Persian Food

Have you ever tried Persian Food?

Well if not, I am sorry you missed a lot but don’t worry it’s not too late!

This beauty is Koofte Tabrizi, or I would say Persian style meatloaf.

I recommend you to watch videos on YouTube but here’s the recipe:

500gr ground beef(choose low fat meat)

1 cup yellow split peas

½ cup rice

1 medium yellow onion

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 small potato, boiled and peeled

5 tablespoon Koofteh herbs(scallion, summer savory, tarragon, mint, parsley, coriander)

Salt, turmeric, black pepper

hard-boiled eggs(optional)

yellow prunes

dried barberry

walnut

3 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cups of hot water

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Soak split peas overnight. Place peas in a pot and cover them with water about 2 inches above the peas. Soaking peas overnight in water shortens their cooking time.

Step 2

Drain yellow split peas water. Add a cup of water to yellow split peas and cook it with a small potato for 30 minutes on low heat. Then drain water and set aside.

Step 3

Place the rice with two glasses of water, no salt, and with an open lid on the heat the water is all soaked up.

Step 4

Transfer cooked potato, rice and yellow split peas to a large bowl. Mix them all together using a food processor until uniform.

Step 5

Grate one small onion and squeeze out the onion juice, this will avoid koofteh tabrizi falling apart while cooking.

Step 6

In a large bowl Mix the ground beef and grated onion thoroughly.

Step 7

Add rice and yellow split peas, egg, herbs, salt, turmeric and pepper.

Step 8

Knead ingredients for about 10 minutes. Kneading is very important and adds strength to the final mixture. If you feel that the mixture is a little bit soft you can place them in the fridge for a few hours before cooking them.

Step 9

Sauté the barberries for a few minutes and set them aside.

Step 10

Chop another Onion and put it and Sauté in a large pot. After 5 minutes add turmeric and Sauté until golden brown over medium heat.

Step 11

Add tomato paste, salt and pepper to onion and then add 4 or 5 cups of hot water and bring it to boil.

Step 12

Once it starts bubbling, cover the pot and bring down the heat to a simmer and let the sauce get thick.

Step 13

Flatten ½ cup of the filling in your palm, place dried fruits and one half walnut in to the center and form it into a ball. To prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands you can wet your hands with cold water.

Step 14

Place the meatballs into the pot. Don’t cover the pot for 30 minutes and cook them gently over medium heat.

Step 15

After 30 minutes, reduces heat to low, cover the lid and let it cook for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Step 16

Sprinkle the top with fried onion and barberry mixture.