Khoresht- e Qeimeh, or Gheimeh, split peas and meat stew

This is one of the special dishes amongst Iranians, Many Iranians have  special feelings for this khoresht because it is one of the most  wanted nazri foods during religious  ceremonies,nazri is traditional Muslim Iranian culture which is mostly referred to making food and distributing it amongst people specifically needy ones,generally Nazr  is a promise to fulfill when someone asks God to help to solve problems or Asking God for something , Most people promise to make foods and distribute it Many Iranians carry it out  multiple times per year around major religious events and holidays, Khoresht gheimeh is easy and delicious, hence on the top list of nazri Foods. 
 Gheigmeh or Qeimah, is tiny cut pieces of  stewing meat lamb or beef, (Goosht-e Gheimeh) ...... Goosht means meat! once is served you may fall in love with its peculiar aroma of dried  lime - Limoo amani- and  matchstick thin potato chips on top of the stew !


I N G R E D I E N T S: (for 4 )

450 gr stewing meat (lamb chops or beef)
1 large onion
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
5 dried limes  
2 potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp saffron
1tbsp rose water
2 handfuls of split  peas
2 tbs oil


D I R E C T I O N:


Trim , wash and chop stewing meat in small cubes,
Chop the onions and saute in 1 tablespoon oil until golden, 
add meat to onions and fry until the meat color changes  all over,add turmeric and nutmeg, salt and pepper

  Add water to cover the meat and cook for about 45 minutes, ,meanwhile cook split peas separately but remove them from the heat  half cooked, to better digestion of split peas you should soak them in water a few hours a head of cooking, 
Drain half cooked split peas and add them in a frying pan and add tomato paste, cinnamon and nutmeg, stir fry for a few minutes,  cut dried limes in half and remove seeds carefully, add them to the pan,

  Add the split peas mixture to the meat and cover the mixture with enough amount of water, sprinkle  in saffron powder,
cover the pan and  simmer for 40 minutes or until   meat is tender and split peas are soft, but don't overcook  the stew , add rose water before removing from the heat( after adding rose water  simmer 2 minutes more)

 about 10 minutes before serving the food, peel the potato, and cut in matchstick thin length wise and make fried potato chips,

add chips on the top of the stew before serving, 

Serve with plain rice, 

I hope you enjoy it!

Koofteh Tabrizi, Tabrizi Meatball

Is there a smell of any food that always brings back a nostalgic memory?

I would say yes!  Koofteh is  one of the dearest dishes to me ,  not because of the  delicious smell but it  reminds me of delightful  memories of the past and my Mom,  My Mom used to cook it in the  most of family gatherings and parties on special occasions like Eid days.

The following recipe of a joyful and edible   Koofteh is one of those dishes, nobody in the family or relatives could compete with her appetizing foods, especially with her aromatic flavorful Koofteh Tabrizi, So  here I am sharing  the memory of My mother’s tasty hands which can’t be replaced  by no one for me!

Ingredients:

500 gr meat (lamb or beef…I prefer to use half lamb and half beef)

¾ cup split peas

¾ cup rice ( short grain rice is better)

2 eggs or one large egg

4 large onions

1/2 cup  chopped Persian leek

1/3 cup chopped parsley 
1/3 cup chopped cilantro 

1 table spoon dried summer savory  leaves  (marzeh in Farsi)

16  dried prunes

200 gr dried sour cherries ( or barberries)

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 teaspoons turmeric

1 tea spoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
spoonful of flour or chickpeas flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 kg tomato
1 or 2 green chilies it depends on your taste, and if you like hot sauce 
1/4 cup verjuice  ...verjuice or Abghooreh  is unripe grape juice  which is sour

Water

Direction

Soak  split peas 2 hours a head 

Cook split peas until tender, scoop out the foam formed on the surface,( I prefer to drain them after bringing the water to a boil )

Cook rice until just tender  ( add  1/2 tea spoon  of turmeric to it )

 

Cook Rice until  just tender ( add 1/2 tea spoon of turmeric)

meanwhile prepare the sauce in a large pot.

saute 2 diced onions in 2 table spoons oil until golden, dice or process tomatoes in food processor, add them to fried onions, add one or 2 green chillies if you like hot sauce,  fry it for 10 minutes over a medium heat,  stir it occasionally, add 1 tsp turmeric,.....

 Then Add enough water like 3 or 4 glasses and 1/4 cup verjuice or Abghooreh, simmer over the low heat

process cooked split peas in the food processor to mash,  do the same thing with the rice , combine ground meat, mashed rice and  split peas,1 tea spoon of turmeric,1/4 tea spoon chili powder, grate 2 onions or you can   process onions in food processor or you can mince  onions, 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 table spoons savory/Marzeh, 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley, 1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro and 1/2 cup finely chopped Persian leek,

Add eggs or a large egg and flour may be one or 2  table spoons but you may even need more , Kneed the mixture until to get a  dough consistency,

place a handful of the mixture in your palm  and make a well, place prunes and dried sour cherries or whatever stuffing you like, My mom used to stuff koofteh with hard boiled eggs, walnuts and fried onions and other things, so you can add other stuffing ingredients of your own choice,

If you use complete prunes not  pitted ones, warn the others about the pits to save their teeth otherwise you will need to pay for their dental  expenses!!!!

then go around the edges and seal the meat ball, I make them as size as a large fist, Play with the meat ball to shape a round ball.

you can use cloth something like cheese cloth if you want to make a perfect  gigantic meat ball!

add more water to the simmering tomato sauce season with a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, add the meat balls to the boiling sauce, cover  and simmer for an hour or until cooked,

after an hour or so your food is ready, it seems like a mission impossible but no  I know that it s possible! 

Enjoy your meal!

TIP: turkey meat  can be used as  alternative for the red meat used in this dish,