Yalda Winter Flavors

In Episode #10, co-hosts Bita and Beata explore the cozy winter flavors of Persian cuisine including those of a cultural holiday called Shabeh Yalda (winter solstice)

Shabeh Yalda - when it is and how it’s traditionally celebrated in Persian families

• The evening of the turn of the seasons, the winter solstice - this year falling on Dec. 21st 2020
• Eat fruit and tea with elders on a special spread or setting
• Traditional seasonal fruit: pomegranate, persimmons, watermelon
• Ajeel, aka Persian trail mix: nuts and dried berries

Limoo Shirin

• A sweet lemon, similar to a Meyer lemon enjoyed plain and fresh in the winter season

Cinnamon, the spice

• Enjoyed in many Persian dishes, soups and stews in the winter and anytime

Lentils, beans and potatoes

• Wintery vegetables and legumes enjoyed in Persian rices, soups and stews
• Adas polo - Pesian layered lentil rice (Beata and Bita’s methods for preparing it)
• Koo Sibzaminee | Persian Potato Pancakes
• Cotlet | Persian spiced fried meat patties

Other modern wintery foods enjoyed by B&B:

• Chili
• Meatloafs and roasts
• Roasted vegetable mix
• Sumac Roasted Vegetables

Beata’s winter holiday Puff Pastry Dessert 

• A jeweled roll made with puff pastry and ajeel (Persian trail mix), cinnamon and brown sugar.  Roll it up and bake it in a muffin tin.

Ask the Beats!  Today’s question is from Megan of The Seasoned Cook, Oakland.  Megan asks, “Is there a substitute for rose water?”

B&B’s answer:  There is no direct substitute for rose water.  For desserts try vanilla extract almond extract, orange blossom water, or as an experiment, try ground culinary rose petals.

Recipe links from this episode:

• Bita’s Persian Lentil and Date Layered Rice | Adas Polo
• Bita’s Roasted Root Vegetables with Balsamic and Sumac
• Beata’s Jeweled Cinnamon Rolls

Podcast Production by Alvarez Audio