Koofteh Sabzi Shirazi is one of the traditional and old dishes from Shiraz, a city in Iran. This dish is made by combining local vegetables and minced meat.
The meatballs are filled with ingredients such as Bukhara plums(Aloo Bukhara) and walnuts, and cooked in a special broth. It’s a unique and flavorful dish, but if certain steps aren’t followed, the meatballs may fall apart.
In this recipe, I’ll share all the essential tips to ensure your vegetable meatballs turn out perfectly.
But don’t worry, in this recipe, I will tell you all the necessary tips to have excellent vegetable meatballs. All the basic ingredients of this dish are the same as Ashe sabzi Shirazi, and the only difference is the minced meat.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Grams (g) | Pounds (lb) | Original Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetables (Leek, Parsley, Tarragon, Dill) | 1000g | 2.20 lb | 1 kg |
| Hot Onion | 150g | 0.33 lb | 150 grams |
| Raisins | 150g | 0.33 lb | 1 cup |
| Bukhara Plums | 85g | 0.19 lb | 7 pcs |
| Walnut Kernels | 35g | 0.08 lb | 7 pcs |
| Half-grain Rice | 300g | 0.66 lb | 1.5 cups |
| Peas | 250g | 0.55 lb | 1.5 cups |
| Minced Meat | 300g | 0.66 lb | 300 grams |
| Black Pepper | 3g | 0.007 lb | 1 tsp |
| Red Pepper | 3g | 0.007 lb | 1 tsp |
| Salt | 12g | 0.026 lb | 2 tsp |
| Turmeric | 6g | 0.013 lb | 2 tsp |
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 20 minutes
for 4 servings
Instruction:
1. Soak the Chickpeas and Rice:
The night before, soak the chickpeas to reduce bloating. Change the water several times to ensure they are fully soaked. Also, soak the half-grain rice for 2-3 hours (depending on the type of rice).
2. Prepare the Vegetables:
Wash the vegetables thoroughly and spread them on a cloth to drain the water. Chop the vegetables finely. Alternatively, you can use a food processor to chop them.
3. Grind the Ingredients:
Grind the peas and rice in a food processor. Then combine all the ingredients (chopped vegetables, peas, rice, and spices) in a large bowl or Pyrex dish.
4. Knead the Mixture:
Mix all the ingredients by hand until well combined.
5. Add Minced Meat:
Add the minced meat to the mixture and mix again in the food processor or grinder. Be careful not to over-process the mixture; it should be finely mixed but not mushy.
6. Shape the Meatballs:
Take a small portion of the mixture and shape it into a ball in the palm of your hand. Use your thumb to make an indentation in the center, then fill it with steamed plums, raisins, or walnuts.
Roll the mixture into a ball the size of a small orange, making sure the surface is smooth and without any holes.
7. Prepare the Meatball Soup:
To make the broth, boil half a pot of water. Gently add the meatballs one by one, ensuring they don’t touch each other. Add hot onion, a bit of oil, and salt to the soup.
8. Cook the Meatballs:
Once the water begins to boil, carefully add the meatballs. Let them cook for 2-3 minutes until they float to the top. If any meatballs stick to the bottom, gently release them using a spoon. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 2 hours.
9. After two to three minutes, the meatballs will rise to the top of the cooking surface. If the meatballs are stuck to the bottom of the pot, gently remove them from the bottom of the pot with a spoon.
Put the lid on the pot and then lower the flame and let the meatballs cook and settle for 2 hours.
10. After two hours, when the meatballs are fully cooked, take a large bowl and first put some meatballs and then the meatballs in it.
You can decorate the food with hot onions and walnuts. You can eat and enjoy Shirazi vegetable meatballs with lavash Bread or fresh Nan sangak.
Serving Suggestions:
- You can use Mast o Khiar and Torshi Haft Bijar in addition to this delicious Shirazi meatball.
- Also, this dish should be served with fresh Iranian bread.
- Finally, you can use Iranian Doogh as a drink after this meal.
- Another traditional Shirazi dish served alongside Koofteh Sabzi Shirazi is Kalam Polo Shirazi (cabbage pilaf).
The techniques for preparing
- Soak ingredients like peas the night before to reduce bloating.
- Use fresh vegetables for the best flavor.
- The meatballs should not be too hard, nor should they be too soft to fall apart.
- If the meatballs fall apart during cooking, add a few spoons of wheat flour to the mixture for better binding.
- Make sure to drain the vegetables completely to prevent the mixture from loosening.
Health Benefits of Koofteh Sabzi Shirazi:
This dish is rich in protein and fiber due to the presence of meat and peas. The fresh vegetables also provide essential vitamins.
Parsley’s vitamin K is important because it helps blood to clot in addition to contributing to bone health. Parsley is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancer. It’s also an excellent source of: Vitamin A.
Sourced: webmd
FAQ
1. What is the difference between Tabrizi and Shirazi meatballs?
Local vegetables are used in Koofteh Shirazi, while no vegetables are used in Koofteh Tabrizi, and the sauce of Tabrizi meatballs is very different from this sauce.
2. What vegetables are used in Shirazi meatballs?
Leeks, parsley, tarragon, and dill are used in this dish.
3. Is this meatball suitable for vegans?
If we remove minced meat, yes, it is suitable for vegans.
