Borani Yeh Karafs Celery Yogurt Dip Food

BORANI-YEH KARAFS (CELERY YOGURT DIP)

Steps:

• Coarsely chop the hazelnuts, set a few pieces aside for garnish and place the rest in a medium bowl.
• Add the yogurt, celery, green onion, dried cranberries, lemon juice, mint, dill and salt to the bowl and mix well. Taste and adjust all seasonings to your liking. The dip can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• To serve, garnish with reserved hazelnuts, cranberries and a little sprinkling of dried mint and dill. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with chips, flatbreads or crudités.

BORANI-YEH ESFENAJ (SPINACH YOGURT DIP)

Steps:

• In a large (12-inch) pan, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the garlic, sprinkle with a little salt, stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the turmeric, stir and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add about half the spinach and increase the heat to medium. Using tongs, quickly and continuously toss the spinach with the onion mixture until slightly wilted and reduced in volume. Add the rest of the spinach, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Toss and cook until the spinach is wilted and any liquid has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat slightly if the spinach releases too much water. Transfer the spinach mixture to a bowl and cool to room temperature.
• To the cooled spinach, add the Greek yogurt, regular plain yogurt, lemon zest and lemon juice. Stir well to combine, and add salt to taste. If the mixture is too thick, thin out with more regular yogurt, 1 tablespoon at a time. Taste and add more salt and lemon juice as needed. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours. Stir to combine, then drizzle with olive oil and serve.

VEGAN ONION DIP

Steps:

• Add the cashews to a bowl and cover with water. Let the cashews soak at room temperature for 2 hours.
• About 45 minutes before the cashews are finished soaking, combine the chopped onions, olive oil and a pinch of salt in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are deep golden brown and caramelized, about 30 minutes. To prevent the onions from burning and sticking to the bottom of the skillet, you can add a splash of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Let caramelized onions cool slightly.
• Drain the cashews and add them to the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender with the beans and 1/2 cup water. Blend the mixture until smooth, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer and scraping down the bowl occasionally.
• Add the lemon juice, vinegar, onion powder, paprika and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and blend again until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Reserve about 1 tablespoon onions for garnish, then add the rest to the bowl. Fold the onions into the mixture, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. (Overnight is ideal for the best flavor.)
• Just before serving, give the dip a good stir and adjust the seasoning with lemon juice and salt as desired. Top with the reserved onions and chives, if desired, and a few grinds of black pepper. Serve with potato chips or crudités. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.