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Ghormeh Sabzi

Course Main Course
Cuisine Persian
Keyword herbs, lamb stew, Persian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings 4 people
Author Hami

Ingredients

Herbs

  • 175 g Parsley (6oz)
  • 175 g Chives (6oz)
  • 100 g Fenugreek (or 25g to 50g/ 0.9oz to 1.8oz dried fenugreek) (3.5oz)

OR

  • 450 g frozen Ghormeh Sabzi herbs (1 lbs)

OR

  • 1 can Fried Ghormeh Sabzi herbs (450g / 1 lbs)

Meat

  • 750 g lamb leg or shoulder (1.7lbs)

Veggies & fruit

  • 120 g Canned or dried red kidney beans (0.5 lbs)
  • 4 Dried limes
  • 2 Onion
  • 3 cloves Garlic

Seasoning

  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • Salt (to taste)
  • 1 Fresh lemon (optional)

Oil

  • 4 tbsp Vegetable oil

Instructions

The night before

  1. If you are using dried kidney beans, soak them the night before you want to prepare Ghormeh Sabzi. Change the water once in a while, until you start cooking them

PREPARE THE INGREDIENTS

  1. Wash the fresh herbs and spread them out on a clean kitchen towel, so they can dry. Once completely dry, finely chop them.

  2. Poke the dried limes with a fork. 

  3. Finely chop the onions and garlic.

  4. Cut the meat into approx. 8 cm / 3” pieces.

Sauté the meat and onions

  1. Sauté the meat chunks in half of the hot vegetable oil from each side until they are golden brown all around. Transfer them into a pan with lid.

  2. Gently fry the onions in the same oil at medium heat for about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and sauté both together for a few more minutes. Season with turmeric and black pepper.

FRY THE HERBS

  1. Now fry the herbs in the remaining vegetable oil. Make sure to stir them regularly, so they don’t burn. You want to achieve a dark green colour, without burning them. 

START COOKING THE STEW

  1. Add the onions and herbs to the pan with the meat. Season with salt and add freshly boiled water, so that the meat is just covered. 

  2. Add the dried limes and let the stew simmer over low heat for at least 2 h with the lid on. Check once in a while, if more hot water needs to be added. 

  3. If you are using dried kidney beans, boil them for 10 minutes, then add them to the stew, after it has been simmering for 1 h.

  4. You know your Ghormeh Sabzi is ready when the meat is nice and tender and the stew has thickened up. If you’re using canned kidney beans, add them to the stew and give it a final stir. 

  5. Taste the Ghormeh Sabzi and add fresh lemon juice, if you’d like it to be sourer. Serve it with delicious saffron rice and red onions, if you like.