Persian/Palestinian Sauteed Vegetables
Hi Eaters,
In the last few months I've had dinner at the home of some Persian as well as Palestinian friends. Each time I was served some sauteed vegetables that seem to have something special. They were a side dish, meant to accompany rice. The veggies were just what was available seasonally, but there was a common savoury flavour that I can't put my finger on. Likely it's a flavour common to the region and not those two places specifically.
Both times the veg were also cooked til they were very soft. Normally this turns me off completely, but for some reason, I dug it both times.
Anyone have any ideas?
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9 Comments:
Could it be sumac? Pretty common in those cuisines as well as in some native American tribes...
BobbieAnne at 12:14PM on 09/29/09
I was going to say sumac as well.
SqueezeBottle at 12:19PM on 09/29/09
It's Israeli. and I think the spice is a blend called ZATAR.
SavtaShayna at 10:47AM on 09/30/09
Maybe it's Ras El Hanout...
AnnieNT at 11:43AM on 09/30/09
Definitelty not zatar--I am familiar with that.
BananaMonkey at 12:27PM on 09/30/09
Thanks all for your suggestions. I'm going to see if i can track down some sumac and at least stick my nose in it.
BananaMonkey at 12:55PM on 09/30/09
Be careful when you stick your nose in there. If you do it right after opening the jar, you might get a bit of a shock.
SqueezeBottle at 1:14PM on 09/30/09
I doubt it was sumac. Its more of a pungent, kind of sour flavor (usually goes with dishes that also have lemon juice). Sumac is also very noticeable in dishes, appearance-wise. Its a deep maroon-ish color.
justin h at 4:11PM on 10/01/09
I ate Persian food last fall in Louisville (Saffron's - highly recommended). I ordered Khoresht Ghaymeh (beef stew) - the predominant flavor was something really earthy. I haven't eaten henna, but that was the sense that I had. I asked the owner about the earthy flavor; he said it was the dried lime.
jolene278 at 4:19PM on 10/05/09