Zurbian or zurbiyan is a type of Biryani that is popular in Yemen, other parts of the Arabian Peninsula as well as parts of Somalia. We believe the Arabic name زربيان (zurbiyan) was derived from رز برياني (ruz biryani) where the first two letters were reversed. Zurbian which is a variant of Hyderabadi biryani, is usually cooked with lamb and potatoes but there are recipes that use chicken instead of lamb.
Zurbian is considered as a special occasion rice dish that is usually served in weddings, during the Eid, or when important guests arrive. The rice is very aromatic due to the different spices used in preparing it: saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, cloves, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and orange blossom water. Just like there are so many different types of biryani, there also different recipes for zurbian.
Not only does zurbian taste delicious, it is also very pleasing to look at: the contrast between the plain white basmati rice, the bright yellow colour of the saffron-tinged rice, and the pale reddish colour of the stew-covered rice. To make the rice even more festive-looking, some like to add fried onions and toasted nuts.
Good zurbian is not dry and some of the tomato-yogurt stew should remain at the bottom. The best meat to use is lamb shoulder as it is more tender and tends to stay more moist. Zurbian is usually served with a green salad and zhoug (a tomato-based green chili sauce).
Video without music:
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) fresh ginger (grated)
- 1½ pound (680 grams) bone-in lamb shoulder – 2½” (6 cm) cubes
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) xawaash
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) cardamom (ground)
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) cinnamon (ground)
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) ground black pepper
- 4 teaspoons (20 milliliters) xawaash bouillon powder – or 2 teaspoons xawaash spice mix + 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 medium tomatoes (chopped)
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) yogurt – plain
- 2½ cups (593 milliliters) boiling water
- 2 medium potatoes – quartered
- 2 cups (414 grams) basmati rice
- 12 cups (3 litres) water – for boiling the rice
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) salt – for boiling the rice
- ½ cup (80 grams) fresh cilantro (chopped) – (UK: coriander)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) saffron threads
- ¼ cup hot water – for the saffron threads
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) browned butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) orange blossom water
Directions:
- Using medium heat, fry the onions in the oil for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger, stir and cook for 1 minute. Add the meat and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Add the xawaash spice mix, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper and xawaash bouillon powder. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and stir well, then cover and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the yogurt and stir well until combined. Add the hot water and stir well, then cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and stir, then cover and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Grind the saffron threads then add ¼ cup hot water and stir well.
- Boil 3 litres of water and add 3 tablespoons salt. Wash the rice and add to the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes, then drain.
- Add the fresh cilantro to the meat and stir well. Add the rice to cover the meat and even the top (do not stir the rice into the stew).
- Add the saffron mixture, browned butter and orange blossom water.
- Cover and cook over very low heat for 20 minutes.
Fiidiyo aan muusik lahayn:
Mukawinaadka:
- ¼ koob (59 mililitir) saliid caddeey
- 1 basal dhexdhexaad (jarjaran)
- 4 tuun (toon) (shiidan)
- 2 qaaddo yar (10 mililitir) sanjabiil cusboon (oo la xoqay)
- 1½ rodol (680 garaam) hilib ari oo lafo leh
- 2 qaaddo yar (10 mililitir) xawaash
- ½ qaaddo yar (2.5 mililitir) hayl (shiidan)
- ½ qaaddo yar (2.5 mililitir) qorfe (shiidan)
- ¼ qaaddo yar (1.25 mililitir) huruud shiidan
- ¼ qaaddo yar (1.25 mililitir) filfil madoow shiidan
- 4 qaaddo yar (20 mililitir) maraq xawaash
- 2 yaanyo dhexdhexaad (jarjaran)
- 1 koob (237 mililitir) caano fadhi
- 2½ koob (593 mililitir) biyo karkaraaya
- 2 bataato (baradho) dhexdhexaad
- 2 koob (414 garaam) bariis basmati
- 12 koob (3 litir) biyo
- 3 qaaddo weyn (45 mililitir) cusbo
- ½ koob (80 garaam) kabsaro caleen (jarjaran)
- 1 qaaddo yar (5 mililitir) sacfaraan
- ¼ koob biyo kulul
- 3 qaaddo weyn (45 mililitir) buuro la gaduudiyay
- 1 qaaddo yar (5 mililitir) maa’ sahar
Diyaarinta:
- Dab dhexdhexaad adigoo isticmaalaysa, basasha iyo saliidda isku shiil muddo 3 daqiiqo. Ku dar tuunta iyo sanjabiisha. Walaaq ee shiil muddo 1 daqiiqo. Hilibka ku dar, walaaq, kaddibna kari muddo 3 daqiiqo.
- Ku dar xawaashka, haylka, qorfaha, huruudda, filfisha madoow iyo maraq xawaashka. Walaaq, kaddibna shiil muddo 1 daqiiqo. Yaanyada ku dar, si fiicanna u walaaq. Dabool oo kari muddo 3 daqiiqo.
- Ku dar caano fadhiga, si fiicanna u walaaq. Ku dar biyaha karkaraaya, si fiicanna u walaaq, kaddibna dabool oo kari muddo 30 daqiiqo.
- Bataatada ku dar, kaddibna walaaq. Dabool oo 30 daqiiqo kale kari.
- Sacfaraanka kal iyo mooye ku shiid, kaddibna ¼ koob biyo kulul ku dar ee walaaq.
- 3 litir biyo karkari kaddibna 3 QW cusbo ku dar. Bariiska dhaq, kaddibna biyaha karkaraaya ku kor shub. Kari muddo 10 daqiiqo, kaddibna biyaha ka miir.
- Kabsaro caleenta hilibka ku dar, kaddibna walaaq. Bariiska ku dar, korkana ka sin (bariiska maraqa ha ku walaaqin).
- Ku dar sacfaraanka, buurada la dhalaaliyay iyo maa’ saharka.
- Dabool oo dab gaaban ku kari muddo 20 daqiiqo.
Le zurbian ou zurbiyan est un type de Biryani populaire au Yémen, dans la Péninsule Arabique et dans certaines régions de Somalie. Nous pensons que le nom Arabe زربيان (zurbiyan) est dérivé de رز برياني (ruz biryani) où les deux premières lettres ont été inversées. Le zurbian qui est une variante du biryani Hyderabadi, est d’habitude préparé avec de l’agneau et des pommes de terre mais certaines recettes utilisent du poulet à la place de l’agneau.
Le zurbian est considéré comme un plat pour les occasions spéciales servi aux mariages, pendant l’Eid, ou quand un invité important arrive. Le riz est très aromatique grâce aux différentes épices utilisées dans la préparation: safran, cardamome, cannelle, cumin, coriandre, clous de girofle, curcuma, gingembre, poivre noir et eau de fleur d’oranger. De même qu’il existe de nombreuses sortes de biryani, il existe aussi différentes recettes de zurbian.
Non seulement le zurbian est délicieux, mais il est aussi très joli à regarder: le contraste entre le riz basmati nature blanc, le jaune vif du riz coloré de safran, et la couleur rouge pâle du riz recouvert de râgout. Pour rendre le riz encore plus festif, certains aiment ajouter des oignons frits et des noix grillées.
Un bon zurbian n’est pas sec et il doit rester un peu de sauce tomate-yaourt au fond du plat. La meilleure viande pour le cuisiner est l’épaule d’agneau car elle est plus tendre et reste plus moelleuse. Le zurbian est d’habitude servi avec une salade verte et du zhoug (une sauce verte au chili à base de tomate).
Vidéo sans la musique:
Ingrédients:
- ¼ mesure (59 ml) de huile végétale
- 1 moyen oignon (haché)
- 4 gousses d’ail (hachées)
- 2 cuillères à café (10 ml) de gingembre frais (râpé)
- 1½ (680 grammes) épaule d’agneau – en cubes de 2 ½ “ (6 cm)
- 2 cuillères à café (10 ml) de xawaash
- ½ cuillère à café (2.5 ml) de cardamome (moulue)
- ½ cuillère à café (2.5 ml) de cannelle (moulue)
- ¼ cuillère à café (1.25 ml) de curcuma en poudre
- ¼ cuillère à café (1.25 ml) de poivre noir moulu
- 4 cuillères à café (20 ml) de Bouillon au Xawaash en poudre – ou 2 cuillères à café de xawaash + 2 cuillères à café de sel
- 2 tomates (hachées)
- 1 mesure (237 ml) de yaourt – nature
- 2½ mesures (593 ml) de d’eau bouillante
- 2 pommes de terres – coupées en quatre
- 2 mesures (414 grammes) de riz basmati
- 12 mesures (3 litre) d’eau – pour cuire le riz
- 3 cuillères à soupe (45 ml) de sel – pour cuire le riz
- ½ mesure (80 grammes) de coriandre frais (hachée)
- 1 cuillère à café (5 ml) de pistils de safran
- ¼ mesure de d’eau chaude – pour le safran
- 3 cuillères à soupe (45 ml) de beurre noisette
- 1 cuillère à café (5 ml) de d’eau de fleur d’oranger
Instructions:
- A feu moyen, Faites frire les oignons dans l’huile pendant 3 minutes. Ajoutez l’ail et le gingembre, tournez et cuire 1 minute. Ajoutez la viande et cuire 3 minutes de plus.
- Ajoutez la poudre de xawaash, la cardamome, la cannelle, le curcuma, le poivre noir et le bouillon de xawaash en poudre. Touillez et cuire 1 minute. Ajoutez les tomates et bien tourner, puis couvrir et cuire pendant 3 minutes.
- Ajoutez le yaourt et bien tourner pour l’incorporer au mélange. Ajoutez l’eau chaude et mélangez, puis couvrez et cuire 30 minutes à feu moyen.
- Ajoutez les pommes de terre et tournez, puis couvrez et cuire 30 minutes de plus.
- Moudre les pistils de safran et ajouter ¼ de mesure d’eau chaude et mélanger.
- Faites bouillir 3 litres d’eau et ajoutez 3 cuillères à soupe de sel. Lavez le riz et versez-le dans l’eau bouillante, laissez cuire 10 minutes, puis égouttez.
- Ajoutez le coriandre frais à la viande et bien tourner. Couvrez la viande avec le riz et lissez (ne mélangez pas le riz au ragoût).
- Versez l’eau au safran, le beurre noisette et l’eau de fleur d’oranger.
- Couvrez et laissez cuire 20 minutes à feu très doux.
فيديو بدون موسيقى:
المقادير:
- ¼ كوب (59 مليلتر) زيت نباتي
- 1 بصل وسط (مقطعة)
- 4 فص ثوم (مفروم)
- 2 ملعقة صغيرة (10 مليلتر) زنجبيل طازج (مبشورة)
- 1½ رطل (680 جرام) لحم غنم مع عظم
- 2 ملعقة صغيرة (10 مليلتر) حوائج
- ½ ملعقة صغيرة (2.5 مليلتر) هيل (مطحون)
- ½ ملعقة صغيرة (2.5 مليلتر) قرفة (مطحون)
- ¼ ملعقة صغيرة (1.25 مليلتر) مسحوق الكركم (الهرد)
- ¼ ملعقة صغيرة (1.25 مليلتر) فلفل اسود مطحون
- 4 ملعقة صغيرة (20 مليلتر) مرق حوائج
- 2 طماطم وسط (مقطعة)
- 1 كوب (237 مليلتر) لبن زبادي
- 2½ كوب (593 مليلتر) مأء بدرجة الغليان
- 2 بطاطس وسط
- 2 كوب (414 جرام) ارز بسمتي
- 12 كوب (3 لتر) ماء
- 3 ملعقة كبيرة (45 مليلتر) ملح
- ½ كوب (80 جرام) كزبرة (مقطعة)
- 1 ملعقة صغيرة (5 مليلتر) زعفران
- ¼ كوب ماء ساخن
- 3 ملعقة كبيرة (45 مليلتر) زبدة محمرة
- 1 ملعقة صغيرة (5 مليلتر) ماء الزهر
طريقة التحضير:
- يحمر البصل في الزيت وتستعمل نار متوسطة لمدة 3 دقائق ثم يضاف الثوم والزنجبيل ويطهى لمدة دقيقة. يضاف اللحم، ثم يقلب ويحمر لمدة 3 دقائق
- يضاف الحوائج، الهيل، القرفة، الهرد، الفلفل الاسود، ومرق الحوائج. يقلب ويحمر لمدة دقيقة. تضاف الطماطم ثم تقلب وتطهى لمدة 3 دقائق
- تضاف الزبادي وتحرك حتى تذوب. يضاف الماء ويقلب ثم يغطى ويطهى لمدة 30 دقيقة
- تضاف البطاطس ويقلب المرق ثم يغطى ويطهى لمدة 30 دقيقة
- يطحن الزعفران ثم يضاف اليه الماء الساخن ويحرك
- يغلى 3 لتر ماء ثم يضاف 3 ملعقة كبيرة ملح. يغسل الارز ويضاف الى الماء المغلي ويطهى لمدة 10 دقائق ثم يصفى
- تضاف الكزبرة الى اللحم ويقلب ثم يضاف الارز ويسوى (لا يقلب الارز مع المرق).
- يضاف الزعفران، الزبدة المحمرة و ماء الزهر
- يغطى ويطهى على نار هادئة لمدة 20 دقيقة
These past few days, it has been raining quite hard. We love watching heavy downpours when we are staying at home, curled up in a blanket, and having no need to go outside. These heavy rains coincide with the Gu which is the main rainy season (April to June) in Somalia. Back there, we used to love sitting in the veranda, watching and listening to the rain.
Weather like this calls for comfort food and what comfort food is better than Anjero with a nice, aromatic, and deeply flavourful lamb stew. OK, there are some of you out there who have not had lamb or do not like the strong flavour of lamb. Rest assured. This is one lamb dish you really want to try. The aromatic spices, herbs, and the earthy flavour of the root vegetables temper some of the taste of the lamb. Still not convinced? In that case, substitute the lamb with chicken or beef, or make it vegetarian, and you will still end up with a stew that will make your taste buds and tummy really thankful.
This dish is about adding the different ingredients each at its right time. The lamb should be soft and tender, and the vegetables should retain their shape. The potatoes should not be cut into large cubes, since potatoes take longer to soften in acidic liquids like tomato sauces.
As some of you have noticed, we use more oil when cooking stews. The oil is important as it will “fry” the stew and give it a nice, caramelly taste. When the stew is ready, the oil separates and floats at the top, making it very easy to remove. Adding enough oil also helps in preventing the stew from sticking to the pot and burning. That is the rationale for the extra oil we use when cooking stews or tomato sauces in general.
Then it was time to sit down and do what Somalis have been doing for a very long time: scooping the stew on top of Anjero. Wait, do not sit down yet. Turn on some Qaraami music, a Somali musical style played with Kaban (Oud). The word Qaraami comes from the Arabic word غرامي which means romantic. What is most important to know though, is that Qaraami goes really well with maraq (stews).
Apart from Anjero, this stew can also be served with Soor (grits), plain rice, Sabaayad (chapati), or a nice, crusty bread. Somalis would also eat this with pasta and it would make an amazing sauce instead of regular pasta sauce.
Ingredients:
(Tbsp is a tablespoon; tsp is a teaspoon)
(1 cup = 237 mL = 2.4 dl; 1 Tbsp = 15 mL; 1 tsp = 5 mL); all are level measurements
- ⅓ cup (79 mL) Canola oil – Or vegetable oil
- 1 Large Onion (sliced)
- 3 Garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tsp (5 mL) Fresh ginger (grated)
- 2 tsp (10 mL) Fenugreek seeds (ground)
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) Xawaash
- 1 tsp (5 mL) Turmeric powder
- 1½ lb (680 g) Lamb – Or goat meat
- 4 Large (800 g) Tomatoes (blended)
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) Tomato paste
- 2 tsp (10 mL) Salt (to taste)
- 2 Medium (350 g) Potato (cubed)
- 2 Medium (230 g) Carrot(s) (sliced)
- 1 Green pepper (chopped)
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) Green chilli sauce – Or to taste
- ½ cup (80 g) Cilantro (chopped) – UK: coriander
- ½ tsp (2.5 mL) Ground black pepper
Directions:
- In a pan set on medium heat, saute the onions in the oil for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for one minute then add the ginger and mix well.
- Add the fenugreek, xawaash and turmeric. Mix well after each addition.
- Add the meat right after, so the spices don’t burn. Brown for 3 minutes.
- Add the blended tomatoes and mix.
- Add the tomato paste and stir well. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Add the green pepper and cook for 10 more minutes.
- Add the chili sauce and cilantro. Stir well.
- Add the black pepper and stir. Serve hot with anjero.
Mukawinaadka:
(QW waa qaaddo weyn – midda cuntada lagu cuno; qy waa qaaddo yar)
(1 koob = 237 mL = 2.4 dl; 1 QW = 15 mL; 1 qy = 5 mL)
- ⅓ koob (79 mL) Saliid caddeey
- 1 Basal , Weyn (jarjaran)
- 3 Tuun (toon) (shiidan)
- 1 qy (5 mL) Sanjabiil cusboon (la xoqay)
- 2 qy (10 mL) Xulbad (shiidan)
- 1 QW (15 mL) Xawaash
- 1 qy (5 mL) Huruud shiidan
- 1½ baawun (680 g) Hilib idaad (ari)
- 4 (800 g) Yaanyo , Weyn (shiidan)
- 3 QW (45 mL) Yaanyo shiishiid
- 2 qy (10 mL) Cusbo (inta dooqaaga ah)
- 2 (350 g) Bataato / baradho , Dhexdhexaad ()
- 2 (230 g) Karooto (dabacase) , Dhexdhexaad (jarjaran)
- 1 Barbarooni cagaaran (jarjaran)
- 1 QW (15 mL) Basbaas cagaar shiidan
- ½ koob (80 g) Kabsaro caleen (jarjaran)
- ½ qy (2.5 mL) Filfil madoow shiidan
Diyaarinta:
- Digsi dab dhexdhexaad ah saaran saliidda ku shub. Basasha dallac muddo 3 daqiiqo. Ku dar tuunta (toonta), hal daqiiqana shiil. Sanjabiisha ku dar, si fiicanna u walaaq.
- Ku dar xulbadda, xawaashka iyo huruudda. Walaaq mid walba markaad ku dartid.
- Hilibka ku dar, walaaqna ilaa uu ka gaduuto, muddo 3 daqiiqo.
- Yaanyada ku dar ee si fiican u walaaq.
- Yaanyo shiishiidka ku dar, kaddibna walaaq. Dabool ha karo muddo 30 daqiiqo.
- Bataatada iyo karootada ku dar. Dabool ha karo muddo 20 daqiiqo.
- Barbarooniga ku dar, 10 daqiiqo oo kalena kari.
- Basbaaska iyo kabsara caleenta ku dar.
- Filfisha madoow ku dar, si fiicanna u walaaq. Maraqa kulul canjeero ama soor ku cun.
المقادير
كوب = 237 مل، ملعقة كبيرة = 15 مل، ملعقة صغيرة = 5 مل
| زيت الكانولا | كوب | ⅓ |
| (بصل( مقطع شرائح | 1 | |
| (فص ثوم( مفروم | 3 | |
| (زنجبيل طازج( مبشور | ملعقة صغيرة | 1 |
| (حبوب الحلبة( مطحون | ملعقة صغيرة | 2 |
| حوائج | ملعقة كبيرة | 1 |
| مسحوق الكركم (الهرد) | ملعقة صغيرة | 1 |
| خروف/ | جم | 680 |
| (طماطم( مضروبة في الخلاط | جم | 800 |
| معجون طماطم | ملعقة كبيرة | 3 |
| (ملح( حسب الرغبة | ملعقة صغيرة | 2 |
| (بطاطا( مكعبة | جم | 350 |
| (جزر( مقطع شرائح | جم | 230 |
| فلفل اخضر/ فلفل رومي | 1 | |
| البسباس الاخضر | ملعقة كبيرة | 1 |
| كزبرة | جم | 80 |
| فلفل اسود مطحون | ملعقة صغيرة | ½ |
طريقة التحضير:
| فى قدر على نار متوسطة يحمر البصل فى الزيت لمدة 3 دقائق، يضاف الثوم ويحمر لمدة دقيقة واحدة، ثم يضاف الزنجبيل ويحرك جيدا | -1 |
| تضاف الحلبة، الحوائج (بهارات مشكلة) ومسحوق الكركم (الهرد) ويحرك جيدا | -2 |
| يضاف اللحم، يحرك ويحمر لمدة 3 دقائق | -3 |
| تضاف الطماطم ويحرك جيدا | -4 |
| يضاف معجون الطماطم ويحرك المرق جيدا ثم يغطى ويطهى لمدة 30 دقيقة | -5 |
| يضاف البطاطس والجزر، يغطى المرق ويطهى لمدة 20 دقيقة اخرى | -6 |
| يضاف الفلفل الاخضر، يغطى ويطهى لمدة 10 دقائق | -7 |
| يضاف صوص البسباس والكزبرة | -8 |
| يضاف الفلفل الاسود ويحرك جيدا، يقدم المرق ساخنا | -9 |
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