Recipes for each one of the items on the table will come soon, with special thanks to our good friend B. A.
.
I found this recipe and thought I would try it. Its a bit different than Havij Polo (Carrot Rice), and can be made to be sweet, sour, or a combination of the two.
Ingredients (4 - 6 servings):
Chicken or Beef — I used 2 chicken breasts
1 small onion — finely chopped up
5-6 carrots –grate half the carrots and chop the rest into circles (not too thick)
10-15 Aloo khoshk (prunes) — you can use more or less depending on what you prefer
1 teaspoon saffron –you may prefer to use liquid saffron in this amount (considering saffron isnt cheap
)
Sugar 1 to 3 tablespoons
oil
salt - desired amount
turmeric
Lemon juice (optional) –to add a bit of a sour flavor
Directions:
Add oil to a pot and heat on medium stove top heat. Cut your chicken (or meat) into smaller pieces and fry the chicken with the chopped onions and add turmeric and salt to the chicken. Add 2 cups of water and place lid on pot and allow the chicken to cook.
In a pan heat up some oil and fry the carrots a bit. After you have fried them add them to the pot with the chicken. Wash the prunes and add to the pot as well. Finally, add the sugar and lemon juice and place the lid on the pot and allow everything to cook until the Khoresht-e Havij (carrot stew) is thickened and gives back oil.
Serve with rice.
This is a simple form of Khoreshte Esfenaj. Many people use Tareh (or green onions if no Tareh is available) and/or Aloo (prune) in the Khoresht as well (known as Khoreshte Aloo Esfenaj). You can make the Khoresht (stew) with chicken or lamb meat.
Ingredients (4-6 servings):
500 grams chopped spinach — I decided to use frozen chopped spinach
2 chicken breasts cut into pieces –you can opt to choose chicken thighs or lamb meat
1 small onion chopped up
oil
salt/pepper
turmeric
lemon juice
aloo (optional) — I added 3-4 prunes (aloo khoshk)
approximately 2 cups water
Directions:
In a pot fry the chopped onions in oil until they turn a light golden color and become tender. Add in the chicken and stir. Add salt, pepper, and turmeric. Stir the chicken around for a few minutes then add the spinach to the pot. Whether you are using fresh or frozen spinach after you add the spinach to the pot you can stir around/fry the spinach a bit or just go ahead and add the water. After adding the water, add the lemon juice and prunes then cover the pot and allow the Khoreshte Esfenaj to cook for 1 - 1 1/2 hours on medium heat…cooking time depends on how much water you want the Khoresht to have as well.
Serve with rice.




