Borani Esfenaj
persianspinachyogurtlowcarbvegetarianmezzequick

Borani Esfenaj

Borani Esfenaj is cool, creamy, and savory, with tender spinach folded into tangy yogurt and topped with sweet golden onions. A little turmeric and dried rose petal give it the unmistakable floral warmth and elegance of Persian home cooking.

15 min
2 servings
183 kcal
Persian

Ingredients

Borani

  • 250 gfresh spinach
  • 250 gGreek yogurt, plain
  • 1 small clove (5 g)garlic, finely grated
  • 1/2 tspsalt
  • 1/8 tspblack pepper

Piaz-e Dagh topping

  • 120 gonion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml)olive oil
  • 1/4 tspground turmeric
  • 1 tspdried rose petals, crushed

Instructions

  1. 1

    Wash the spinach well and shake off excess water. Thinly slice the onion and finely grate the garlic so everything cooks quickly and evenly.

  2. 2

    Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring often, until soft and deeply golden at the edges. Stir in the turmeric for the last 30 seconds; do not let it scorch or it will taste bitter.

  3. 3

    While the onion cooks, place the spinach in a second pan or microwave-safe bowl with the water clinging to the leaves. Cover and cook just until wilted, 1-2 minutes. Squeeze out excess moisture once cool enough to handle, then chop finely; removing extra water keeps the borani thick rather than runny.

  4. 4

    In a bowl, mix the yogurt with the grated garlic, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Fold in the chopped spinach and about two-thirds of the caramelized onion mixture. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

  5. 5

    Spoon the borani onto a serving plate or shallow bowl. Top with the remaining onions and scatter over the crushed dried rose petals. Serve immediately, or chill briefly for 5-10 minutes if you prefer it cooler.

Nutrition per serving

183 kcal
Calories
13g
Protein
11g
Carbs
10g
Fat
3g
Fiber

Notes

Background

Borani Esfenaj is a classic Persian yogurt-based side dish made with spinach and aromatics, part of the broad family of borani dishes served across Iran. It is commonly presented as a mezze or side alongside rice, bread, and grilled meats, and reflects the Persian love of herbs, yogurt, and fragrant garnishes such as rose petals.

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