Pan Seared Salmon with a creamy lemon dill sauce

Easy pan seared salmon with a crispy skin...

This dill sauce is so exquisitely delicious and the hint of Dijon mustard gives the sauce a slight tingle. Fresh dill is something you either love or hate! It is an extremely aromatic herb so I only use very little and chop it so finely so that it doesn't overwhelm the salmon.

Persian cuisine revolves around fresh herbs.
This dish has many different elements that go so perfectly together. The distinct flavours of the lemon and dill really compliment the delicate flaky salmon. The tangy lemon sour cream sauce is so good with salmon and simple to make. This fish recipe is one of my favourites and I serve it with basmati rice and peas.

Balsamic glazed roasted vegetables with a tangy feta cheese

This dish is a fantastic way to get a range of delicious vegetables into your diet. A simple weekend dish, just drizzle the vegetables with the balsamic glaze and dried oregano and caraway seeds, its pungent anise-y flavour always reminds me of fond memories of my father's cooking. This dish isn't so Persian but you can't make Persian food every night...

Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread. Tonight's treat is sundried olive bread with barberries and a splash of olive oil..
I love baking bread as I can throw almost everything and anything into it and freeze it for my fat days!
Basically anything can be incorporated into your bread...
Olives, sundried tomatoes, goats cheese, parmesan cheese, nuts, herbs, spices.... just to name a few

A Persian feast to remember...

My Persian Tapas night..

Home made mint hummus, roasted baby aubergines and cherry tomatoes, mint and olive tapenade(yes, I am obsessed with mint) and the famous Persian aubergine dip.. (Kashkeh Bademjoon ).

Accompanied with  the perfect dipping bread..crispy, chewy and full of flavour.. My interpretation of nan-e-barbari, the classic persian bread..

 

The CLASSIC Creamy Aubergine & Caramelized onion dip

Trust me it might look a bit out there.. but it is truly sensational. A simple dip with so much flavour, perfect for a dinner party starter. The tangy creamy yogurt with the smokey aubergine is a tasty exotic dip to remember.

The Persian authentic recipe would use kask (sour yogurt) to make this dip, however I had to improvise as I didn't have the time to make it (trust me its a long process).

I used full fat Greek yogurt instead and it was delicious! This is a recipe that reminds me so much of my childhood!

 Aubergines and yogurt are must have ingredients in the Persian store cupboard and I never get sick of them, I try to incorporate them in so many dishes. My friends and family must be getting sick of it by now.. ah well, more for me so.

Roasted Baby Aubergine and garlic cherry tomatoes

Okay, I have a serious aubergine addiction as you can see now. The meaty texture makes me crave it almost everyday. Pureed aubergine sautéed with onions and turmeric is amazing. But my ultimate favourite is these little baby aubergines that you only seem to get in Halal shops.

Deliciously tender and delicate when roasted in the oven with lots of olive oil and garlic. There is something so addictively moorish about simple classics like this. Yet so filling and perfect with baby tomatoes and a hint of chilli for that little bit of heat. Simple to put together but

still so healthy and energising.

 

 

 Who doesn't love hummus?

 

Hummus is one of the most popular Middle Eastern dips, not so much Persian but hey who doesn't love it! Perfect with freshly baked Crispy Persian bread. I love hummus with a lot of depth and flavour! This minty hummus with a hint of lemon is a great snack or starter and perfect for the unadventureous! The nutty aroma of the tahini lightly toasted adds another dimension to this creamy dip.   

And......  the famous Persian Bread

Typically Persian bread is flat, three dimensional and a long rectangular plane with groves, sprinkled with nigella seeds and sesame seeds.

Typical Persian Bread

 

My version is a little bit different. I wanted to add another dimension to the bread to make it that little bit crunchier.

Semolina and za'taar in my opinion are  not used utilised enough as they are an incredible versatile Middle Eastern blend of spices to give your bread that earthy, tangy edge.

I make my own za'taar and use it on meats, eggs, hearty soups and so much more, however it is easy to find in any Halal shop. The basic recipe normal consists of sumac, toasted sesame seeds, dried thyme and I add toasted cumin seeds for that smokey effect that I love.

Another ingredient that doesn't get enough attention is semolina. It just isn't understood enough, people just don't  know what to do with it.  Semolina is great in breads and cakes as its coarse exterior gives your bread that extra crunch. The vibrant intense flavours of the za'taar and the semolina are a great enhancement to so many dishes. So don't be afraid, venture out and bring these ingredients to life!

 

A simple chicken recipe full of flavour..

A magical Chicken Stew with saffron rice 

Succulent, tender, juicy saffron chicken that melts in the mouth. There is not enough adjectives to describe how tasty this chicken dish is. But the best part of this dish is its unbelievable simplicity.
This simple recipe will change how you look at chicken again.
This is an authentic Persian recipe known as Khorakeh Morgh which means chicken stew. All you need for this recipe is onions, saffron, butter and chicken. The beauty of this dish is how you cook it. Gently cook it for 1 and a half hours to melt the meat.
Just need to remember to put the saffron liquid right at the end to coat the chicken.
Easy, effortless dish.. a guaranteed success!

A rich and indulgent pudding like cake perfect for a cosy nice in...

A rich and indulgent pudding cake bursting with flavour...
This date and orange cake with a toffee and pecan sauce is sweet, luscious and crunchy. Perfect for a naughty night in. It was the Persian New Year just last week so I decided to indulge my family and I with this sticky moist pudding like cake.

 Persians LOVE dates, they are eaten throughout the day as a snack or incorporated into food which inspired me to bake this yummy dessert.
This dessert should be eaten with a freshly brewed cup of tea, or as the Persians would call it 'chai'  which is served in a long thin hourglass shaped tea glass, usually sitting on a delicate gold rimmed saucer.

a slice of cake served with a dollop of cream.. Sunday night heaven!

Ghormeh Sabzi-One of the most delicious Persian stews with a twist

This Persian Classic is rich and tasty! The powerful aroma of the fresh herbs and the tender meat is so flavourful and tempts the palate for more...Traditionally this dish is slow cooked with lamb chunks, tender beans and dried lemons which is delicious!

 However, I decided to modify this beautiful classic with a modern twist.

Instead of the slow cooked lamb chunks I used a rack of lamb marinated in rosemary and lemon served on a bed of stewed herbs and kidney beans. Only one word can describe this dish... DELISH

Saffron rice with barberries is a fundamental accompaniment. I have never meet anyone that hasn't fallen in love with this dish. If you love Spinach chicken or hearty stews this is a dish you should try!