A peasant food, at its core! And let’s face it, I’d eat like a peasant any day when the dish tastes this rich and yummy and is yet very simple, quick, and inexpensive!

Nargesi’s origin is back in the Caspian Sea region of Iran, where produce and vegetables are abundant. Spinach is a cherished and prized leafy green that is not only eaten raw in salads but also cooked in various stews. It is a common belief in Iran that spinach adds flavor and more importantly a certain level of viscosity to stews.

However, it is also believed that spinach adds a certain level of grittiness or chalkiness. Not to worry, though: Iranians have a remedy for that too! Spinach is almost exclusively added to dishes in the company of fresh herbs (sabzi). Herbs not only reduce spinach’s chalkiness but also make it more appetizing and aromatic.

In this dish, spinach is combined with parsley and mint to achieve a flavorful balance and a pleasant mouth experience.

Nargesi

Omid Roustaei, The Caspian Chef

Spinach, parsley and mint sauté with poached eggs

4.98 from 41 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Persian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 large onion, sliced
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, butter or ghee
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, ground
• 3 bunches fresh spinach, whole or cut into large pieces
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, ground
• 4 eggs

Instructions

 

• Saute the onions in a large frying pan over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until they have turned lightly golden.
• Add the minced garlic and turmeric and saute for an additional 2 minutes.
• Add the spinach and keep tossing it around until they have mostly wilted and you begin to see some liquid extracted from the spinach.
• Add the chopped parsley and mint, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
• Use a spoon to pull back some of the spinach to make a small space, and crack an egg into it. Continue until all the eggs have been cracked into the pan.
• Cover and cook for about 5 minutes over low heat. The eggs should be cooked, but somewhat soft and runny.
• Serve with Persian flat breads or steamed basmati rice with a side of plain yogurt.

Notes

I like to sprinkle a touch of turmeric, salt and pepper on each egg for flavor and color.

Keyword eggs, herbs, Nargesi, spinach, vegetarian, whole30

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