By Setareh Kiumarsi
Ingredients:
1 quince
* 1 onion
About 20 dried apricot halves
3 dried limes
Camel or lamb meat, cut into chunks
4 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
Olive oil
3 carrots
1 zucchini
Fresh parsley and basil, served on the side
Rice
Spices: cinnamon, turmeric, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander seeds, saffron, nutmeg
Instructions:
Finely chop the onion.
Pour a little olive oil into a pot. Add plenty of cinnamon, turmeric, onion powder, coriander seeds, saffron, and a pinch of nutmeg to the oil.
Sauté the spices lightly, then add the chopped onions. Fry until the onions turn golden.
Once the onions are ready, add the diced meat. Sprinkle turmeric, onion powder, coriander seeds, and cinnamon on top. Sauté the meat and onions together for a few minutes.
Add the chopped quince to the pot. Season again with turmeric, onion powder, cinnamon, and coriander seeds.
Sauté briefly, then add the dried apricots.
Pour in enough water to just cover the ingredients. Add a bit of saffron and nutmeg to the water. Stir in about two heaping tablespoons of tomato paste.
Cover the pot and let the stew simmer gently until it thickens and the flavors blend well. Don’t forget to add salt!
Spiced Rice:
In a separate pot, cook and drain the rice as usual, adding some of the same aromatic spices to flavor it.
Vegetable Side Dish:
Use carrots and zucchini as your vegetable mix. Chop them finely.
In a frying pan, heat a little olive oil and add garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, coriander seeds, and salt. Let the spices warm up in the oil, then add the chopped carrots and sauté them.
After a few minutes, add the zucchini and season again with garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, and coriander seeds. Stir well.
Dissolve 2 heaping tablespoons of tomato paste in a cup of hot water and pour it over the vegetables.
Make small cuts on the 3 dried limes, place them in boiling water for a few minutes to remove bitterness, then add them to the vegetables along with a little more hot water.
Cover the pan and let the vegetables cook until tender.
When everything is ready, serve your spiced rice and quince-apricot stew with the vegetable mix and a handful of fresh herbs on the side.
Since quince tends to cause constipation, apricot is added to balance it.
Quince is cold, dry, and astringent, while apricot is warm, moist, and mildly laxative.
However, people who suffer from chronic constipation should avoid overeating this dish.
Please make sure to mention the author, “Setareh Kiumarsi,” if you share or republish this article, which was written with hope for everyone’s health and love.
