Savoring dizi is a dining experience of togetherness, bonding and sharing. Whether you are sitting crossed-leg on the floor wearing your comfortable clothing around the sofreh (table cloth) or sitting at the dinner table wearing designer clothing you'll enjoy the tasty blend of flavors as well as the conversations and memories. Every time I make abgoosht I remember the scene form Ganj-e Gharoon, an old Iranian movie that's forever etched in my mind. It's the scene where Fardin and Zohouri are mashing the meat, tapping the marrow out of the bone, pounding the raw onion by hand and eating abgoosht all the while singing and teasing Arman!
There are many different types of abgoushts. I have written a blog post about abgousht in the past and that's the recipe I cherish and use since it was my mother's recipe. This version is slightly different.
Dizi - Iranian Lamb Chickpea Soup
Ingredients:
Serves 4-6
3 lamb shanks (about 3 pounds)
1 cup chickpeas, rinsed, soaked overnight
1 cup white beans, rinsed, soaked overnight
2 large onions, peeled, quartered
4 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and cut in half
3 medium-sized tomatoes, peeled and cut in half
3 whole limoo amani (dried lemons) found in Persian grocery stores
1/2 tablespoon turmeric
A pinch of cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Water
Method:
- In a large soup pot place the lamb shanks, add eight cups of water and bring to a boil on high heat. Skim the foam as they come to the surface in the beginning.
- Add the turmeric, cinnamon, limoo amani, onions, chickpeas, beans, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on medium heat for about an hour.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a small skillet and lightly saute the tomato paste to lose its raw taste.
- Add the sauteed tomato paste, tomatoes and the potatoes to the pot, cover and continue cooking for another hour.
- When all the ingredients are fully cooked, taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove the pot from the heat. Drain the soup through a sieve, remove the bones and mash the remaining ingredients using a masher.
To serve, ladle the broth into a large serving bowl and spoon the meat and potato mixture onto a serving platter. Serve with warm bread, pickles, yogurt and fresh herbs.
Enjoy!