Iraqi Style Qeema Timman Ou Qeema Food

IRAQI RICE (TIMMAN)

Steps:

• Wash rice well in a sieve and drain.
• Heat olive oil or butter in a large based pot, add rice and stir over high heat for two minutes.
• Add stock and bring to high simmer stirring once at first to separate the grains from the bottom of the pot.
• Reduce heat to medium low and cover pot tightly for 15 minutes.
• Open pot and fluff rice with a fork.
• Place paper towels around rim and cover tightly again. (This makes for a fluffier grain).
• Reduce heat to low and leave for 25 minutes then remove paper towels and you can leave longer on low. (I actually preheat my oven to 350F instead of leaving mine on low and then I leave the rice pot on the burner that heat escapes from the oven until we are ready to eat. *Of course this only works if your stove is on top of your oven. I find a good quality grain lasts hours this way and is warm and ready to eat when you are).
• Meanwhile in a small dry pan toast pine nuts over medium high heat until golden. Watch carefully as they tend to burn quickly.
• Sprinkle over rice and fluff with a fork to incorporate.
• Enjoy with any meat stew, bamia (okra) dish or chicken.

IRAQI QEEMA (STEW OF CHICKPEAS AND DICED MEAT)

Steps:

• Dice lamb into 1/4-inch cubes.
• In a medium heavy pot sauté meat in oil, stirring occasionally, until all moisture has evaporated, and meat starts to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add onion and stir until transparent, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and turmeric in the last minute.
• Meanwhile, boil chickpeas until almost done (about 15 minutes), and drain.
• Add the chickpeas to the pot along with the rest of ingredients. Mix well, making sure there is enough liquid to cover ingredients. Add some more hot water if needed. Bring to a quick boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and let stew simmer gently, covered, about 45 minutes, or until sauce is nicely thickened. Stir 3 to 4 times while cooking to prevent ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Sauce of this stew should be thicker in consistency than that of regular stews.
• This stew is particularly delicious with white rice and fresh radish and radish leaves.

FRIED FISH IRAQI STYLE

Steps:

• Mix spices in a ziplock bag or bowl and coat fish pieces.
• Fry them in a 1/2 inch deep oil of choice, turning once until golden brown on both sides. While frying help keep pieces flat by pressing on them with a metal spatula. 5-10 minutes cooking time depending on fish thickness.
• Sprinkle with some sumac or squeeze on fresh lemon juice.
• Serve immediately, with rice, a fresh salad and Recipe#387327.