All posts tagged: winter

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).

Shabe Yalda - Yalda Night

Shabe Yalda – Yalda Night

We celebrate the longest and darkest night of the year, known as Shabe Yalda – Yalda Night, in Iran. After this night, the days become longer again, the nights shorter, and light triumphs over darkness. Yalda signifies the birth of light and the sun. Friends and family gather on this night at the home of the oldest family members to celebrate the Festival of Joy until dawn. Here are my recipes for Shab-e Yalda; enjoy preparing and celebrating! Watch my video on Instagram

Shirini Pofaki Gerdoee - Gluten-Free Walnut Cookies - شیرینی پفکی گردویی

Shirini Pofaki Gerdoee – Gluten-Free Walnut Cookies – شیرینی پفکی گردویی

Shirini Pofaki Gerdoee – gluten-free walnut cookies – شیرینی پفکی گردویی is also known as Pich Anghoshti and is a specialty from the city of Tabriz. These gluten- and lactose-free cookies are popular due to their simple and quick preparation. The dough is also butter- and oil-free. Shape them into small hoops and garnish with a half walnut. The gluten-free walnut cookies are crispy and hollow, with some walnut pieces. The aromas melt together, creating a fragrant bouquet that reminds you of oriental gardens. The roasted walnuts, cardamom, and vanilla give these cookies an irresistible character.

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!

Oriental Christmas Stollen

Oriental Christmas Stollen

With a smile on my lips and a heart packed with creativity, I created an Oriental Christmas stollen. Instead of the usual ingredients, I use dates, figs, apricots and delicious pistachios, which we have in large quantities in Persia. My Oriental Christmas Stollen reflects the flavors of Oriental cuisine while capturing the spirit of the festive season. The fruits and nuts inside the Oriental Christmas stollen shine like jewels, giving the stollen a characteristic taste. The exquisite oriental spices delight all the senses and take you back to 1001 nights.

Anar Polo ba Morgh – Pomegranate Rice with Chicken انار پلو با مرغ

Anar Polo ba Morgh – Pomegranate Rice with Chicken انار پلو با مرغ

Rice is a staple food in Persian cuisine that we prepare artfully. We have a long tradition of preparing rice, as seen in our various rice dishes. The preparation of rice sometimes has a festive character, so we prepare different rice dishes for specific celebrations. My dish today is one of them, which I prepared for the longest night of the year – Shab-e Yalda (شب یلدا). Anar Polo ba Morgh – Rice with chicken fillet and pomegranate انار پلو با مرغ is also called Nar Polo and is a delicious Persian dish that is prepared either with chicken or meat. Watch Preparation Video on Instagram

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 

Soup-e Djo Parak – Barley Flakes Soup سوپ جو پرک

Soup-e Djo Parak – Barley Flakes Soup سوپ جو پرک

Fall is not all about the golden side, as it is currently gray, windy, and wet. So, how about a warm soup that warms both body and soul? Today’s recipe – Soup-e Djo Parak – Persian barley flake soup سوپ جو پرک – makes you feel cozy. The soup is rich, thanks to barley flakes, chicken breasts, and a carrot. Spices such as turmeric and tomato paste add a delicious aroma and a beautiful color. The barley soup is sprinkled with chopped parsley and served with freshly squeezed lime juice. A healthy soup that also helps cure a cold. Watch Preparation Video on Instagram

Fall Salad with Apple, Feta and Caramelized Pistachios

Fall Salad with Apple, Feta and Caramelized Pistachios

It’s Fall! Can you smell it? Leaves change color, fog shrouds the city in the gloom, and it gets dark earlier. I love all seasons; each has its character. Welcome Fall with my delicious Fall Salad with Apple, Feta, and Caramelized Pistachios. I combine my autumnal salad, based on lettuce mix and lamb’s lettuce, with grated carrots and apple slices. Top it with sweet raisins soaked in apple juice, salty feta, sour pomegranate seeds, and crunchy caramelized pistachios. A savory-sweet honey mustard dressing rounds it out. A perfect combination of flavors and a true treat! I mean, who can resist this? Watch preparation on Instagram

Tri-colored roasted oriental cauliflower

Tri-colored roasted oriental cauliflower

My Tri-colored roasted oriental cauliflower is a feast to the senses. By roasting in the oven with a spicy oriental seasoning mix, the cauliflower obtains lovely roasting aromas and is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The aromatic tahini lemon sauce and topping of sweet and sour pomegranate molasses and seeds, crunchy pine nuts, hot chili, and fragrant rose petals take all your senses on a journey through oriental flavors. The recipe is Vegan, Low Carb, and gluten-free and fits perfectly with the trend of Veganuary. Try to join the trend in January and enjoy a vegan diet for a month. Click on link in bio for the recipe.