Tuesday 24 February 2015

weekend :: Mallen Streaks, and Persian Chicken with Walnut and Pomegranate Sauce.




If spring was a whisper, now it's almost a shout. The calendar may say that it's not, but tell that to the birds. They are in full nest-building mode. When I open the bedroom curtains in a morning, I see them shoot out of the eves dropping straw and feathers. At first I was worried that I may scare them away, but I don't seem to phase them at all. They were here when we came, and they'll probably be here long after we've gone. I don't think that I'll ever have straw free window ledges, what with the birds and the tractors towing hay bales and leaving showers in their wake. 

We've seen the first baby lambs...twin ones. Cute...or what? Everything is having babies, budding and blossoming. 

There were three whole days to ourselves at the weekend to catch up with decorating. Mostly bright, bright sunny days. I'd lost part of the kitchen again but it meant that the bathroom was getting completed, walls plastered and sink fitted. A couple of coats of paint, then half a day making the front room into a temporary workshop. I am determined the kitchen won't get eaten up again. 

We sanded and undercoated and painted, and things are moving on bit by bit. 

A friend popped around Sunday afternoon with a sweet gift of fragrant rose and pomegranate bath oil made with damask rose, patchouli leaf, cedar-wood and bergamot; with organic pomegranate and apricot oil, from this lovely shop. It proposes to restore a peaceful balance to mind and body. 

It certainly did something. Don't you think it sounds like the scent of a lake where Minnehaha might have bathed?  Stepping into the warm perfumed water for a soak with a Mallen streak of white paint in my dusty hair and the last few pages of a novel to read, I didn't notice the unfinished shower or tools piled in the corner. 


Ahmad has been putting me to shame, cooking much more than I have this week. He made Fesanjoon (or Fesanjan) which is Persian chicken cooked in a walnut and pomegranate sauce. It's probably one of the easiest Persian dishes to cook and yet somehow always seems one of the most luxurious. But you do really need to get traditional Pomegranate Molasses to get the authentic taste, a mildly sweet/sour flavour.There's a link below with information about where you may be able to find it. 




Here's his recipe...

To make generous servings of Fesanjan for four people you will need the following ingredients:
  • A small free-range chicken that has been skinned and jointed, or a chicken portion per person
  • 200-250g of finely ground walnuts
  • Pomegranate molasses. Lots of supermarkets now stock this or you can find it in most middle-eastern deli's or on-line. 
  • One large or two medium sized onions, chopped finely.
  • Mildly flavoured oil like groundnut for frying
  • Honey
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method:
  1. Fry the onion in a little oil until golden brown but not quite caramelised.
  2. Add the chicken portions and brown
  3. Add the ground walnuts and fry for a further couple of minutes, stirring all the time to ensure that the mixture doesn't stick and burn.
  4. Cover all the ingredients with boiling water, remembering that this will be cooking for at least and hour, so add enough.
  5. Season with salt and pepper
  6. Add a some of the pomegranate molasses to liquid and give it a good stir. It should look pale to mid golden brown at this stage.  Like in the image below.
  7. Cover the pan and simmer for a long time until the liquid has reduced and the sauce is much darker in colour. A heavy cast iron pan is ideal for making this. So that it can be left to leave simmering for at least an hour. Maybe two or more. Checking every so often to ensure that it doesn't stick.
  8. The sauce should be sweet/sour and dark brown once cooked. This will depend on the quality of the molasses syrup you use. You may like to add a little runny honey while it continues to cook if it's too sour. Some recipes ask for sugar but I think that you can taste the sugar in the food. Honey somehow melds in more easily and becomes part of the flavour. It's up to your own taste but it should have a lovely sweet/sour flavour but not overly so...delicious.

you can see step-by-step images here and I've written a bit here about where you can find pomegranate molasses. 

I wonder if there is a whisper of spring in your neck of the wood yet...
debx


joining with Karen for weekends

17 comments:

  1. As you know it has been like spring here for awhile, but today it is cold and is suppose to continue to drop all day. They schools are even closed here which never happens, but with all the bridges there is the worry of ice.
    I am going to track down the pomegranate molasses so I can prepare this dish for Mike. Can you tell me what groundnut oil is? Not a product I am familiar with, is it like walnut oil?

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  2. Oh it sounds like perfect weaving weather Tracey.

    Groundnut all is another name for peanut oil. I usually use olive oil for most of my cooking but as it has a strong flavour and the walnuts produce lots of natural oil we use any mildly flavoured oil for this, so that the flavours don't clash. Sunflower seed oil would be good too. The great thing is that the walnut oil is really high in Omega 3 so even though this sometimes seems to be quite a rich food it's really good for you. You don't need to use an expensive oil as it's just a little at the beginning to cook the onions and brown the chicken and once you add the ground walnuts they produce their own walnut oil.

    Let me know if you have any problems sourcing the pomegranate molasses. I could always send you some...if US customs allow me too.

    Keep warm and stay clear of slippy bridges.
    debx

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    1. Oh, peanut oil and walnut oil I have so that's good. As for the pomegranate molasses, thank you for the offer, I am going to check in the old part of my town where there are some cute specialty shops that might carry it. I will keep you posted.

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  3. Oh, how I wish for a whisper of spring! No such luck here with 4-7 inches of snow predicted for tonight, and temperature lows below zero.
    Your bath oil sounds lovely...so glad you get that peace and tranquility after a bustling day of renovations.

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  4. Oh, how I wish for a whisper of spring! No such luck here with 4-7 inches of snow predicted for tonight, and temperature lows below zero.
    Your bath oil sounds lovely...so glad you get that peace and tranquility after a bustling day of renovations.

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    1. I hope that you hear one soon Emily. It's weird that we have hardly had any winter here at all, just a few icy days.
      The bath oil was a very thoughtful gift from one of my new neighbours. The perfect cure for a busy day.
      keep warm with your snow...I hope that it's only four inches.
      Happy quilt sewing.
      debx

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  5. no spring here as of yet but I hear the birds singing and know that it's around the bend. I love your photos of your house, things are coming along. Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. They are always the first ones to herald in the spring so it looks like it should soon be there. We are getting there slowly but surely and can at last see the light at the end of the tunnel.
      take care,
      debx

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  6. Fesenjan is my very favourite koresht and you can buy the pomegranate syrup from Asda and Tesco, Sainsbury's have had it at times also. Spring is bursting through here with little puds of snow drops popping up out of the ground to take a look around. I love spring as the sun starts to shine but its still cold enough to have the fire on at night and curl up on the sofa with a blanket. Hope your decorating is coming of well x

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  7. Hi Sharon,
    It's up there with my favourites, but I think that my all time favourite would have to be ghorma zabzi...I hope I've spelt that correctly. I love when the first snow drops peep their little heads through the snow. I hope that you have a cosy fireside evening tonight.
    take care,
    debx

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  8. ice, snow, and sub-freezing temps......not yet!

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    1. Ooh sounds chilly Steph but perfect for knitting. Hope you get those whispers soon.
      debx

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  9. Spring.. hmmmmm.. No, I don't think so.. I think I am living in an igloo... grin.. So much snow here in Eastern Canada.. Breaking all records... smile..
    Enjoy your Spring... xo

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    1. Oh dear Faye. I keep thinking we'll get it over here. We just get a few flakes and thats it.
      keep warm and cosy.
      debx

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  10. Spring.. hmmmmm.. No, I don't think so.. I think I am living in an igloo... grin.. So much snow here in Eastern Canada.. Breaking all records... smile..
    Enjoy your Spring... xo

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  11. hello debby,
    not really spring here.....monday snow,than a little feeling of spring(sunshine) and today rain and cold.
    your meal sounds interesting to me.
    i like the photos of your bath renovation.
    have a wonderful weekend,
    regina

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    1. Hi Regina,
      Oh I was sure that the sun would be shining all the time over there. I'm glad that you've had some sun and snow...best of both worlds.
      Hope you have an amazing one too.
      debx

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