Persian Rice with Nuts

Foods that is usually eaten with every Iranian meal include rice, various herbs, cheese, variety of breads, and some type of meat (poultry, beef, lamb, or fish). This rice dish could be a meal by itself.

(Persian/Farsi) برنج با آجیل

/rys mei nuten/

Serves 4-6 

2 cups (400 g) basmati rice, rinse under cold water

1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil 

1 large organic onion, finely chopped 

2 organic cloves garlic, minced 

1 tsp. (9 g) each ground cumin and cinnamon

1/2 tsp. (4,5 g) each turmeric and ground cardamom  

1/4 tsp. (2 g) saffron threads, dissolved in 2 Tbs. (30 ml) hot water with a bay leaf 

1/4 cup (30 g) each dried organic: chopped apricots, cranberries, raisins, figs, slivered toasted almonds, pistachios

1/4 cup (15 g) chopped organic fresh parsley 

3 cups (720 ml) organic chicken broth 

Himalayan salt and black pepper to taste 

zest of 1 organic orange or lemon

optional: seeds of 1 organic pomegranate for garnish

~Persian/Farsi~

یک /yek/ ١ 1. Soak the rinse rice in cold water for 30 minutes, then drain.

دو /do/ ۲ 2. Heat the oil over medium heat.

سه /se/ ۳ 3. Sautée the onions for about 5-7 minutes.

چهار /cha:ha:r/ ۴ 4. Add garlic for another 1-2 minutes.

پنج /panj/ ۵ 5. Stir in the spices and cook for a minute.

شش /shesh/ ۶ 6. Add the drained rice and stir to coat with the spices and oil.

هفت /haft/ ۷ 7. Pour in the chicken broth and saffron water (without the bay leaf).

هشت /hasht/ ۸ 8. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes.

نه /noh/ ۹ 9. In a dry frying pan, toast the apricots, cranberries, raisins for a few minutes.

ده /dah/ ۱۰ 10. Remove the cooked rice pan and rest for 10 minutes.

یازده /ya:zdah ۱۱ 11. Fluff the rice with a fork.

دوازده /dava:zdah ۱۲ 12. Add the fruits, nuts, parsley, orange or lemon zest, and optional pomegranate seeds

سیزده /sizdah/ ۱۳ 13. Serve as main dish or as a side dish.

Try the many other rice dishes: https://veggiefernandezs.blogspot.com/search/label/rice

Read More

Homemade Granola

Checking the ingredients of granola, I find that I can make my own, with healthier ingredients.

Another name for granola is muesli.

Makes about 7 cups (910 g)

Preheat the oven to 275F (135C)

Use organic ingredients.

1/4 cup (30 g) each: maple syrup and honey 

2 egg whites (Use the egg yolks in another dish.)

1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil

1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla extract

1 tsp (5 g) cinnamon

1/2 tsp. (2,5 g) grated orange zest

4 cups (520 g) old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups (260 g) mixed chopped dried fruits, seeds, nuts, and/or raisins

1. Mix the honey, maple syrup, egg whites, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest in a bowl. 

2. Put a half a cup (65 g) of the mixture into a smaller bowl.

3. Mix the oats into the larger bowl.

3. Add the dried fruit into the smaller bowl.

4. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil or line with parchment paper.

5. Spoon in the mixture from the larger bowl.

6. Bake for 30 minutes.

7. Add the dried fruit mixture. Stir.

8. Bake 15 minutes, then stir the mixture again.

9. Bake 15 minutes more or until golden brown on top. 

10. Let it cool on a wire rack.

11. Store in a jar.

12. Serve for breakfast with (dairy-free) milk or yogurt, or as dessert with yogurt, or on top of ice cream, or...

Read More

Saffron Jewel Rice

Persian cuisine has extensive contact with: Caucasian, Central Asia, Greek, Levantine, Mesopotamian, Russian, Turkish, Indian, and Pakistani regions. Jeweled rice is a staple in Parisan homes, which has many varieties. Serve as a side-dish or main meal.

Persians are only one of a multitude of Iranian ethnic groups. 

(Farsi) نگین برنج زعفرانی

Serves 4-6 

1  tsp. (2 g) each: ground cardamon and crumbled saffron threads

1/3 cup (45 g) organic sugar

3 wide strips of organic orange zest, then sliced thinly

2 organic carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch (6 mm) pieces

2 Tbs. (30 ml) olive oil

1 chopped organic onion

pinch or two each of: allspice and cumin

2 cups (260 g) organic basmati, long-grain white, or jasmine rice, rinsed

1/2 cup (65 g) each organic: dried cranberries & chopped apricots, and currants

1/4 cup (30 g) each organic toasted sliced: almonds and pistachios

2 Tbs. (12 g) chopped parsley

یک /yek/ ١ 1. Sprinkle the saffron into 1/4 cup (60 ml) hot water. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

دو /do/ ۲ 2. Bring 2 cups (480 ml) water and sugar to boil over medium-high heat.

سه /se/ ۳ 3. Stir in the zest and carrots, reduce to medium-low and simmer 10-15 minutes.

چهار /cha:ha:r/ ۴ 4. Drain and let cool.

پنج /panj/ ۵ 5. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat and sautée the onions about 5 minutes.

شش /shesh/ ۶ 6. Stir in the saffron and other herbs for about 30 seconds.

هفت /haft/ ۷ 7. Stir in the rice and cook for 3 minutes.

هشت /hasht/ ۸ 8. Stir in the rest of the water and bring to simmer.

نه /noh/ ۹ 9. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes.

ده /dah/ ۱۰ 10. Remove pot and sprinkle the carrots, orange zest, currants, cranberries over the rice.

یازده /ya:zdah ۱۱ 11. Cover and let it set for 10 minutes.

دوازده /dava:zdah ۱۲ 12. Add the apricots and nuts, fluff gently with a fork, sprinkle with parsley.

Read More

Parfait for a Birthday

I made a nice, birthday brunch for my sister with a parfait for dessert. It event came with a candle!-Mike

Serves 2

Preheat the oven to 300F (150C)

16 ounces (455 g) heavy whipped cream

2 Tbs. (30 g) sugar-free flavored gelatin dessert (any flavor)

3 Tbs. (45 ml) organic maple syrup

1 tsp. (2 g) cinnamon

2 Tbs. (30 g) organic nut butter

1 cup (130 g) organic mixed nuts

2 cups (260 g) organic oats

1/2 cup (65 g) organic dried fruit, chopped

optional: chocolate chips

1. Mix the cream until fluffy.

2. Save a little for topping.

3. Add flavored gelatin powder, mix, and refrigerate.

4. In a bowl, mix the maple syrup, cinnamon, and nut butter.

5. Toss in the nuts and oats.

6. Press the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

7. Bake until it turns a little brown, about 15 minutes.

8. Remove and stir in the dried fruit.

9. Let it cool.

10. Layer the granola and gelatin-whipped cream into two cups.

11. Top with whipped cream and optional chocolate chips.

Read More