What's " Kookoo " ing?

What's " Kookoo " ing?

Fancy a light vegetarian meal that is super easy to make? Look no further as I present to you my twist on a traditional Persian herbal quiche meal: Kookoo sabzi.

Traditionally, Kookoo (Persian herbal quiche) is made in the form of a cake (see below).

Traditional kookoo sabzi in a cake format

However, as I always try to experiment new ways of presenting/cooking traditional meals, I would like to provide you with the recipe for a kookoo sabzi roll.  

Ingredients and measurements:

  • Finely chopped Spinach - 400 g
  • Finely chopped leek - 100 g
  • 4 Spring onions - chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves - chopped
  • 5 eggs
  • Salt, pepper and turmeric (pinch of each)
  • 2 tbspn oil (this is to give a good grease to the bottom of the foil you will be placing your mixture on)

To make the filling:

  • Yoghurt
  • Cheese cream (Philadelphia)
  • Ricotta
  • Red bell pepper
  • Orange zest
  • Orange puree
  • Saffron
  • Barberries
  • Pistachio and almond slivers for decoration

Preparation method:

  • Mix the eggs well with the herbs, salt, pepper and turmeric (I normally separate the yolk from the white and whip the white well till it's firm): I mix the yolk with the herbs and then add the mixture to the whipped egg white mixture.
  • Place in an oven tray and let it bake for 20-30 minutes in 170 degrees heat
  • Once baked, leave on the side to cool down
  • In the meantime, we prepare the filling
  • Mix the Ricotta with yoghurt and cream cheese and spread on the cooled down kookoo
  • Proceed to sautee the bell peppers
  • In a separate pan heat up orange puree, orange zest, sugar, saffron and lemon juice and cook until it isn't runny and becomes thick
  • Leave a little bit of the bell peppers and syrup combination aside for decoration purposes at the end
  • Add the rest of the fried bell peppers and the syrup to the ricotta, yoghurt and cheese mixture spread on the kookoo
  • Slowly roll up the kookoo all the way to the end
  • Use the left aside bell peppers and syrup to lightly fry with barberries
  • Cut up the roll into small pieces
  • Garnish the outside of the kookoo roll with it (don't forget the pistachio and almond slivers)

Et voila! Bon Appétit!