Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb, Bean and Lamb Stew) Khoresh-e Sabzi
or chicken or no meat.
Recipe Date /Prepared December 20, 2020
Chef Gene Kalesti
Presented for Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Culinary Federation
May 18th 2023.
Please consider one of many celebrations of Love and Food from Iran and it’s Persian people. Mehregan in the Fall after Harvest Festival. It is not a religious celebration in the United States or in our US Persian communities. It’s the Celebration of Love and Friendship, fine organic grown food, traditional dishes like Ghormeh Sabzi.
Mehregan (Persian: مهرگان) or Jashn-e Mehr (جشن مهر lit. Mithra Festival)
Again this is often made Vegan which I do regularly. However I too as a Chef enjoy immensely Colorado Lamb preparation as well.
6-8 servings
- 1 ½ pounds lamb shoulder or beef chuck, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 heaping teaspoon ground turmeric or 1/8 cup fresh Tumeric root, so available now.
- Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup dried kidney beans
- 3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup Garbanzo (chickpea)
- 1 pound fresh Green Beans
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 pound Italian parsley ( 3 large bunches)
- 1 pound cilantro (about 3 large bunches)
- 2 bunches wild or hothouse chives
- 1 bunch scallions, rool be ts trimmed
- 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek or 1.5 cups fresh leaves
- 4 Omani (dried Persian) limes, rinsed and punctured multiple times with a fork
- ¼ teaspoon crumbled saffron threads
- Tahdig (Persian Rice Crust), Aromatic basmati rice is spiced with saffron and cooked to form a crispy crust on the bottom in this Persian cuisine staple. for serving
- Mast-o Khiar or plain sheep yogurt, Differences between Mast-O-Khiar and Tzatziki: tzatziki is Greek in origin; mast-o-khiar is Iranian/Persian. tzatziki is made with a thicker (strained), Greek-style yogurt while mast-o-khiar can be made with a thinner, mast-o Khiar Sheep excellent plain yogurt. tzatziki has dill, mast-o-khiar usually has mint and I grinds cumin seed, onion, black pepper and fine diced Persian cucumbers for serving.
- Persian Flat Lavosh or Naan.
- In a medium bowl, season the meat with turmeric, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
- Rinse the beans and place in a medium bowl with 1 cup water and a generous pinch of salt. Set aside to soak for 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, place a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed braising pan over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil. When it shimmers, add meat and cook, turning regularly so that it browns evenly on all sides, about 15 minutes. Once the meat has browned, move it to the edges of the pot and add the onion to the center of the pot, along with a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring regularly, until the onion begins to soften and turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
- ll cooked, steamed beans and garbanzo to the pot, stirring to combine everything and coat the beans with oil. Add 4 cups water, increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot and simmer for 2 hours.
- In the meantime, prepare the herbs: Wash parsley and cilantro, then use a salad spinner to dry very well. Remove and discard the tough stems. Chop the leaves and tender stems very, very finely, or feel free to use a food processor to get these herbs as finely chopped as possible. The more finely chopped the herbs, the more green and unctuous the ghormeh sabzi will be.
- Separately chop the chives and entire bunch of scallions (including the green tops) as finely as possible by hand. These, too, must be very finely chopped — nearly minced — but they will turn to mush in a food processor and should be chopped by hand.
- Set a large frying pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the remaining 1/4 cup oil and the scallion-chive mixture. Allow to wilt, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes, then add remaining chopped herbs and fenugreek leaves or seed, crushing the fenugreek leaves between your fingers as you add them. Cook, stirring continuously, until the herbs are wilted and very dark green — but not burned — and they give off a bright green oil when pressed with a spoon, 18 to 20 minutes. This step is crucial to the flavor and color of the stew. You’ll know the herbs are ready when they feel dry and emit a strong, savory aroma.
- When the meat has cooked for 2 hours, add the cooked herb mixture, Omani limes and 1/2 cup water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover pot, and simmer for another hour. Check on the limes occasionally to make sure they are submerged in the stew but not falling apart. Gently push them into the stew if they’re still floating after 20 minutes.
- As the stew nears the 3-hour mark, remove the lid and check the meat; it should be very tender. If the ghormeh sabzi seems a little watery, leave it uncovered for the last 20 minutes of cooking and allow to reduce into a thick stew. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. If the stew needs a little acidity, juice a lime into the stew through a sieve by pressing down on it with a spoon (avoid letting the seeds through the sieve, as they can be bitter). Set aside. Taste the stew and continue adding more lime juice until the stew is sufficiently tangy. Stir in the saffron. The stew should be a very deep, dark shade of green and quite thick when done. Return dried limes into the stew to serve.
- Serve hot with Persian rice and mast-o khiar.