Simple plate of sabzi khordan: piyazcheh, torobcheh & na’nah
If you come from a Persian household or have had occasion to dine at one, you are privy to the fact that a Persian table at mealtime is considered naked without sabzi khordan (Persian: سبزی خوردن ).
Sabzi khordan literally translates to either “edible herbs” or “eating herbs” and refers to an assorted plate of fresh herbs and raw vegetables. An assortment that might include: basil (reyhan), green onions aka scallions (piyaz che), parsley (jaffari), chives (tareh), coriander (geshniz), cilantro, mint (na’nah), fenugreek (shanbalileh), radishes (torobche), savory (marzeh, origany or sweet fennel), tarragon (tarkhun), Persian watercress (shâhi) and maybe even sliced raw onions. (To see the vast potential variety of sabzi khordan, you might want to feast your eyes on this Google image search for سبزی خوردن.)
The choice of which fresh herbs and how much of them to use to assort the Persian herbs platter are entirely up to one’s whim and whimsy and provisions-at-hand; although typically, sabzi khordan is not really sabzi khordan without the presence of radishes which are crunchy, healthy, add a pop of color, and pack a nice bit of heat.
Radical Radishes (torobcheh)
Radiant Raihan (Fresh Basil) | King of herbs!
Scoundrel Scallions (Piyazcheh) for sabzi khordan
To make a meal out of sabzi khordan, it’s customary to add walnuts and feta cheese to the fresh herbs platter and make a logmeh (roll up sandwich) of it with some type of flat bread – ideally a delicious Persian bread like sangak or lavash or barbari. This combo of bread and cheese and walnuts with sabzi khordan‘s fresh herbs is known as noon va panir va sabzi (نون و پنیر و سبزی). A humble but nutritious and tasty repast that hits the spot, without any ado, on the spot.
As noted, sabzi khordan is pretty much served par for course with every Persian meal — as constant a table setting as the salt and pepper. or a pitcher of water. But why exactly is sabzi khordan such a popular habit and ingrained fixture of Persian cuisine? How did it assume such an integral role? Well, for one thing, sabzi khordan serves a multitude of purposes as: garnish, side dish, appetizer, and basically a condiment to compliment and enhance the pleasure of a meal.
Also, when leafing through a favorite & wonderful encyclopedic cookbook (by Ostad Najaf Daryabandari – which alas is only available in its original Farsi language, hopefully to be translated by an intrepid person soon) I learned that in the olden-days of Iran, it was customary to finish an elaborate feast with a few mouthfuls of bread and cheese and sabzi khodran. This custom was called dahaneh talayee or “golden mouth.” (Isn’t that a cool imagery?) Which I interpret as a gesture meant to cleanse and refresh the palette.This may explain the enduring popularity of sabzi khordan as a mealtime fixture – not just to enhance the flavor and pleasure of food, but also as a healthy and tasty palette cleanser.
The genesis of sabzi khordan might also trace its roots to the sardi garmi (the balancing of hot and cold) classification philosophy of Persian cuisine. This ancient Persian food philosophy is a rich and complex topic that I won’t deign or dare to address in this post.
What I will dare to address here, however, are a few pointers to make a very simple sabzi khordan plate of radishes, green onions and basil to call your own.
A simple plate of sabzi khordan: torobche, raihan & piyazche
wash, dry , trim radishes, and green onions (scallions) to make a simple sabzi khordan
Simple Plate of Sabzi Khordan
INGREDIENTS
A bunch of: radishes, fresh basil (and/or mint) and green onions aka scallons
To Prep Radishes
Scrub wash and dry a few radishes. Chop tops and bottom roots off. With a sharp knife make a few cutting indents — a little over 3/4 way down, but not all the way, slightly rotate and repeat a few times — to make a radish florette garnish. (If you want to get really fancy about it, here are some images to inspire you.)
To Prep Green Onions
Rinse green onions under cold tap water. Peel off the slimy skin on the white parts. Line a tray with a paper towel and lay the green onions to dry completely.
Bunching up several green onions at a time, place on a cutting board, and with a sharp knife, trim the stringy root ends by slicing about 1/4 inch above the roots. Chop off almost all of the green tops, leaving only a 1/4 inch or so of it intact. (You can use the green tops for something else, like a soup or omelet, after discarding any wilted or damaged tops amongst the bunch.)
To Prep Fresh Basil
Fresh basil bruises easily, so handle with care. Instead of using a knife, use your hands to trim the stems. Gently wash and rinse in cold water. Dry completely on a tray lined with paper towel.
Same story if you either sub or add mint to the platter. Wash, leave to dry, trim the stems.
Serve
Artfully arrange assorted handfuls of radishes, green onions and fresh basil (and other fresh herbs) on a small plate. Serve alongside a main dish; or, make a sandwich of it by adding feta cheese, walnuts and bread.
(Needless to say: this simple arrangement can be expanded upon per your desire to include many other types of fresh herbs.)
wash, dry and trim radishes, fresh basil, and green onions (scallions) to make a simple plate of sabzi khordan
Make it. Enjoy it. And noosh’e joon!
