Sneha's Recipe: Persia

This month in Mena's Cooking Club, I am travelling to Persia ( Iran) our host Sanam of My Persian Kitchen choose this recipe for the savory.

Reshteh is a Persian word for thread or string. Traditionally for this recipe the noodles used would be homemade. Reshteh was the only word used to denote noodles in Arab cookbooks of the 13th and 14th centuries. Special symbolism is given to dishes that contain noodles when a decision of importance or change is to occur; the noodles or "reins" of one's life are to be taken in hand. A traditional dish in Iran is reshteh polow or pilaf, which is served during the Persian new year with the noodles representing the threads of life and family intertwined.

The reshteh used in the Iranian cuisine is actually a thicker type of noodle, used in reshteh polow and also a type of ash, called Ash Reshteh
Reshteh Polow, is a Persian delicacy, generally cooked for Nawroz, the Persian New Year. Depending on the dialect, Reshteh Polo can be spelled a few different ways. Polo can be spelled polou or polow. You should, try and prepare this dish at least once. I am sure you would be happy that you did it.

Here, for this recipe, after going through many recipes and after careful thinking just gave it a slight change to suit my taste. This preparation is a lengthy process, but the effort is worth it. This will serve 3 persons for a main course.

Ingredients
1 Cup Long grain Basmati rice
50 Grams Spaghetti
300 Grams Mutton - cut into chunks
1 Onion - finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder

1/2 Teaspoon Coriander powder

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin powder
1 Teaspoon Orange Peel

2 Sticks of Cinnamon

8 Peppercorns
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
4 Large Dates
1 Tablespoon Raisins
1/4 cup Warm water
Pinch Saffron

3 Tablespoons Oil

2 Tablespoons Butter

1/4 Cup Curds

Method

Rinse the rice three times in fresh water to remove the excess starch. Add water to cover by about 1 inch and set aside to soak for at least 15 minutes.

In a pan add the oil and heat over medium flame. Break the spaghetti into pieces about 3 inches long. Toss them into the oil and saute, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan add little oil if needed, and then stir in the chunks of meat and brown on all sides on high flame (so that the juices of the meat are sealed). Remove to a plate and set aside.

In the same pan add the onions,cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, cumin powders and saute until the onions are translucent and browned. Then add back the browned meat, a cup of water, the orange peel, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until the meat is cooked and tender and about 1/4 cup of stock is still present. Stir in the raisins and dates, simmer for another two minutes. Remove the meat mixture to a large bowl and set aside.

In a another large vessel add enough amount of water with a teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil. Stir in the rice and let it cook till 80% done. Strain the rice in and risen in fresh cold water to stop the cooking process, keep this aside.

In the same rice vessel add enough water with a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil add the toasted spaghetti and cook this too till 80% done. Strain and risen in fresh cold water to stop the cooking process, keep this aside.

Soak the saffron in the warm water and keep aside (Ah see the setting sun).

In a bowl take the curds and 1/4th quantity of the cooked the rice mix it well and keep aside.

Mix the remaining rice and noodles together and keep aside.

In a heavy bottomed pan melt butter to cover the bottom of the pan. Place the curd rice mixture at the bottom evenly. Spread the meat mixture evenly over the layer of rice. Then spread the remaining rice evenly over the meat.Use spoon to poke holes down into the rice all the way to the bottom of the pot.

Pour the saffron-scented water over the top layer of rice. Place fine slices of butter on top.

Cover the vessel with a aluminium foil, then with a lid. This process is necessary since this keeps the steam from dripping back down into the rice.

Place this on high heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to low and steam for about 35 minutes. Remove the vessel from heat and let rest for 10 minutes.

As I am writing this post, the rice is cooking on the stove and the aroma of it is filling the house. I am, waiting for it to be ready and just dig into it..... too long a wait...

Carefully invert this onto a large serving dish. Serve with crusty rice from the bottom of the pot,crumbled over the top. Decorate the plate with cream curds, spaghetti, orange peel and almonds.

At last! the wait is over and I, had my fill ... ate to my heart's content and now, just to take a nap. Too full to keep awake. So bye, you too try and enjoy.

Note:

I first thought that I would eliminate the dates and raisins. But on second thoughts, used them and let me assure you that this sweet taste, blends well with the salty meat and rice.

I cooked the mutton in a pressure cooker for 10 minutes.

Ensure that the rice and spaghetti is cooked 80% or else the end result will be mashed and not grainy.

For reshteh polow you can use both Beef, Lamb or chicken.
Homemade noodles called Reshteh are traditional for this dish. Pre-made, pre-toasted reshteh are available only in Middle Eastern markets. Since I couldn't find them in India, substituted it with spaghetti.

Check to see what the other members are doing here.

Labels: Mutton, Rice, Healthy, Main course, Vegan, Continental Cuisine, Mena Cooking Club, Persia

This month in Mena's Cooking Club , I am travelling to Persia (Iran), and this is a sweet recipe chosen by our host Sanam of My Persian Kitchen. Sholeh Zard, a Persian rice pudding.

Sholeh Zard is very sweet and we had it as a dessert, however it is normally served as a Persian appetizer. The flavors are, saffron and rose water. Saffron has a very unique flavor and makes food yellow, naturally! Since saffron is very expensive, I have used a pinch and added turmeric powder to give that awesome color as you can see in the pics.

Serves: 6
Ingredients
1 Cup Rice - short grain variety
6 Cups Water
1 Cup + 2 Teaspoons Sugar
½ Teaspoon Saffron
1 Teaspoon Turmeric (for brighter color)
1 Cup Rose Water
1/4 Teaspoon Rose essence
1/3 Cup Almonds - silvered

Method

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil, add in short grain rice. Allow this mixture to boil until the rice is relatively soft. Keep removing the scum that rises to the surface.

Soak the saffron with a little warm water and keep aside.

Once the rice is soft, add in sugar, rose water, essence, almonds ( reserve few for decoration), turmeric and saffron water. Stir and let simmer till the sugar melts and the water is evaporated and rice is soft and still fluffy, add more hot water if needed.