Skip to main content

Borani-e Esfenaj

This refreshing Iranian salad has a pure and delicate flavor.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound spinach
1 cup thick strained Greek-style yogurt or plain whole-milk yogurt
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3/4 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Wash the spinach and remove stems only if they are thick and hard. Drain the leaves and put them in a large pan. Cover and set over low heat until the leaves crumple into a soft mass. They steam in the water that clings to them in very few minutes.

    Step 2

    Drain, and when cool enough, squeeze out the excess water with your hands. Chop with a sharp knife and mix with the rest of the ingredients.

  2. Variation

    Step 3

    Another version calls for 1 large chopped onion sautéed in 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Like crispy gnocchi caprese and raspberry—brown butter skillet cake.
A flurry of fresh tarragon makes this speedy weeknight dish of seared cod and luscious, sun-colored pan sauce feel restaurant worthy.
The secret to flavorful, never-greasy eggplant parm? Brine the eggplant first.
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
No grill needed for this just-charred-enough sweet and spicy chicken.
Fontina and fried shallots make this diner-style omelet perfectly acceptable dinner fare.