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Potato cake

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Colleen) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:03:00 +0000

Called Labda in Georgian, this is my adaptation of a Passover recipe. Combine mashed potatoes + chopped walnuts with salt and pepper and 2 eggs + cooked spinach, chopped and squeezed + purple (dark opal) basil + parsley.

Some of the ingredients are pictured.

Forming the cakes like a traditional hamburger and frying or roasting is the best option.

Shopping list:

kartof (əzilmiş) = potatoes (mashed)

qoz = walnuts

duz = salt

istiot = pepper

iki yumurta = 2 eggs

ispanaq = spinach

qara reyhan = purple basil

cəfəri = parsley

Lula Kebab

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Colleen) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:26:00 +0000

Called lüləkabab in Azeri, these delicious rolls or "tubes" of lamb are the best kofta-type dish I have ever eaten. Mix together and then roast in the oven: ground lamb (ask the butcher to grind it fresh for you) + egg + chopped onions + salt + pepper + chopped fresh parsley + other spices you like.

There is a great Azeri restaurant at the top of Sheikh Shamil Street that serves wonderful lula. Just past the hammam.

Served with French fries (qızardılmış kartof) and tomato (pomidor) here.

Shopping list:

quzu əti / qoyun əti, çəkilmiş = lamb / mutton, ground [butcher may call it fars]

bir yumurta = 1 egg

soğan = onions

duz = salt

istiot = black pepper

cəfəri = parsley

Eggplant salad

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Colleen) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:01:00 +0000

Like the Lebanese moutabel, but with a Georgian twist. Contains roasted eggplants (skinned and chopped) + 2 mediums onions and 4 green peppers, sauted + walnuts ground with garlic, salt and olive oil + fresh chopped parsley and purple basil + a bit of ground Kashmiri chili (and other Indian spices if you like) + grape vinegar.

Georgians add ground marigold (from dried petals) to this. If you know a source in Baku, please post this.

Ingredients are pictured (with a few tomatoes who slipped into the shot.)

Shopping list:

badımcan = eggplant (aubergine)
soğan = onion
bibər = Azeri green pepper
qoz = walnuts
sarımsaq = garlic
duz = salt
zeytun yağı
cəfəri = parsley
qara reyhan = purple (dark opal) basil
üzüm sirkəsi = grape vinegar

Roasted beet spread

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Colleen) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:39:00 +0000

Beets are available year-round in Baku. This spread contains 2 oven-roasted beets + walnuts ground with garlic and salt + lots of fresh, finely chopped parsley + fresh chopped coriander + fresh-ground pepper + grape vinegar.

Shopping list:

iki çuğundur = two beets
qoz = walnuts
sarımsaq = garlic
duz = salt
cəfəri = parsley
kişniş = fresh coriander
istiot = black pepper
üzüm sikəsi = grape vinegar