Shakira keeps telling me that she’s going to kidnap my boy. So, over the holidays when she was in town, she came over to my house and cooked us some super-delish Persian fish.

Shakira also brought along her two sweet boys.

Benz was not home at the moment since he had been napping at my parents house, so Thelma went with Dick to pick him up.

Not surprising is that when they got back, I noticed my Benz was looking more like a “Mercedes”.

Yes, Grandma Fanny Mae had put my Benz in Thelma & Louise’s old baby clothes. “I don’t care! As long as he’s warm!”

Look how girly my sweet Benzie looks! Still super cute.

WHEN SHAKIRA MET BENZ

Shakira couldn’t wait to see little Benzie.

I think she would take a bite out of my Benzie if I wasn’t looking.

And then run off with him.

Yes, I do believe if given the opportunity she would try to steal my Benz.

And actually, I’ve had other threats like that as well.

Confuscia is also on that list.

“You look just like your daddy!”

PERSIAN FISH

Shakira (besides being an excellent dancer) is also a fabulous cook.

And actually, she was the one who had taught me how to make my first Persian dish, Gormeh Sabzi.

Being the sweet thang that she is, Shakira wanted to cook for us (how lucky am I that everyone wants to cook for me!) so she brought over some Persian marinated tilapia.

The tilapia is marinated with her own special blend of Persian spices as well as lemon pepper.

The fish is then coated with beaten egg.

And dipped in flour.

And fried. Yum!!

DIRTY RICE

To go with the fish, I am making a Persian Dirty Rice. It’s basmati rice, with lots of herbs (Italian parsley, leek, dill weed…and you can also use fennel, cilantro) and lots of diced garlic. The herbs are chopped up using a food processor, as well as the garlic, and cooked with the rice. So fragrant and tasty!

The rice is cooked in lots of water, along with the herbs and garlic.

When the rice is al-dente, it is strained and rinsed in warm water.

Then, if you would like a crispy crust, one can use bread, potatoes, or…as Shakira told us, lettuce!

I’ve never had it made this way before.

Even Dick, who is Persian, has never had it this way!

Once you put down the lettuce, pour the rice over it.

Add butter. That’s about one stick.

And steam on low (about 3-4 level). The towel wrapped around the lid catches all the condensation that collects at the top so your rice (and crust) is not soggy. Steam for about 30 minutes.

And voila!

Besides my lopsided-ness when dumping out the rice, it looks really tasty…especially with the lettuce crust. Cool! I love when I learn something new!

Lucy and Oscar are here as well.

How cute is Oscar and his she-she-fru-fru Juicy Couture outfit?!?!

So L.A.!

Lucy is watching, learning and typing down the recipe for her own use.

Except, Lucy keeps asking me, “How much? How long? How much?”

I have to totally guess because I never measure anything and totally just wing it!

So, Lucy’s instructions like most my recipes, are “guesstimates”…

“Cook rice in a lot of water!”

How’s that for instruction!

Meanwhile, Dick is making a Persian Spinach yogurt.

Canned spinach. In this case, for some reason, canned is much better than fresh!

Mix with yogurt and minced garlic, salt and pepper. 

As a side dish, we also have some asparagus.

I LOVE asparagus!!

While we’re all cooking, the kids are watching Kung Fu Panda.

Benz is in baby prison.

TIME TO EAT!!

Everyone is starving and we can’t wait to dig in!

The food looks and smells super-delish.

Shakira’s husband also comes and joins us later for dinner.

Now doesn’t that look just delightful?!!?!

Of course, after dinner, it is the Persian way to have tea. Black Persian Tea.

Everything Persian…the fish, the tea, the dirty rice, the yogurt…haha

Such a great visit…Thank you to my girl Shakira!!!

XOXO

-Jane, Friend to Shakira.

I know it’s weird to be learning how to cook Persian food from a Vietnamese woman. But, I’ve seen the Persian recipes out there, and there are NO PICTURES! So, for those young Persians who don’t know how to cook or for those who just want to try some Persian yumminess, here is a picture-filled recipe for you!!

This super-yummy Persian chicken/egg/potato salad will make you the star of your family. It can be eaten as an appetizer on bread or crackers, as a side dish, or as a sandwich. Because this recipe makes a large portion and because of the work involved, you won’t want to make this often but you won’t have to. Salade Olivier is great for leftovers and can last you a while. This is also a great dish to have the kids be involve and help. The best thing about this great chicken/egg/potato salad? When the kids want something to eat, they can prepare this THEMSELVES without having to bother you for lunch!!

I’m not sure why they’re singing but I’d like think they’re singing because they are so happy to be eating this dish. It’s one of their favorites! See how they had to take out the large Tupperware so that they can have seconds?!?!

-Jane, Culinary Godess

Loobia (green bean) Polow (rice) is a SUPER-yummy Persian dish that combines fragrant Basmati rice with a green bean tomato stew infused with lots of great taste and flavor. I learned how to cook Persian food from my lovely Mother-in-Law. She is infamous in her family for being a fantastic cook and so to keep it authentically, deliciously Persian, I only learn from “the BEST”!

So here’s my method for making Loobia Polow. It’s a flavorful rice dish that tastes great as leftovers (most Persian food tastes better the next day when all the flavor has been absorbed thoroughly). Also, the kids LOVE IT! Included are lots of pics since I can’t use recipes without lots of pics. I’ve gotten MANY compliments and requests for this recipe. Enjoy.

COOKING WITH JANE DISCLAIMER: I improvise and don’t follow directions to the tee. Standard measurements like cup, teaspoon, tablespoon are not really used but more like eyeballed. However, for the purposes of giving directions, this is pretty close. I may tend to leave out some basic steps, unknowingly,  as I assume that you already know what to do. So, if there’s anything you don’t understand post a comment and I’ll see if I can answer it for you. ( A pressure cooker is recommended but not necessary. If you don’t have one, you’ll just have to cook it longer so that the meat will be tender.)

NOTE: I forgot to mention that you’ll need to add about  more water until it’s about two inches from the top. This is the water you will end up pouring out. Sorry !!

Serve with some plain yogurt and fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, dill weed) and you’ll be eating Persian-style!

On the right is my long-time friend since the FIRST GRADE, Peggy Bundy. Yes, I’ve known her since I was 6!! Anyhoo, if my picky-eater-of-a-friend says it’s good…well, there you have it, it’s GOOD! On the left is her husband, Al Bundy, and Al’s agreeing, “Good!”.

-Jane, Culinary Goddess