Persian Beef And Couscous Recipes

PERSIAN BEEF AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oil on medium high.
• Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper and brown in oil for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add stock and cinnamon, bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour.
• Stir in onions, squash or sweet potato, vinegar, and honey, bring back to a boil Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until meat and vegetables are tender.
• Meanwhile, cook couscous in another pot.
• Add prunes and chick peas to stew, cover, and heat just until mixture returns to a boil (about 2 minutes).
• Serve stew over couscous.

ADD A LITTLE INTEREST WITH PERSIAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Stir the couscous, stock powder, sugar and grated orange rind, together in a bowl.
• Add the boiling water, cover, and leave to stand for 6 minutes.
• Heat the nuts and currants in the butter or oil in a small frying pan, until the nuts brown lightly, and the currants puff up.
• Add the chopped apricots.
• Stir the hot nuts and fruit through the couscous.
• Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, adding the finely chopped spring onions and coriander just before serving.

PERSIAN BEEF KEBABS

Steps:

• Trim any excess fat from the steaks, cut into 1-inch cubes, and place in a large nonreactive bowl.
• Place onion, garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and saffron or cumin, in a food processor and process until smooth. Pour mixture over meat, toss to coat, cover and marinate 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.
• When ready to cook, heat grill to medium heat (350 degrees F) and oil well. Thread meat on skewers, leaving at least 1/2-inch space between each piece of meat. In a small bowl and the tomatoes, drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat thoroughly. Place meat and tomatoes on grill. Cook meat, turning once, until charred and medium-rare, about 7 to 10 minutes. Cook tomatoes, turning rarely, until blistered and soft, about 10 minutes.
• Remove meat from skewers and have guests assemble their own sandwiches with meat, tomatoes, lavash, yogurt, and cilantro.

BEEF & BEAN KHORESH (A PERSIAN BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan saute the onion in two tablespoons of the olive oil until golden.
• Add stewing beef and cook for ten minutes more, until meat is browned on all sides.
• Add the cumin, turmeric and cinnamon; cook for one minute, stirring, then add water and bring to a boil.
• Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Heat remaining one tablespooon of oil in a small frying pan and saute parsley and chives about 2 minutes; add this mixture to the beef.
• Also add the drained and rinsed kidney beans and lemon juice.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in one tablespoon flour whisked with a bit of hot water to thicken the stew a little; simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes, until meat is wonderfully tender; serve with rice.