Persian Spinach Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Put vinegar, onion and dates in a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mix well with your hands. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes, then drain any residual vinegar and discard.
• Meanwhile, heat butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add pita and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring all the time, until pita is golden. Add almonds and continue cooking until pita is crunchy and browned and almonds are toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and mix in sumac, chile flakes and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside to cool.
• When ready to serve, toss spinach leaves with pita mix in a large mixing bowl. Add dates and red onion, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, the lemon juice and another pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in turmeric for 1 to 2 minutes. Add chuck cubes; cook until coated in turmeric and browned on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a separate pot over medium heat. Add spinach, green onions, parsley, cilantro, chives, and fenugreek leaves; cook and stir until deep dark green in color, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir spinach mixture into the onion and chuck mixture. Pour in enough water to create a slurry consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in lemon juice. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer stew until greens soften, about 1 hour.
• Pierce dried limes with a fork and add to the stew. Continue simmering until chuck is tender, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Stir in red kidney beans. Cook until flavors combine, about 30 minutes. Discard dried limes before serving.

Steps:

• Mix tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, dill, sumac, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.

Steps:

• Microwave sweet potato until soft. Run cold water over potato, while peeling skin off. Set aside.
• In a skillet, brown the onions and garlic in butter or ghee. Then add sweet potato, garbanzo beans, rose water, hot pepper flakes, turmeric, saffron and salt.
• Let mixture cool then add dill, spearmint, parsley, garlic stems and spinach.
• Dress with some lemon juice and olive oil.
• Garnish with a dollop of yogurt and pine nuts.

Steps:

• Discard the spinach stems. Wash and drain the leaves, then chop coarsely.
• Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the onion and a generous pinch of cinnamon, if using, and cook over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the spinach and cook until it wilts, stirring often. Drain well and let cool.
• In a bowl, whisk together the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice and mint or dill. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with the spinach and taste for seasoning. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with walnuts and more herbs. Serve at room temperature with pita bread.

Steps:

• Remove alternating stripes of peel on cucumbers and trim ends. Dice cucumbers into 1/4-inch pieces and place in a large bowl with onion and fresh herbs. Using your fingers to break up any large pieces, gently grind the dried mint into the bowl. Remove tomato cores, dice remaining tomatoes into 1/4-inch pieces and add to bowl.
• In a small bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together 1/4 cup lime juice, oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Just before serving, dress vegetables with vinaigrette and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and lime juice as needed. This salad should be bright, crunchy and tart, a nice counterpoint for rich, buttery rice and unctuous stews. Serve at room temperature or lightly chilled. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days.