KuKu what? Eggs and green herbs in Farsi. And to Persians what black-eyed peas are to southerners on New Year’s Day. But since here at CFYMYL we don’t do eggs, our KuKu Sabzi is vegan but still loaded with hopes for a reasonably well 2021. I am really excited about this recipe for a frittata loaded with an unique spicy blend and all that green. If only there was a way to bottle up the fragrance of ½ cup each of the following herbs combined; parsley, cilantro, dill, spinach, and leeks. You have no idea…
Vegan Kuku Sabzi Ingredients
Serves: 6
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Oven: 400
- 2 onions
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1.5 cups + 3 tbsp chickpea flour
- 1 cup oat milk
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ cup parsley, finely chopped
- ½ cup cilantro, finely chopped
- ½ cup dill, finely chopped
- 1 cup baby spinach, finely chopped
- ½ cup leek, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup cranberry relish
- Kite Hill Plain Unsweetened Almond Milk Yogurt
Vegan KuKu Sabzi Recipe
- Preheat oven 400 degrees, prepare baking dish by greasing it well with oil
- Saute onion in pan with some oil, until lightly golden all over
- In a large bowl, lightly whisk to combine chickpea flour, oat milk, water and all of the spices.
- Add all of the herbs (sabzi) and carmelized onions, leeks, walnuts and garlic. Fold just to combine.
- Add batter to the prepared baking dish and bake until center is set, approx 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat cranberry relish as a garnish
- Cut cooked kuku (coo coo) into 6 equal pieces and top with cranberries and yogurt.
Serve hot or room temperature with flat bread and cucumber yogurt if desired. Persian cucumber & mint yogurt (mas o khiar) That’s a simple one, just chop finely some fresh mint and stir into yogurt or dairy free yogurt. You’ll be amazed at how refreshing a dollop of that good stuff on anything works…
Cranberry Relish Ingredients
Serves: 8 Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 60 minutes
- 1 1lb. bag uncooked cranberries
- ½ cup Lakanto Monk-Fruit Sweetener
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Cranberry Relish Recipe
- Wash cranberries well.
- In a soup pot, add the juice, water, sweetener, sugar and cinnamon sticks to the cranberries.
- Bring to boil
- Turn down heat and simmer uncovered
- Cook for 1 hour on low, or until all the cranberries have popped
- Cool and serve at room temp in a beautiful small dish and a sweet little spoon 🙂
I served our kuku sabzi with the cranberry relish, and a side of dairy-free yogurt. The color contrasts made for an elegant presentation. After breathing in the aroma of all those herbs, I knew we were in for a delectable tasty dish. But I didn’t anticipate the almost custard-like texture or the savory blend being as gentle on the senses as breathing in a freshly mowed springtime field.
Interesting too, the Persians celebrate their New Year in March with the Spring Equinox. I think I’m going to do that one too 🙂 It was wonderful and fun making the kuku. I was transported from my little kitchen to a busy open air market thousands of miles away.
I experienced the same thing the other night as Rick mulled our varietal grape juice filling the air with the simmering fragrance of cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise and oranges. Imagine if you will, a huge sweater hug; pure comfort. And that’s what the holidays were like for us, on a mission to find and create calm after the storm of 2020!
I’ll end this first blog of 2021 happily with the good news of Rick’s last blood test. In March his PSA (prostate cancer test) was 4.6, followed by April’s 5.7, and June’s 6.8; trending upwards and requiring treatment. On December 28th after 90 days Hormone Treatment and 20 days of double dose direct beam radiation, Ricks blood test (drum roll please), less than 0.01 % Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah! Have you ever felt high on life? Well, we danced for two hours to Arctic Monkeys, The Weekend and ended with The BGees and some Supremes thrown in…granted we both could barely make it down the stairs the next morning, but we’ve got the rest of our lives…..
Thanks for all the love and support. Rick told me he has felt everyone of those prayers. One thing for sure; we all need each other. Moving forward into another lock-down or shut-in; take care of yourself. Create calm, seek peace and wear a mask!!
Ciao for now 🙂
Clio,
Kuku Sabzi is going to be your new nickname.
These recipes look amazing and I’m excited to try them.
Rick’s PSA count is such tremendous news and I couldn’t be happier for him.
I hope you will both take a bow for researching the best possible diet to fight the cancer, and for cooking, eating and sharing your recipes on your wonderful blog.
Love you guys,
Cyn
wonderful news! Loved seeing your guy sparkling with a smile….
KuKu looks yummy. Once again you have tempted my taste buds!
Blessings to you both in 2021.