Mar 16

This dish is practically the same as Zeresk Polo ba Morgh (Barberry Rice with Chicken). When I first decided to make it I kept asking myself what is different about this dish compared to Zereshk Polo…but then I realized the main difference is that the chicken is steamed with the rice in Morgh Polo. Though some do this when making Zereshk Polo, its more common to prepare the chicken separately when cooking Zereshk Polo. In other words chicken is the garnish to Zereshk Polo.

Morgh Polo

Morgh Polo

Either way, whichever name you decide to call the dishes the recipe is below :)

Ingredients:
500 grams Chicken –you can lesson the amount of chicken if you wish
1 small onion - finely chopped up
100 grams barberries (zereshk)
3-4 cups rice
1-2 teaspoon zireh (cumin)
1 teaspoon liquid saffron
oil
2-3 tablespoons sugar
salt/pepper
turmeric

Directions:

Rinse the rice and soak it (add salt to the water) for at least 1-2 hours prior to preparing the Morgh Polo.

Begin by preparing your chicken. Cut the chicken into smaller pieces. In a pan you want to fry the onions in oil until they begin turning a golden color. Once the onions are turning a golden color add the chicken pieces.  Fry the chicken and add salt, pepper, and turmeric. Add about 1 cup of water to the chicken and cover the pan with a lid and allow the chicken to cook for 30- 40 minutes on medium heat.

Once the chicken is prepared set the chicken pieces aside. If you want to keep a bit of the chicken stock to pour onto the rice you may do so at this time.

In a large pot bring water to a boil. When the water is boiling add the rice to the pot and allow it to cook until the water comes to a boil again (stove top should be on high temperature). Drain the rice and add a little water and oil to the pot and return it to the stove. Pour half the rice into the pot and then add the chicken pieces and cumin, and cover the chicken/cumin with the remaining rice. Should you like you can add a bit of the chicken stock to the rice at this time. Place a cloth or towel on the lid of the pot and cover the pot. Once the steam begins escaping from the pot you want to turn the temperature down to low and allow the Morgh Polo to cook at least an additional 40 minutes.

Clean the zereshk (barberries) and soak for a bit in water then rinse. Approximately 10- 15 minutes before serving the Morgh Polo you want to begin cooking the zereshk. In a pan pour a little bit of oil and add the rinsed zereshk to the pan. Fry the barberries a bit and add a desired amount of sugar to them. Add a little bit of saffron as well. Once the barberries are cooked set them aside and prepare the Morgh Polo.

In a serving platter you want to use a large spoon to place half the Morgh Polo on the platter. Then mix another half of the remaining Morgh Polo with most of the zereshk (leave a small amount of the zereshk). Pour the mixed zereshk and Morgh Polo over the rice in the serving platter. Finally, add a bit of liquid saffron to remaining amount of Morgh Polo and mix with the remaining zereshk. Add this to the top of the Morgh Polo in the serving platter (you can decorate it on top of the rice).

Serve with torshi, mast-o khiar, mast-o moosir, plain mast (yogurt), sabzi jat, or any other type of desired garnish.

7 people like this post.
  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • Twitter
  • Share/Bookmark
Tagged with:
Jan 15

I recently visited my parents and made a second type of Kofteh Berenji with their help. The first one I had made was a bit different and included lapeh (split yellow peas). The balls I made in my other Kofteh Berenji recipe were larger, and the ones in this one were much smaller and stuck together far better.

Koofteh Berenji

Koofteh Berenji

If you want something light and tasty I definitely recommend this!

Ingredients (good for 4-6 people):
1 lb ground meat
1 onion –grated and mixed with the meat
4 tablespoons chopped onion
1 cup rice –rinse well
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 egg (optional)
salt/pepper
turmeric
saffron
garlic powder (optional) –small amount
lemon juice
3 cups water
oil
1 lb sabzi (greens) cleaned and chopped (2 lbs if not cleaned and chopped) : Parsley, Cilantro, Green Onions, Tarragon (Tarkhoon), Savory Leaves (Marzeh), Tareh (Chopped chives) or you can use the ends of Green Onions instead of Tareh. If you are using dry ingredients in combination with the fresh ones, you will need to adjust the measurements based on fresh or dry ingredients. Typically when using dried greens (sabzi) you will use less (approximately 1/2 cup of the ingredient) than if you were using fresh. Just to give you an idea I will provide you with the exact amounts of each ingredient I used because we had a combination of fresh and dry greens at my parents house:
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 bunch fresh green onions (or you can use 2 bunches; especially if you dont use chives (tareh))
1/2 cup dry Tarragon
1/2 cup dry Savory Leaves
1/2 cup dry Tareh

Directions:
As mentioned in the ingredients you will grate an onion and mix it in with the meat. Set it aside to mix in with other ingredients at a later stage.

Once all the greens are cleaned, chopped, and mixed together (mix together dry and fresh greens) then you will add your rice (after you have washed it) to the greens. Mix the greens and rice with the meat (make sure you have mixed your meat with the grated onion first). Add salt, pepper, turmeric, and a small amount of garlic powder to the mixture.

If you find that the mixture wont stick together you can add an egg.

In a pot pour in some oil and heat it. Saute the 4 tablespoons of chopped onions in the oil once it is heated. Let the onions become golden then add the tomato paste and continuously stir for a few minutes (no more than 5 minutes). Add 3 cups of hot water to the pot. Begin forming small round balls with the mixture and place them into the pot. Once all the Kofteh Berenji’s are formed and placed in the pot add more water (if needed) to cover them all.

Add some lemon juice, salt, pepper, and saffron to the water and then cover and allow the Kofteh’s to cook for approximately 45 minutes on medium heat.

Many times this is more of a light side dish and may not be the only thing you are eating.

Serve hot or warm … and most importantly enjoy!

13 people like this post.
  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • Twitter
  • Share/Bookmark
Tagged with:
Jan 09

If you decided you wanted to not eat lots of rice as part of your New Year’s resolution…then this may be a good dish to try! I absolutely love the taste of this Shami Lapeh (also referred to as Shami Pook). This specific one is made with split yellow peas (lapeh) and a few other ingredients, including ground meat (beef or lamb).

Shami-e Lappeh (Shami-e Pook)

Shami-e Lappeh (Shami-e Pook)

Ingredients (4-6 people):
1 cup split yellow peas (lapeh) –soak for a few hours prior to cooking
1 lb ground beef (or you can use lamb)
1 egg
1 large potato (optional)
turmeric
oil — for frying
salt/pepper
1 large onion –grated
a pinch of baking powder (use small amount)
saffron (small amount)
plain breadcrumbs

Directions:
After soaking the split yellow peas for a couple hours boiling them in water for at least 20 minutes. If you choose to use a potato for the Shami you can boil that for 20 minutes along with the split yellow peas. Note: Using a potato may make the mixture sticky.

Now if you are using a food processor you may have an easier time mixing all the ingredients. If you plan to mix the ingredients by hand make sure you mash the contents up real well.

Mix the grated onion with the meat. After the split yellow peas and potato are cold you will want to mix them in with the meat and onion. If you are using a food processor you can first add the onion, then add the split yellow peas, followed by the potato. After the three ingredients are mixed you can add the meat into the food processor.

One the split yellow peas, potato, onion, and meat are all mixed together add your spices (salt, pepper, turmeric, saffron, and baking powder) and the egg. If you are using the food processor you can just add the other ingredients to the mixture already in the food processor, and if doing this by hand just add the ingredients and make sure you mix them and mash them up really good.

Your mixture should become a bit sticky. You can either place the mixture in the fridge for a bit, or begin to form the Shami right away. You will want to play bread crumbs in a plate and heat up oil in a frying pan. When the oil is heated take small amounts of the mixture and roll it around in the bread crumbs (make it into a round ball). Flatten the ball in your hand a bit (keeping a round shape)…make sure you don’t make them too thin. Poke a hole in the center and then place the Shami in the frying pan. Once the side frying in the oil is golden brown you will flip it over to have the other side fry to a golden brown as well. Continue frying the Shami’s until they are all done.

Serve with bread or plain. Add any condiments you like (like tomatoes and pickles).

14 people like this post.
  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • Twitter
  • Share/Bookmark
Tagged with:
preload preload preload