To celebrate the premiere of Guillermo Verdecchia's THE PARLIAMENT OF THE BIRDS, you're invited to a virtual Iranian cuisine cooking demonstration on May 26, 5 p.m. hosted by Armita Hosseini.
Psychologist by training, Armita is a self-taught cook and food stylist who is passionate about the artistic expression of various international cuisines, particularly middle eastern and traditional Iranian cuisine. She uses food as an art form and draws inspiration from colours, flavours, texture, art and her fond childhood memories growing up in Tehran, Iran. She hopes to highlight the values of generosity, richness and kindness that Iranian cuisine offers to the world, by elevating the beauty of many regional/traditional Iranian dishes, one plate at a time. Her inspiration for this easy and delicious stuffed fish and Persian herb salad recipe is from her fond memories of eating fish in the coastal regions of Iran.
You'll learn to make:
- Main dish: Mahiye shekam-por ba gerdoo-anar/zereshk (Pomegranate/walnut/barberry stuffed Fish)
- Side Dish: Salad-e Sabzi Khordan (Persian Herbed Salad)
How it works:
- Register for the virtual class through the link below, and purchase your 'Around The World Passport' for 25% off here (Regularly $80). Your passport will grant you access to THE PARLIAMENT OF THE BIRDS as well as 7 other audio dramas for you to enjoy!
- Purchase the ingredients listed below and make note of the recipe for reference during the class
- Follow along as Armita leads a step-by-step cooking and styling demonstration on May 26, 5 p.m.
- Join us for the premiere of THE PARLIAMENT OF THE BIRDS on May 26 as you enjoy your stuffed fish and Persian herb salad! Once you have purchased your Passport at the exclusive TL Insider rate, you will receive an email on April 28 with a link to log into your account and listen to the play through your computer or device. If you wish to purchase a single destination ticket exclusively for THE PARLIAMENT OF THE BIRDS, you can do so at a PWYC rate here.
* Audiences enjoy unlimited access to the audio drama from the premiere date until June 30, 2021.
Ingredients for the Stuffed Fish (4 servings):
- 1 large or 2 pounds firm-fleshed white fish, or other variations (sea bass, halibut, cod, rockfish), gutted and cleaned
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil or butter
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup crushed/chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup barberries or substitute with cranberries
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate paste/molasses or substitute with 1/4 cup of tamarind paste
- 1/4 fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon of fresh pomegranate seeds, for garnish
Steps for the Stuffed Fish (4 servings):
- Heat oven to 375°. Grease two baking sheets and set aside.
- Soak barberries in warm water for 30 minutes and drain.
- Rinse fish in cold water. Rub both sides with 1 teaspoon salt.
- Heat oil in a large frying pan and brown onion and cook until brown for 10 minutes. Add all the other ingredients except the lime juice and cook for 3-5 minutes. Mix well and remove from heat.
- Place the fish in a baking dish and stuff it with the mixture from step 4. Pour the rest of the oil.
- Bake the fish for 15-20 minutes (until the fish flakes easily with a fork). Optional to broil the fish for a few minutes until it turns golden and crispy.
- Place the fish a serving platter. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and pour the lime juice over the fish.
- Serve with the Salad. Noosh-e Jan! Enjoy
Ingredients for the Salad (4 servings):
- 1 bunch of parsley, remove stems and chop
- 1 bunch of cilantro, remove stems and chop
- 1 bunch of tarragon, remove stems
- 1 bunch of fresh mint, remove stems and chop
- ¼ cup of feta cheese
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/3 cup of sliced radish
- 4 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- kosher salt and pepper as desired
Steps for the Salad (4 servings):
- Toss the greens and herbs in a bowl and gently mix. Add the feta cheese.
- Whisk the olive oil, fresh lemon juice to make the dressing and pour on the herbs as desired to your liking.
- Season with salt/pepper.
- Noosh-e Jan! Enjoy
Where to buy: barberries, pomegranate paste, Tamarind paste are popular items and can be found at Iranian and middle eastern grocery stores. They can be ordered online or purchased at the following stores:
Downtown Toronto: Banu Iranian Eatery and Commissary (pick-up, online order, and delivery). GTA area: Super Khorak (online or in person) and Rumi Bazaar (online order and delivery).
