Persian quince stew (khoresh-e beh)

6 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 Onion; finely sliced
⅓ cup Oil or butter
1 pounds Stewing meat (lamb or beef); cut in 1 inch cubes
1 teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Pepper
½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
3 cups ;Water
2 larges Quinces
3 tablespoons Sugar
¼ cup Vinegar or lemon juice
¼ teaspoon Ground saffron; dissolved in
1 tablespoon ;Water, hot
⅓ cup Yellow split peas
3 cups Basmati rice
8 cups ;Water
2 tablespoons Salt
¾ cup Butter; melted
½ teaspoon Saffron; dissolved in
2 tablespoons ;Water, hot
2 tablespoons Yogurt (opt)
>From _Food of Life_.

Directions

CHELO

In large pot, brown onions in 3 Tbsp. of oil or butter. Add meat and brown. Add salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Add water, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hr, stirring occasionally.

Wash, but don't peel quinces. Use apple corer to remove seeds. Slice as for apple pie. In skillet, saute in 2 Tbsp. oil or butter and set aside.

To the meat, add sugar, vinegar or lemon juice, saffron, split peas, and quince. Cover and simmer 35 minutes. Check to see that meat and fruit are cooked. Taste and correct seasoning. Transfer to deep casserole dish and keep in warm oven until ready to serve. Serve hot with chelo (recipe below.)

(Note: I am giving the detailed instructions for chelo. I don't use the yogurt and I drizzle the remaining saffron over *all* the rice. I also serve the tah dig(crust) with the rest of the rice.) Chelo: Wash rice 5 times in cold water. Bring water and salt to boil in a large non-stick pan. Add washed and drained rice. Boil 6 minutes, stirring gently twice to loosen grains that may have stuck to bottom. Drain rice in colander and rinse in lukewarm water.

In same pot, heat half the butter, 2 Tbsp. hot water, a drop of dissolved saffron, and yogurt. Taking one spatula at a time, place rice gently in pot mounding in the shape of a pyramid.

Dissolve remaining butter in 2 Tbsp. hot water and pour over rice.

Place clean dishtowel over pot and cover firmly with lid to prevent steam from escaping. Cook 10 minutes over medium heat and 50 minutes over low heat. Remove from heat.

Allow to cool 5 minutes on a damp surface without removing lid. Put 2 Tbsp. of the rice in with remaining saffron and set aside for garnish. Gently remove rice from pot without disturbing crust.

Sprinkle saffron flavored rice over top and serve. Detach crust and serve separately.

posted by: Sarah Henderson <sehender@...> from the rec.food.recipes archives Stephanie da Silva (arielle@...), archivist Submitted By SAM WARING <SAM.WARING@...> On WED, 01 NOV 1995 134731 GMT

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