoes. skin off potatoes, add butter or olive oil, lemon juice, and mash with potato masher.

Now, add all above munitioned spices and chopped parsley. Mix all together. Taste again, if needs add more salt and pepper.

Take an orange size of potato mixture and shape it like a bowl ( as you see in the photos). Once all potato bowls are done, place them in a plate and set aside.

Now, mix yogurt with grated garlic, pinch of pepper and mix them. Pour 1-2 tbsp of yogurt inside each potato ball. Serve potato salad topped with sweet chilli sauce.

Potato-Beetroot Salad

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This potato beetroot salad is a light, fresh, colourful and delicious salad.

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Ingredients

  • 5 potatoes
  • 1 large beetroot, cooked and grated
  • ½ lemon or lime
  • ½ cup yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp cooked carrots
  • 2 tbsp cooked corn
  • 2 tbsp cooked green peas
  • 2 tbsp pickled cucumber, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to make it??

Place the potatoes in a pot. Add enough cold water to cover the top of potatoes. Add 1 tsp salt to the water. Cook the potatoes until tender. Drain the potatoes. skin off potatoes, and mash with potato masher.

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Squeeze grated beetroot to get rid of juice. Add beetroot, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil, to the mashed potatoes and mix all ingredients together. Taste again, if needs add more salt and pepper.

Take an orange size of potato mixture and shape it like a bowl ( as you see in the photos). Once all potato bowls are done, place them in a plate and set aside.

Mix yogurt and mayo in a bowl. Add cooked carrots, corn, green peas and pickled cucumber. Season with salt and pepper. Combine all together.

 

Pour 1 tbps of yogurt mixture inside each potato bowl and serve it.

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سالاد سیب زمینی و لبو

یکی دیگر از سالادهایی که میشه با سیب زمینی درست کرد سالاد سییب زمینی و لبو هست یک سالاد سبک – بسیار خوشرنگ و خوشمزه.

مواد لازم

پنج عدد سیب زمینی پخته

یک عدد لبوی پخته و رنده شده

نصف لیمو ترش

نصف پیمانه ماست

دو ق غ سس مایونز

دو ق غ هویج پخته و خرد شده

دو ق غ نخود فرنگی پخته

دو ق غ ذرت پخته

دو ق غ خیار شور خرد شده

دو ق غ روغن زیتون

نمک و فلفل به میزان لازم

طرز تهیه

سیب زمینی ها را داخل قابلمه ریخته و آن را با آب پرکنید تا روی سیب زمینی ها پوشانده شود. یک ق چ نمک هم به آب اضافه کنید. بگذارید سیب زمینی ها خوب پخته و نرم شوند.

پوست سیب زمینی ها را جدا کرده و با گوشت کوب یا بلندر سیب زمینی را کوبیده و له کنید.لبوی پخته شده راپوست گرفته و رنده کنیدو آب اضافی آن را بگیرید. لبوی رنده شده را همراه با آبلیمو– نمک – فلفل و روغن زیتون به سیب زمینی های له شده اضافه کنیدد و همه ی مواد را با هم مخلوط کنید. مجددن سیب زمینی را مزه کنیدو اگر نیاز به نمک – فلفل بیشتری داشت اضافه کنید.

به اندازه ی یک پرتقال از سیب زمینی را برداشته و مطابق تصاویر به شکل پیاله در آورید. وقتی همه ی سیب زمینی ها به این ترتیب آماده شدند داخل یک ظرف چیده و کنار بگذارید.

ماست و مایونز را داخل کاسه با هم مخلوط کنید. هویج – نخود فرنگی– ذرت – خیارشور و نمک و فلفل را به ماست اضافه کرده و با هم مخلوط کنید. یک ق غ از ماست مخلوط را داخل هر یک از سیب زمینی های پیاله شکل ریخته و سرو کنید.

 

Potato-Beetroot Salad

 

Ingredients
  • 5 potatoes
  • 1 large beetroot, cooked and grated
  • ½ lemon or lime
  • ½ cup yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp cooked carrots
  • 2 tbsp cooked corn
  • 2 tbsp cooked green peas
  • 2 tbsp pickled cucumber, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

How to make it??
Place the potatoes in a pot. Add enough cold water to cover the top of potatoes. Add 1 tsp salt to the water. Cook the potatoes until tender. Drain the potatoes. skin off potatoes, and mash with potato masher. 
Squeeze grated beetroot to get rid of juice. Add beetroot, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil, to the mashed potatoes and mix all ingredients together. Taste again, if needs add more salt and pepper.
Take an orange size of potato mixture and shape it like a bowl ( as you see in the photos). Once all potato bowls are done, place them in a plate and set aside. Mix yogurt and mayo in a bowl.
Add cooked carrots, corn, green peas and pickled cucumber. Season with salt and pepper. Combine all together.  Pour 1 tbps of yogurt mixture inside each potato bowl and serve it.

Eggplant dish (Bademjan dish)

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If you are eggplant( aubergine) lover, you know eggplant is delicious in a curry, or stew, on the barbecue , as a fried dish, as a salad or as a jam. This is a mouthwatering eggplant recipe which is a warm vegetable dish.

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If you are interested in eggplant , I have more recipes , such as: Persian eggplant jam, Persian eggplant stew with chicken, deep fried eggplant, eggplant onion with tomato sauce, Turkish grilled eggplant salad, Persian eggplant dip ( kashk-e bademjan) , eggplant rice which are available in my web page.

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Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplants, chopped
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut lengthwise
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 1 larger onion, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and grated
  • Small bunch of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • Greek yogurt
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil

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How to make it??

Dice all vegetables into the pieces. Lay the pieces of eggplant in a colander, sprinkle lightly with salt and set aside for 30 minutes to draw the moisture and bitterness out of the eggplant. It also helps the eggplant stay shapely when is cooking instead of becoming soggy.

Before cooking rinse the aubergine under cold water to remove the excess salt and then press the eggplant between kitchen towels.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place eggplant pieces in hot oil and fry 3-4 minutes until aubergines are nice and golden brown.

I love fried aubergines. That’s why I could not resist and made a small bite of fried eggplant and ate it 🙂

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In the same skillet, add chopped carrots, bell pepper and onion. Cook and tossing occasionally until vegetables are tender, it will take about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add fried eggplants to the vegetables and mix together.

Mix tomato paste with a cup of water and turmeric. Pour on the fried veggies, add tomatoes and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes . Turn off the heat and let to sit for 10 minutes to develop more flavor.

Serve the dish with a mixture of yogurt with grated garlic.

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Eggplant dish

 

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplants, chopped
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut lengthwise
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 1 larger onion, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and grated
  • Small bunch of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • Greek yogurt
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil

How to make it??

Dice all vegetables into the pieces. Lay the pieces of eggplant in a colander, sprinkle lightly with salt and set aside for 30 minutes to draw the moisture and bitterness out of the eggplant. It also helps the eggplant stay shapely when is cooking instead of becoming soggy.

Before cooking rinse the aubergine under cold water to remove the excess salt and then press the eggplant between kitchen towels. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place eggplant pieces in hot oil and fry 3-4 minutes until aubergines are nice and golden brown. In the same skillet, add chopped carrots, bell pepper and onion. Cook and tossing occasionally until vegetables are tender, it will take about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add fried eggplants to the vegetables and mix together.

Mix tomato paste with a cup of water and turmeric. Pour on the fried veggies, add tomatoes and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes . Turn off the heat and let to sit for 10 minutes to develop more flavor. Serve the dish with a mixture of yogurt with grated garlic.

Cabbage aash ( ash-e kalam Azari)

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Azerbaijan is located in NW of Iran. People of this region have their own magnificent recipes. This is one of those.

It is called ‘Azari cabbage aash or kalam aashi in Azari language.  Maybe you ask what is aash ( aush) ?? In Iranian cuisine  there are two kinds of  liquid food.  Aash is a thick soup which is served warm and hot and exactly like soup made with variation of vegetables, noodles,, stocks and spices. This dish is spelling: Ash, aash, aush, ashe.

But soup is a thin and light liquid food, served warm and made by combining vegetables with water, stock, spices,…

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Ash or aush is popular food in Iranian, Turkish, Afghani, Azerbaijani and Caucasian cuisine.There are tens and tens of thick soup in Persian cuisine. Like Ash reshteh ( noodle soup), ash doogh,  ash anaar, ……

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 1 cup cabbage leaves, finely chopped
  • 2 cups fresh herbs: spring onions, coriander, parsley, spinach, finely chopped
  • 4 tbsp fried onions
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 beef stock cubes
  • 3-4 tbsp Yogurt
  • 1 tsp dried mint (fry in oil for 1 minute)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil

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How to make it??

Bring to  a boil water in a pot, add beef stock cubes and dissolve them.

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Then, add cooked chickpeas,Oatmeal, oil and spices.Allow to cook for 10 minutes.

 

Then, add chopped cabbage leaves, herbs and fried onions.

Stir occasionally. Allow aash cook for 20 minutes over low to medium heat. Pour your aash in a plate, garnish with fried onions, mint, and 2-3 spoons of yogurt.

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Cabbage aash (a soup from Iranian Azerbaijan)

Ingredients
  • 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 1 cup cabbage leaves, finely chopped
  • 2 cups fresh herbs: spring onions, coriander, parsley, spinach, finely chopped
  • 4 tbsp fried onions
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 beef stock cubes
  • 3-4 tbsp Yogurt
  • 1 tsp dried mint (fry in oil for 1 minute)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil

 

How to make it??
Bring to  a boil water in a pot, add beef stock cubes and dissolve them.Then, add cooked chickpeas,oatmeal, spices and oil.
Allow to cook for 10 minutes. Then add chopped cabbage leaves, herbs and fried onions. Stir occasionally. Let aash cook for 20 minutes over low to medium heat.Pour your aash in a plate, garnish with fried onions, mint, and 2-3 spoons of yogurt.

My Yogurt Balls

rozinaspersiankitchenLeave a comment

Hi my dear page visitors. I am just in love with these yogurt balls. Aren’t they gorgeous? They look like jewels. Very healthy, light and tasty snacks. It is fantastic when you see how easy yogurt transform into these tasty balls.

Once you made your yogurt balls , you may keep plain yogurt balls in a jar with some olive oil or topping and serve them.

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For making these tasty yogurt balls you would need to get rid of yogurt liquid and I made it with traditional method, as you would see in the following recipe. Also you have myriad choices for topping from dried herbs to seeds and nuts.

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Ingredients

  • 500g Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp salt

For topping

  • Dried herbs such as: dill, mint, oregano, chives,
  • Smoked paprika
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Chilli flakes
  • Dried rose petals
  • Chopped walnuts

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Instructions

Stir salt into the yogurt . Pour the yogurt into a double layer of cheesecloth or kitchen cloth. Tied up the corners.. Hang it over a bowl and leave to drain for 24 hours, until all liquid left in the bowl and strain away.

That’s all you have to do . Resulting is a thick and creamy yogurt.

Shape it into little balls and roll in a topping your choice.

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Smoothies

rozinaspersiankitchenLeave a comment

In summer time smoothies are great solution. You can make tens of smoothies with all fruits that you like and treat yourself and family members and friends with beautiful and scrumptious smoothies.

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 3 large slices of melons
  • 2 cups mixed frozen fruits
  • Vanilla yogurt
  • Milk
  • Honey
  • Nuts: almonds – walnuts or pistachio

Instructions

Peel and slice bananas and set aside. Cut melons into small pieces. Defrost frozen fruits.
Put your choice of fruit into the blender with 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup milk and 2 tbsp honey. Blend until smooth.
Once they are ready. Stir each one separately and serve in a glass and garnish with crushed nuts.

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Deemaaj

rozinaspersiankitchenLeave a comment

Qazvin in NW of Tehran, is one of ancient cities of Iran. Qazvin was capital of the Persian Empire under Safavids for 57 years.

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Nowadays, this city is one of important cultural and tourism centre in Iran due to archaeological sites, fortifications, monuments, ……. and beautiful sights and for its carpet patterns, poets, pistachio gardens and Sweets such as Baklava.

Name of my recipe is Demaaj or Dumaaj that is a traditional cold food in Qazvin and Tabriz. Dumaaj is a light, traditional and different food. When weather gets warmer, this food would be one of amazing cold food recipes for summer time.

Deemaaj is combination of Persian naan Lavash with aromatic fresh herbs, plain yogurt, cream and walnuts.

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Recipe for this food is slightly different area by area. Deemaj is one of healthy foods for Iftar in month of Ramadan. One of essential ingredients for deemaaj is Persian naan Lavash. If you do not have access to this bread, tortillas bread would be good substitute.

Other ingredient is Iranain Paneer ( cheese) , and good substitute for cheese also would Greek cheese.

Preparing this food is very cheap and easy. You can store it for several days in the fridge. I recommend you to try this refreshing and light meal for a warm summer afternoon.

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Ingredients

  • 1 large Persian Lavash naan bread ( 2 tortillas bread)
  • 2 medium cucumber, finely chopped
  • 4-5 spring onions, finely chopped
  • Small bunch of each herbs includes: dill, chives, mint, coriander, parsley, tarragon
  • 100 g chopped walnuts
  • 100 g Feta cheese, crumbled
  • 100 g butter or clotted cream
  • 4 tbsp Greek yogurt
  • ¾ of a cup water
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Break the bread into small pieces and toast it in a pan until crunchy.

Add water to the yogurt and season with salt- pepper and paprika. Whisk it well until you have a thick liquid.

Now, mix yogurt mixture with cream or butter and crumbled cheese. Next, in a large bowl with chopped herbs, cucumber, bread and chopped walnuts, add yogurt mixture and gently combine all ingredients together.

Allow to set in the fridge for 2 hours until firm, then give mini ball shapes and serve it. You can store this lovely bites fresh for few days in the fridge.

 

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