Yotam Ottolenghi’s Iranian Vegetable Stew with Dried Limes
Dried limes and a medley of fresh herbs imbue this Iranian-inspired vegetarian stew from Yotam Ottolenghi with a truly heavenly aroma.
From the book
Plenty More
120 stunning recipes from Ottolenghi
Inspiring ideas for vegetarian cooking
Impressive puddings and desserts
Buy From
Introduction
Small dried limes (or lemons) are a regular feature in Iranian cooking, adding a sharp tang and sweetish aroma to marinades, stews and salads. They are rock hard and not easy to grind (although you can do so, in a coffee or spice grinder) so puncture them a couple of times and then put them in whole. You can also buy them in powdered form although this isn’t as pungent. Sumac or grated lemon zest can be used as an alternative but if you are passing a Middle Eastern grocer’s or if you shop online, they are well worth seeking out. Serve this sweet and sharp stew with steamed rice – that’s all.
Ingredients
| 50g | clarified butter |
| 1 | large onion, finely diced (220g) |
| ½ tsp | ground turmeric |
| 1½ tsp | cumin seeds |
| 1 tbsp | tomato purée |
| 20g | coriander |
| 10g | tarragon |
| 10g | dill |
| 1kg | Charlotte potatoes (or another waxy variety), peeled and chopped into 4cm chunks |
| 1 | medium butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and chopped into 4cm chunks (760g) |
| 3 | Iranian limes, pierced 2–3 times |
| 1 | green chilli, slit on one side from stem to tip |
| 4 | medium tomatoes, quartered (400g) |
| 150g | spinach leaves |
| 15g | barberries |
| 300g | Greek yoghurt (optional) |
| salt |
Method
Preheat the oven to 200ºC/180ºC Fan/Gas Mark 6.
Place a large casserole on a medium heat and sauté the butter, onion, turmeric and cumin for 10 minutes. Add the tomato purée and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes. Bundle the herbs together and use some string to tie them into a bunch. Add these to the dish along with the potatoes, squash, limes, chilli, 1½ teaspoons of salt and 1 litre of water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and boil gently for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are semi-cooked. Stir through the tomatoes, spinach and barberries, crushing the limes gently to release some of the juice inside, and transfer everything to a large roasting tray. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened a little and the vegetables are soft. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving with a dollop of yoghurt on the side, if you choose.
Reviews
Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how it went by leaving a comment below.
Please note: Moderation is enabled and may delay your comment being posted. There is no need to resubmit your comment. By posting a comment you are agreeing to the website Terms of Use.
