Borani Esfanaj (Spinach-Yogurt Salad or Dip)
Spinach yogurt dip with a touch of kick. Musky and sweet spices compliment the spinach and tangy yogurt.
Yield
6 servingsPrep
5 minCook
10 minReady
20 minIngredients
| Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | each |
onions
chopped |
|
| 4 | cloves |
garlic
chopped |
|
| 1 | tablespoon |
butter
or 2 tablespoons |
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
turmeric
|
|
| ½ | teaspoon |
cayenne pepper
or generous dash tabasco sauce |
|
| ½ | teaspoon |
curry powder
vary the cayenne according to your taste and spiciness of your curry powder |
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
cumin
ground |
|
| ¼ | teaspoon |
cinnamon
|
|
| 10 | ounces |
spinach
frozen chopped, defrosted, or 2 bunches fresh,, cooked and chopped. |
|
| 1 | cup |
yogurt, plain
|
|
Ingredients
| Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | each |
onions
chopped |
|
| 4 | cloves |
garlic
chopped |
|
| 15 | ml |
butter
or 2 tablespoons |
|
| 5 | ml |
turmeric
|
|
| 2.5 | ml |
cayenne pepper
or generous dash tabasco sauce |
|
| 2.5 | ml |
curry powder
vary the cayenne according to your taste and spiciness of your curry powder |
|
| 5 | ml |
cumin
ground |
|
| 1.3 | ml |
cinnamon
|
|
| 1 | package |
spinach
frozen chopped, defrosted, or 2 bunches fresh,, cooked and chopped. |
|
| 237 | ml |
yogurt, plain
|
|
Directions
This spinach and yogurt dish is Persian in origin.
The yogurt is redolent with both musky and sweet spices complementing the slightly tart taste of the spinach.
Borani Esfanah is enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, as a dip to spread on bread or simply scooped up with pita.
Though untraditional, the hot pepper flavoring adds zip if your curry powder is of the mild variety.
Serve with toasted French bread, or pita; or, for a more tactile experience, tear off pieces of warm, soft flour tortillas and scoop up the savory mixture.
Sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add spices and cook a few minutes to rid them of any rawness.
Mix in spinach (and toss to wilt, if using fresh spinach), yogurt, and salt to taste.
Allow to cool and/or chill for flavors to blend before serving. Best served just below or at room temperature.
RECOMMENDED WINE
Accompany with a slightly sweet Gewutztraminer or California riesling (German rieslings fade at the spicy assertion of this dish).
