{"id":4399,"date":"2025-04-04T20:02:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T18:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labsalliebe.com\/en\/?p=4399"},"modified":"2025-04-04T20:02:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T18:02:57","slug":"joojeh-kabab-for-sizdah-bedar-saffron-and-lemon-chicken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/labsalliebe.com\/en\/joojeh-kabab-for-sizdah-bedar-saffron-and-lemon-chicken\/","title":{"rendered":"Joojeh Kabab for Sizdah Bedar \u2013 Saffron and Lemon Chicken"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joojeh Kabab for Sizdah Bedar \u2013 Saffron and Lemon Chicken is a beloved dish in Iran and beyond, and you\u2019ll love how easy it is to make. First, marinate the chicken in a mixture of yogurt, lemon or lime juice, olive oil, onions, saffron, salt, and pepper. Don’t skip this step is as it infuses the chicken with incredible flavor and makes it tender.<\/p>\n

Next, grill the chicken either on a BBQ, in the oven, or in an Airfryer. The marinade not only keeps it juicy but also adds a slightly sweet and tangy taste that makes it irresistible. For this recipe, you\u2019ll be using the oven-grilled method. Make sure to drain the chicken well before grilling and grill it without the marinade to get the perfect texture.<\/p>\n

To complete your meal, serve the kabab with wild rice and barberries, grilled tomatoes, and a refreshing Salad Shirazi. In Iran, you\u2019ll find two types of Joojeh Kabab\u2014one with the bone and one without. For this version, you\u2019ll use boneless chicken breast, which absorbs the marinade beautifully and cooks evenly. With these simple steps, you can prepare a delicious and traditional Persian meal that\u2019s perfect for celebrating Sizdah Bedar!<\/p>\n

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WHAT IS SIZDAH BEDAR?<\/h2>\n

On the 13th day of Nowruz, it becomes clear that Nowruz is a celebration of nature, family, and renewal. This year, Sizdah Bedar falls on April 2nd. We greet the Nowruz festival with Chaharshanbeh Suri and say goodbye to it with Sizdah Bedar. On this day, we honor nature by spending time in it, relaxing, and recharging. We draw new energy and rest from the fresh, blooming nature to start the new year.<\/p>\n

As in many other countries, the number 13 is considered unlucky. “Sizdah” means 13, and “bedar” means to get rid of. For this reason, we take a trip to nature, as it is believed to bring bad luck to stay at home on this day. The whole family comes together, and we either go on a picnic or visit a restaurant. The Haft Sin table is taken down, coins are given to the children, and the Sabzeh<\/a><\/strong> (wheat or lentil sprouts) is tied to the front of the car. Everyone drives around the city honking, creating a huge noise!<\/p>\n

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DARBAND ON THE WAY TO TOCHAL<\/h2>\n

We head towards the mountains to eat Kabab. In the north of Tehran, we drive up to the neighborhood of Darband, which is located 1700 meters above sea level. Darband is the starting point of a very popular hiking and climbing trail that leads to Tochal Mountain, which reaches almost 4000 meters in height. There’s also a 12 km long cable car, the longest in the world, that takes you effortlessly to the summit. From here, you have a stunning view of Mount Damavand and the huge city of Tehran, with its 12 million inhabitants.<\/p>\n

Darband lies in a gorge, and along the roaring stream, you\u2019ll find many tea houses and restaurants. People sit on low platforms covered with beautiful carpets, enjoying Kabab<\/a><\/strong>, which is prepared in various forms (like Kabab Koobideh,<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Tschelo Kabab and Djujeh Kabab) by the grill master. We take off our shoes and sit cross-legged on the platforms to eat. My favorite is Djujeh Kabab. To finish off the meal, my father orders a Shisha for the adults. After eating, we sing and dance. Everyone who\u2019s there joins in with great joy. We form a circle, and one or two people are invited to the center to dance while those in the circle clap along. At the end of the day, we all relax on the carpets, exhausted but happy, and play cards or backgammon until it starts to get dark, then we drive back home.<\/p>\n

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SIZDAH BEDAR TRADITIONS<\/h2>\n