Khoresh Bij Bij – Caspian Sea Stew with Poached Eggs
Bij Bij is not only a fun name for a dish, it is also a staple for Caspian Sea folks. People from Iran’s Mazandaran Province call this dish “Vavishka” (clearly a name that originated in Russia), but in Tehran, those who know of it call it Bij Bij. It is a comfort dish, made with ground meat, caramelized onions, and spices, all cooked in a rich tomato sauce, and with eggs poached right in the middle. An all-around simple and flavorful dish that can be prepared in about an hour, with very little effort.
Ingredients
- 111 Onion, medium, (thinly sliced)
- 4 Tbsp4 Tbsp4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 cloves4 cloves4 cloves Garlic, (minced)
- 1 tsp1 tsp1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 lb1 lb1 lb Ground Beef
- 4 Tbsp4 Tbsp4 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 222 Yukon Gold Potatoes, medium, (cut into 1 inch pieces, peeling is optional)
- 444 Tomato, medium (diced)
- 1.5 cups1.5 cups1.5 cups Water, (adjust as needed)
- 1.5 tsp1.5 tsp1.5 tsp Salt, (adjust as needed)
- .5 tsp.5 tsp.5 tsp Black Pepper, (ground)
- 2 Tbsp2 Tbsp2 Tbsp Ghooreh (Persian Pickled Sour Grapes), Ab Ghooreh, aka juice from the grapes (or fresh lemon juice)
- 4-64-64-6 Eggs
Process
Note, these instructions are written assuming the standard serving size, since you have modified the number of servings, these steps may need to be modified for best results
- In a large frying pan, saute the onions in oil over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add garlic and turmeric and continue to saute for 2 additional minutes.
- Add the ground meat, breaking the chunks into smaller pieces and blending them into the sauted onions. Saute the meat and onion mixture for 5 minutes on medium-high heat. The meat should have turned light brown and no longer look raw.
- Add the tomato paste and continue to stir and saute for another 2 minutes to bring out the flavor of the tomato paste.
- Add the potatoes, tomatoes, water, salt, pepper and Ab Ghooreh or lemon juice and bring to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce heat, cover and cook for 40 minutes. Test to make sure the potatoes are sufficiently cooked and tender.
- Using a spoon, pull the meat back to make room for the eggs to get cracked into the pan. Crack the eggs into the meat sauce one at a time.
- Sprinkle a touch more salt and pepper on top of the eggs, cover, and cook on medium-low heat for about 5-6 minutes depending on how runny or cooked you prefer your eggs.
- Once the eggs are cooked to your liking, turn off the heat and allow the stew to sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Bij Bij can be served with Persian flatbreads or with steamed basmati rice and a side of yogurt and fresh herbs.
Notes
Ground beef can be replaced with ground lamb or turkey. I have also made this dish with crumbled up pieces of tempeh to make it vegetarian friendly. // A good quality canned tomatoes can be substituted if ripe tomatoes were not available.
Add a Note
My Notes:
About This Recipe
Coconut Free Dairy Free Entrées Gluten Free Grain Free Nut Free Paleo Shellfish Free Sugar FreeNever Miss a Bite
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