Persian Stuffed Dumpling Squash With Rose Petals Recipes

PERSIAN STUFFED DUMPLING SQUASH WITH ROSE PETALS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Neatly slice off the top of each squash and set it aside. Check the bottoms to see if they're level. If not, slice off enough so that they will stand steadily. Scoop out the seeds and place the squash in an oiled baking dish. Rub them inside and out with olive oil until well coated, and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, followed by the onion and sauté until lightly browned. Add the garlic, rice, walnuts, barberries, cherries, apricots, and rose petals. Stir well and continue cooking for 5 minutes, adding a little water if the mixture is dry. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Fill each squash with stuffing and replace the tops. Whisk together the orange juice, saffron water, and the remaining oil and pour over the squash. Cover tightly with a dish lid and bake for 25 minutes, basting occasionally with the juice. Uncover, baste, and bake until the squash is golden and tender, about 5 minutes more.
• To serve, transfer the squash to a platter and pour the liquid from the baking dish on top. Garnish with rose petals.

SWEET DUMPLING SQUASH WITH MOROCCAN VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using a large knife or cleaver, slice off and reserve the top inch of each of 6 squash. Scoop out and discard seeds and stringy fibers. Arrange squash and their tops, cut sides up, in a small roasting pan. Brush insides of squash and tops with butter; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Place a thyme sprig in each squash. Bake until squash are very tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Meanwhile, peel and halve remaining squash; remove and discard the seeds and stringy fibers. Cut flesh into 3/4-inch pieces; combine with parsnips, turnip, carrots, and potato. In a 5-quart Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add half the vegetables; season with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Sear on one side until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a medium bowl. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pot. Repeat with remaining vegetables, and transfer to bowl.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, and add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 15 minutes. Add ras el hanout, and cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Add tomatoes, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have broken down and formed a thick sauce, about 15 minutes.

PERSIAN ROSE PETAL SALAD

Steps:

• Cover the raisins in water to plump for about 30 minutes. Drain.
• In a large bowl, combine the raisins, cucumber, yogurt, green onion, walnuts, dill, mint and garlic.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with more green onion, walnuts, mint and rose petals.