Ghormeh Sabzi

قورمه سبزی

What is it?

Ghormeh sabzi is a dark green stew made from a large quantity of finely chopped herbs — parsley, coriander, chives or leek greens, and fenugreek — fried slowly until their colour deepens and the aroma changes.

Kidney beans and dried limes go in with the meat, and the pot is left to simmer for hours. The dried limes are what give the stew its particular sourness.

The Persian table

It is served over steamed white rice, often with a side of torshi or yogurt. In many households it is a weekend or guest dish, because of how long the herbs take to fry properly.

Variations

The herb mixture varies by household; the proportion of fenugreek is the most commonly debated part.
Some cooks use lamb, others beef; a meat-free version made with beans alone is also common.