Sabzi khordan
Sabzi khordan (سبزی خوردن): Persian platter of fresh herbs, radishes, walnuts and cheese
No Tehran dinner table is complete without sabzi khordan, literally 'herbs for eating': a basket or plate of whole sprigs of basil, mint, tarragon, chives and coriander with radishes, spring onions, walnuts and a block of white cheese. People tear off bread, add a little cheese and a walnut, then stuff in a few leaves, eating between mouthfuls of stew or rice. The mistake most people make is serving the herbs wet or limp; they should be crisp, dry and cold. Traditional Iranian white cheese is set with animal rennet, so choose a feta labelled vegetarian (microbial rennet) if that matters to you. Chef's tip: wash the herbs an hour ahead, spin them dry and chill them wrapped in a damp tea towel so they stay perky on the table.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Herbs
To go with them
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Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (7)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Pick over the 1 bunch fresh basil, green or purple, 1 bunch fresh mint, 1 small bunch fresh tarragon, 1 bunch fresh coriander and 1 bunch fresh chives or garlic chives, keeping them in small sprigs and discarding tough stalks and yellow leaves. Trim the 6 spring onions.
5 minStep 2: Wash everything in a big bowl of cold water, lifting the herbs out so the grit stays behind. Spin dry; they should feel dry to the touch, not damp.
5 minStep 3: Trim the 7 oz radishes, leaving a little green top, and drop them in iced water for 10 minutes so they crisp. Soak the 3 ½ oz walnut halves in cold water for 10 minutes too, which makes them sweeter and less bitter.
10 minStep 4: Arrange the herbs, onions and radishes in loose bunches on a platter with the drained walnuts, the 7 oz Iranian white cheese or vegetarian feta in one block and the 1 large piece lavash, sangak or barbari bread on the side. Eat with your hands.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sabzi khordan take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of fresh basil, green or purple?
- Baby spinach with a little mint (for colour and freshness).
- What can I use instead of fresh mint?
- Fresh coriander, same amount (different but just as fresh).
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