A typical Persian meal called kuku sabzi is a frittata with lots of herbs. The egg is not the major ingredient in this recipe; rather, it serves as a binder to keep all of the herbs together. Serve with feta, pomegranate seeds, yogurt, pickled onions, and flatbread. It tastes great heated or at room temperature. Excellent appetizer for a casual cocktail or light meal.
| Prep Time: | 15 mins |
| Cook Time: | 20 mins |
| Total Time: | 35 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 large leek
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ¾ cup finely chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Slice leek in half lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch, nonstick, broiler-safe skillet over medium heat. Add leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Preheat the oven’s broiler with the rack in the upper third position.
- Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Add baking powder, fenugreek, salt, and turmeric, and whisk to thoroughly combine. Fold parsley, cilantro, dill, and leeks into eggs. Gently stir to combine; the mixture will be mostly herbs, with just enough egg to wet the mixture through.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add herb mixture and distribute evenly in the pan, smoothing the top. Cover and cook, undisturbed, until the bottom and edges are just set, about 8 minutes.
- Remove cover and transfer to the preheated oven. Cook until the top and middle is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.
- To easily chop large amounts of herbs, roll them into a tight bundle or ball, pressing down and holding together with one hand. Run the knife through the bundle, continuing to chop as you move your hand back.
- The drier the herbs are, the better the kuku will be. I used a salad spinner to get mine very dry after washing.
- Kuku sabzi often includes barberries and walnuts, which can be folded in with the herbs if desired. Barberries could be substituted with dried cranberries, too.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 203 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 9 g |
| Cholesterol | 186 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g |
| Sodium | 581 mg |
| Sugars | 2 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |