Welcome ! | Log Off | Home

GOODNESS

Carrots: We all know that carrots are good for your eyes, but did you know they have anti-cancer properties as well? They have the nicely named carotenoids that are antioxidents -- chemicals that mop up the damage that results from ordinary metabolism. That, in turn, helps to keep your cells from turning rogue and hanging with the cancer gangs. If that's not enough to make you grab a carrot, they turn out to be immune-system stimulators as well, meaning you'll have fewer occasions to ask "What's up, doc?" Yes there's a little sugar in them, but also a lot of fiber to buffer it, so only the most sugar-restricted people should worry. By the way, the vitamin K in carrots is easier to absorb if you eat them with a bit of oil or fat, like a dip.
helps prevent cancer

Cinnamon: Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tropical evergreen, just like its cousin cassia. It has an ancient pedigree, even being used to embalm a few pharaohs. That may not sound appetizing, but it has been found to be good for the heart, the stomach and the joints. Not impressed yet? Well consider that it also seems to mimic insulin and therefore helps diabetics moderate their sugar levels. So don't be shy with this tasty and healthy spice.
heart healthy

Recipe

Pomegranate Khoresh

serves
prep time: 10
cook time: 70

ingredients

2 small onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound skinless and boneless chicken or duck breast cut into thin strips
2 large carrots or 1 pound winter squash, peeled and cut into thin strips
1/2 pound shelled walnuts, toasted
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup pomegranate paste diluted in 2 1/2 cups water or 1 quart fresh pomegranate juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground saffron threads, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water (optional)
GARNISH
1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted

directions

In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and stir-fry 5 minutes, until translucent. Add the chicken and fry for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Add the carrot strips and stir-fry 2 minutes longer.

Finely grind the toasted walnuts in a food processor. Add the salt, diluted pomegranate paste, sugar, cinnamon, and saffron water and mix well to create a smooth, creamy sauce. Transfer the sauce to the pot, cover and simmer for 40 minutes over very low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent the nuts from burning.

Taste the sauce and adjust for seasoning and thickness. This khoresh should be sweet and sour, and the consistency of heavy cream. Add diluted pomegranate paste for sourness or sugar for sweetness. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with warm water.

Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve hot with saffron steamed rice. NUSH-E JAN!

Najmieh Batmanglij shares her tips with Epicurious:

Though many Iranians now use vegetable oil, clarified butter (ghee) is Iran's traditional cooking fat. To make it, start with 1/3 more unsalted butter than you will need for the recipe. Melt the butter over low heat, then increase the heat to medium low and simmer the butter, without stirring, until it stops crackling and the milk solids brown and drop to the bottom. Skim off any foam from the top, and strain the ghee through a colander lined with cheesecloth. Ghee will keep at room temperature, covered, for several months.

Batmanglij recommends toasting the walnuts in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until they're golden brown —, 8 minutes.

Pom Wonderful brand pomegranate juice, available in many supermarkets, works perfectly in this recipe.

Batmanglij recommends buying saffron in thread form rather than powder, which is often adulterated with turmeric. Before they can be used in a recipe, the threads must be ground with a cube of sugar, using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, and then diluted in hot water. 'The saffron water can then be stored and used as needed,' says Batmanglij. 'Never use the unground threads.'