**Kuku Sabzi: A Vibrant Symphony of Herbs and Eggs**
In the realm of Persian cuisine, kuku sabzi stands as a radiant culinary gem, a vibrant tapestry of fresh herbs, aromatic spices, and perfectly cooked eggs. This delectable dish, often referred to as Persian herb omelet, embodies the essence of spring's bounty, capturing the verdant flavors of nature in every bite. Kuku sabzi is a symphony of textures, a harmonious blend of crispy edges and a tender, fluffy interior, complemented by the vibrant colors of the herbs. This versatile dish can be enjoyed as a hearty breakfast or brunch, a light lunch or dinner, or even as a delectable appetizer. Embark on a culinary journey to discover the secrets of kuku sabzi, as we delve into the depths of this beloved Persian delicacy. Along the way, we'll explore variations such as kuku sibzamini (potato kuku) and kuku bademjan (eggplant kuku), each offering unique flavor profiles and culinary experiences.
FRESH HERB KUKU
Kuku is a traditional Persian egg dish similar to a frittata. This version by the Iranian food writer Najmieh Batmanglij was served at the White House at Michelle Obama's Nowruz celebration on April 6. In it, a variety of fresh green herbs are mixed with fragrant spices, chopped walnuts and just enough eggs to bind everything together. Dried barberries, caramelized with grape molasses or sugar, make a pretty and sweet-tart garnish. If you can't get barberries, substitute dried cranberries. Kuku can be served warm or at room temperature, and can be made a day in advance. Leftovers make excellent sandwiches when stuffed into lavash or pita with yogurt.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories main course
Time 50m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until lightly golden all over, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer onions to a medium bowl and cool to room temperature; reserve skillet.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a 9-x-12-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, lightly whisk to combine eggs, salt, pepper, baking powder, all of the spices and the rose petal, if using. Add caramelized onions, all of the herbs, walnuts, lettuce, spring onion, garlic and rice flour. Fold just to combine; do not overmix.
- Brush prepared baking dish with 1/4 cup oil. (It may look like a lot, but it gets absorbed into the batter.) Add batter, smoothing out the top and pushing it to the sides. Bake until center is set, about 20 minutes, and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Meanwhile, place the skillet used to cook the onion over medium heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the barberries, grape molasses or sugar and 2 tablespoons water. Simmer, stirring, until liquid is reduced and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
- Top cooked kuku with caramelized barberries and cut into 6 equal pieces. Serve hot or room temperature, with lavash and yogurt, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 359, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 346 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
PERSIAN HERB OMELETTE KUKU
This is mostly greens and very little egg. This recipes makes a lot extra so you can have greens kept in the freezer to pull out and add egg to make in a jiffy. Half a mixing bowl of greens will yield one Kuku omelette for 2 people or slice like pizza and serve for appetizers with pita bread.
Provided by nyamyj
Categories Spinach
Time 1h20m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Clean and dry all the fresh herbs well.
- Chop up all the herbs (this recipe makes enough to freeze a lot of the herbs in a large tupperware for future use.
- In a medium size mixing bowl combine herbs - fill bowl almost halfway.
- Add a few shakes of each spice (be careful not to overdo the cumin. I go heavy on the coriander (both forms- ground and seeds).
- Gently mix in 2 eggs with the herbs.
- Add olive oil to the bottom of a large teflon frying pan (I also add some more spices to the oil).
- Put mixture of herbs and eggs (it looks very green and not very eggy at all) into the pan and flatten to an omelette shape. I like to make it very thin so it cooks very well throughout.
- Cook until brown and flip - I usually slide it onto a plate and then add a little more oil to the pan and flip the omelette from the plate to the pan to finish browning the other side.
- When browned slide Kuku onto a plate add some salt if preferred and serve with pita bread. Good with plain yogurt too. Healthy and delish! Enjoy! My friends love when I make this for them.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 278, Fat 7.4, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 211.5, Sodium 338.8, Carbohydrate 41.6, Fiber 15.2, Sugar 10.2, Protein 20.3
KUKU SABZI (PERSIAN HERB FRITTATA)
Kuku, which is like a Persian frittata, comes in many forms, but this one, packed to the brim with herbs, is my favorite. Washing and picking through the piles of herbs can be overwhelming if you're not used to staring down a mountain of produce, so feel free to prepare them in advance. I particularly love kuku sabzi for the contrast between its vivid-green herbaceous interior and its dark, sweet crust. Kuku is traditionally served with flatbread and a selection of crunchy and acidic condiments to balance the sweetness of the herbs; my favorites are fresh radishes, the chopped eggplant pickles called liteh and chunks of soft, salty feta cheese. Leftover kuku slathered with mast-o khiar makes for a wonderful sandwich.
Provided by Samin Nosrat
Categories brunch, lunch, vegetables, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 2h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Trim woody ends from cilantro, parsley and dill so that only leaves and tender stems remain. Wash herbs and romaine leaves, then use a salad spinner to dry very well. Set aside.
- Finely dice both the green and white parts of the leeks. Wash well and drain.
- Set a 10-inch cast-iron or nonstick pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers, add leeks. Season with a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and softened but not browned, about 20 minutes, reducing the heat if necessary.
- In the meantime, very finely chop the cilantro, parsley, dill and romaine by hand - the smaller the pieces, the more deeply green your kuku will be. To chop such a large volume of herbs, take a large handful or two at a time and roll into a tight ball. Run a large, sharp knife through the ball to initially chop the herbs roughly, then continue to rock the knife back and forth through the pile of herbs until very finely chopped. Repeat with remaining herbs until finished. Combine the chopped herbs and romaine with the dried fenugreek and dried dill in a very large bowl.
- When leeks are cooked, add herb mixture and another generous pinch of salt to the pan and cook, stirring often, until it dries out and the color changes to a very dark green, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture back into the very large bowl; spread it out, then allow it to cool to room temperature.
- When the herb mixture has cooled, add barberries, turmeric, baking powder, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Taste the mixture: It should be a little on the salty side. If it's not, add a little more salt. One at a time, add eggs to the herb mixture, stirring well after each addition. Use as few eggs as needed to barely bind the mixture; this will ensure a brilliant-green kuku. The mixture should be the consistency of a loose porridge.
- Wipe out the pan and melt the butter over medium-high heat. When the butter melts, add remaining 1/4 cup oil. Add a tiny spoonful of the kuku mixture to the pan. When it sizzles, add the rest of the mixture and use a rubber spatula to spread it out evenly. The oil should bubble up the sides of the kuku. Run the spatula around the edge and jiggle the pan from time to time to check that the mixture isn't sticking. Cook, rotating pan a quarter turn every 3 to 4 minutes, until the kuku is set, the bottom is a very dark brown, and the edges are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Don't be afraid of getting your crust really dark - it will appear almost burned, but it will taste heavenly sweet.
- Use a rubber spatula to ensure that the kuku is not stuck to the pan, then carefully tip as much of the oil as possible into a medium bowl and set aside. Cover the pan with a large, flat platter or pizza pan and flip the kuku onto it and set aside. Return the oil to the pan and carefully slide the flipped kuku back into the pan to cook the second side. Cook over medium-high until the second side is dark brown and the kuku is cooked through, about 5 more minutes.
- While the kuku finishes cooking, wipe off the platter and line with a double layer of paper towels. Flip the finished kuku onto the prepared platter and use another paper towel to dab excess oil from the surface. To serve, flip once more onto a serving platter and peel away paper towels.
- Serve warm, cold or at room temperature, with your choice of radishes, pickles, feta, warmed flatbread and mast-o khiar.
Tips:
- Use fresh herbs for the best flavor. Parsley, cilantro, and chives are all great choices.
- Don't overcook the eggs. The omelette should be cooked through but still slightly runny in the center.
- Serve the omelette immediately with your favorite sides. Some popular options include yogurt, bread, and vegetables.
- If you don't have a traditional Persian skillet, you can use a regular nonstick skillet.
- Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices. You could add some diced tomatoes, spinach, or feta cheese to the omelette.
Conclusion:
Kuku sabzi is a delicious and easy-to-make Persian dish that is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover herbs. With its vibrant green color and flavorful combination of herbs and eggs, kuku sabzi is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting breakfast or brunch recipe, give kuku sabzi a try!
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