All posts tagged: Autumn

Heirloom Beet Carpaccio with Feta and Walnuts

Heirloom Beet Carpaccio with Feta and Walnuts

I’ve mentioned before how much I love shopping at our Farmers’ Market in Darmstadt*! It’s my go-to place for fresh, seasonal, and local products, which I love to share with you in all sorts of recipes on my blog. So, imagine my excitement when I spotted red and yellow heirloom beets! I knew it was finally time to show you my favorite recipe—Heirloom Beet Carpaccio with Feta and Walnuts. Candy striped beet and Feta? They’re a dream team! Not only do they make my carpaccio look colorful and gorgeous, but they also taste absolutely delicious. The beet is nice and crunchy, the feta is soft and salty, and the walnuts add a perfect nutty flavor. My favorite dressing ties it all together—it’s made with red onion, juice from 2 bitter oranges, good olive oil, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper. It’s the perfect finishing touch for this carpaccio! Now, I can’t always find bitter oranges at the market, so I get them from my trusted greengrocer. Depending on the season, I switch up the dressing with …

Sosis Bandari - Persian Style Currywurst

Sosis Bandari – Persian Style Currywurst

Sosis Bandari is a Persian fast food favorite that everyone loves—young and old! It’s basically a Persian-style curry sausage, often found in snack bars, but trust me, homemade is where the magic happens. The trick to great Sosis Bandari – Persian Style Currywurst? It needs to be spicy! Hot Chilli Frankfurter beef sausage is perfect for this since it’s already got some kick. If you can’t find it, Turkish sucuk works too. The sauce? Oh, it’s creamy, thick, and bursting with flavor, thanks to tomato paste, turmeric, and paprika. Some folks add diced potatoes, but the classic version skips them. Best part? It’s cheap, easy, and super quick to whip up! watch my preparation video on Instagram

Koofteh Kermanshahi - Persian stuffed meatballs

Koofteh Kermanshahi – Persian stuffed meatballs

I’m excited to introduce you to the wonderful world of Persian cuisine, as most of the time! The menu features Koofteh Kermanshahi – Persian stuffed meatballs – along with a giveaway for high-quality kitchen gadgets. Koofteh Kermanshahi is a traditional dish from the Kermanshah region in western Iran, renowned for its unique flavors and rich culinary heritage. The meatballs are filled with dried apricots, walnuts, and raisins, and then simmered in a delectable sauce made with pomegranate molasses, tomato paste, and rice, resulting in a harmonious blend of flavors that delights the senses.

Loobia Polo – Persian Rice with Green Beans and Ground Meat لوبیا پلو

Loobia Polo – Persian Rice with Green Beans and Ground Meat لوبیا پلو

Welcome to another culinary adventure! Today, let’s delve into the world of Persian cuisine with a beloved traditional dish: Loobia Polo – Persian Rice with Green Beans and Ground Meat (لوبیا پلو). This savory and flavorful dish combines fragrant spices, juicy ground meat, aromatic tomatoes, and crunchy green beans into a delightful meal that can be enjoyed as a main course or for special occasions. With its simple preparation and harmonious blend of ingredients, Loobia Polo is sure to enchant your taste buds. Enjoy your meal and have fun cooking! Watch my preparation video on Instagram

Reshteh Polo ba Morgh – رشته پلو با مرغ

Reshteh Polo ba Morgh – رشته پلو با مرغ

Reshteh Polo ba Morgh – رشته پلو با مرغ is a traditional and popular Persian rice dish from the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, and Kermanshah. The dish immediately takes me back to my grandmother’s house, when the whole family gathered for the Norooz festival at her home, where we lived together for many years. It is an aromatic composition of rice, roasted noodles, caramelized onions, raisins, and dates, refined with aromatic spices such as saffron, turmeric, and cinnamon, and topped with rose petals and pistachio sticks. The brown noodles in the batter provide a crunchy Tahdig. Top it with a slowly braised saffron chicken fillet or without chicken for a filling vegetarian dish. Reshteh polo has warm properties. Watch Preparation Video on Instagram 

Khorak-e Loobia Chiti – Persian Pinto Bean Stew لوبیا چیتی

Khorak-e Loobia Chiti – Persian Pinto Bean Stew لوبیا چیتی

Welcome to a culinary adventure that will enchant your taste buds! Today, I’m taking you on a journey through the rich and delicious world of easy Persian cuisine. Our destination? A dish that not only delights the palate but also warms the soul: Khorak-e Loobia Chiti – Persian Pinto Bean Stew لوبیا چیتی. Are you a fan of the traditional British dish “Baked Beans”? Then, it’s about time to take a culinary trip to the Middle East and discover the vegetarian Persian bean stew made from pinto or quail beans. This stew is the perfect alternative to the classic Baked Beans with its savory flavors, rich textures, and spices. Dive into the world of Persian taste and let yourself be inspired by this delicious dish! Watch my preparationvideo on Instagram

Cake Sib - Persian Apple Cake with Pistachios کیک سیب

Cake Sib – Persian Apple Cake with Pistachios کیک سیب

I hope you had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the beginning of the New Year. Today, I have for you a simple apple cake based to my grandmother’s old recipe – Cake Sib – Persian apple cake with pistachios کیک سیب. At this time of year, cakes with apples taste extra delicious. Since I used cinnamon and other winter spices, it is also perfect for the Christmas and winter season. But we also love to eat it all year round. Bake the cake, and your home will be filled with the scent of 1001 nights.

Salad-e Anar ba Morgh- Pomegranate Chicken Salad سالاد انار و مرغ

Salad-e Anar ba Morgh- Pomegranate Chicken Salad سالاد انار و مرغ

If you want to prepare a unique chicken salad to delight your taste buds, I recommend my Salad-e Anar ba Morgh – Chicken Pomegranate Salad (سالاد انار و مرغ). Here, the flavors of the world come together. The bright red pearls give the salad a sweet and sour note and a nice crunch. The chicken, eggs, pickled cucumber, and cilantro are a treat to the taste buds. I chose cilantro for this recipe, but if you don’t like it, you can use parsley or mint instead. The recipe is easy and quick to prepare, perfect for Shab-e Yalda, a festive menu, or New Year’s Eve. You can find more typical dishes for Shab-e Yalda here. We like to serve it as an appetizer, which we call Mazeh (Mezze).

Dolmeh Kadu Halvai – Stuffed Pumpkin دلمه کدو حلوایی

Dolmeh Kadu Halvai – Stuffed Pumpkin دلمه کدو حلوایی

Pumpkin always tastes good in autumn and winter, especially when it’s filled and comes out of the oven. Why not give this stuffed nut pumpkin in a Persian version a try. Today, I prepared Dolmeh Kadu Halvai – stuffed pumpkin دلمه کدو حلوایی with flavorful oriental ingredients. The nutmeg pumpkin is filled with savory ground lamb, aromatic rice, crunchy yellow split peas, golden saffron, fresh herbs, and oriental spices. The stuffed pumpkin is topped with sweet and sour pomegranate syrup for a tangy touch. Bake it in the oven until the nutmeg pumpkin is soft and tender, allowing the flavors in the filling to blend. This savory recipe is perfect for Shabe Yalda or your Christmas dinner. Comfort Food at its Best!

Kalam Polo Shirazi – Cabbage Rice with Meatballs

Kalam Polo Shirazi – Cabbage Rice with Meatballs

Lately, the weather has been dull, chilly, and rainy. Are you craving some comfort food that feels like a warm hug for both your body and soul, just like sun rays on a gloomy day? Kalam Polo Shirazi – Saffron Herb Rice with Pointed Cabbage and Meatballs, is a simple, tasty, and popular Persian rice dish. “Kalam” means cabbage, and “polo” is our beloved rice. You can make Kalam Polo with white cabbage or kohlrabi, but I enjoy the taste of pointed cabbage. I recently got a lovely pointed cabbage from the farmer’s market. Watch Preparation Video on Instagram