General Information:
The history of ghormeh sabzi goes back at least 500 to 1000 years(according to wikipedia) .I recall from my childhood , people would name it the king of stews .The traditional recipe forms with stew meat sauteed with onion, red beans(but I prefer kidney or Roman beans),fried herbs (persian leek,parsley,fenugreek and a little bit spinach).,dried lime(limo amani),spices(Turmeric,pepper) .The dish is then served with polo
Ghormeh Sabzi – Persian Herb Stew
This dish is one of Persian authentic stew
Khoresh-e Ghormeh Sabzi is one of the most delicious and popular dishes among Iranians. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like ghormeh sabzi. The combination of flavorful and aromatic herbs, slow cooked lamb cubes, fork-tender beans and dried lemons make the khoresh very tasty and nutritious.
Ingredients:
Serves 4-6
1 pounds meat (lamb or beef) washed and cubed
1 cup red kidney beans or pinto beans, soaked overnight
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
4 bunches flat-leafed parsley
1 bunch cilantro
2 large leeks or 4 scallions (green stems only)
1 small bunch fresh fenugreek, or 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek (shanbalileh), too much fenugreek will cause ghormeh sabzi to taste bitter
3-4 dried lemons (limoo amani), or 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil
Water
Directions:
Wash herbs thoroughly ,it shouldn’t be wet for chopping.(I used dried fenugreek with fresh greens)
Method:(Instructions)Tonight’s Special Dish
Clean and wash the herbs, dry thoroughly and chop finely.
Heat 1/3 cup of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute the chopped fresh herbs for about 15 minutes, stir frequently. Set aside.
In a large stew pot, saute chopped onions in 2 tablespoons of oil until they become golden brown.
Add the meat, turmeric, salt, pepper and fry until all sides are brown.
Add the soaked dried beans, fried vegetables and dried lemons.
Pour in enough water to cover the mixture by about 2 inches, bring to a boil on high heat for just a couple of minutes, lower the heat, cover and cook on medium to low heat for 1 1/2 hours.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary and add a little more water if needed. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and simmer for another 30 minutes. The longer ghormeh sabzi simmers the better it tastes. ( khoob ja miofteh). It would also taste better reheated the next day. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
