Gheimeh Stew Recipes

GHEIMEH STEW RECIPE

Steps:

• About 12 hours before you want to cook Gheimeh leave the yellow split peas in some water so that they will absorb some water. Leaving them in water for 3 hours is also fine. But, the longer, the better!
• Chop the mutton in to cube shapes, and dice the onion. Use some oil to stir fry the onions. When the onions are half cooked, add the cubed-pieces of mutton and fry them. Also, add some pepper.
• Add the yell split beans and stir fry them for a while. Add 5 glasses of water and the cinnamon sticks. Cover the pot with its lid. The ingredients need at least 2 hours to cook.
• After the meat and yellow split beans are cooked, stir fry the tomato paste and add the tomato paste, salt and the dried limes to the other pot.
• About 45 minutes later, when the dried limes are softer, add the rosewater and the brewed saffron. You can also taste the stew and if not sour enough, add some lemon juice. In 15 minutes, the stew must be well prepared
• The magnificent Gheymeh is ready. Serve it with some rice, as kateh or cholo and Sabzi Khordan

GHEIMEH RECIPE

Steps:

• Step 1
• Heat 6 tablespoons of oil in a nonstick medium size pan over medium high heat. Add onions, fry for about 5 minutes. Keep cooking and moving the onions around to keep the colour even or until golden brown. Add meat to the pan, increase heat to high. Wait for caramelisation to occur on the surface of the meat so that it comes loose from the frying surface all by itself. Fry until all juices evaporate, about 5 minutes.
• Step 2
• Add tomato paste, salt, pepper and turmeric. Mix the ingredients and cook for about 5 minutes or until the color of oil turns to orange . Frying the tomato paste deepens its flavour.
• Step 3
• Add 3 cups of water, cover and bring to boil. Lower heat to medium low and cook for 1 hour.
• Step 4
• While the meat is cooking, cook the split peas with 2 cups of water in a medium size saucepan for 15 to 20 minutes or until the yellow split peas are softened with a bite to them.
• Step 5
• When meat is half way cooked, add the yellow split peas, dried lime (limoo amani) and saffron. Cook for 30 minutes or until the meat is fork tender.
• Step 6
• Add Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Step 7
• Heat oil in a large frying pan, fry the potatoes until golden brown.
• Step 8
• Place a portion of khoresht gheymeh in a serving bowl, top with fries just before serving. Serve with Persian rice.

GHEYMEH (PERSIAN BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add stew meat, split peas, limes, tomato paste, salt, curry powder, turmeric, and pepper. Add just enough water to fully cover the surface of the mixture. Cover and simmer until split peas are tender and meat is cooked through and no longer pink in the center, 2 to 3 hours.
• Just before the stew is ready, heat 2 inches oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Slice potatoes into 2-inch long, thin pieces and lower carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry until soft, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Increase the heat so the oil is 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Fry potatoes again, until golden and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. Remove from the oil and drain on fresh paper towels.
• Pour stew into bowls and place potatoes on the surface.

KHORESH-E GHORMEH SABZI (PERSIAN HERB, BEAN AND LAMB STEW)

Steps:

• 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 similar pot over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons 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.
• Drain the beans and add 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 thus 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, 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.