5 iraqi free Recipes

dates, dried & pitted (i used medjool), ghee (i used butter but it may burn), walnut pieces, sesame seeds , toasted in a dry frying pan

white sugar, water, butter, rice flour, freshly ground cardamom, rose water (i prefer iranian, s vary greatly in quality), hand full slivered almonds , toasted in a dry pan, crushed pistachio nut , to almost a powder (optional)

lamb shanks, cold water, dried lime (noomi, loomi, 1 strip of lemon rind may be used), onion, finely chopped, olive oil, baharat ( aka middle east mixed spices - the real mix), turmeric, canned tomato puree (i always sweeten with 3/4 tbsp brown sugar), salt & pepper, raisins (optional, i recommend ), lemon , juice of (optional i think it just adds more to the flavor, which is good.)

white basmati rice, washed and soaked as much as needed depending on quality, water, sea salt , to taste, unsalted butter, divided (butter is essential, oil or margarine is not to be subbed here), whole cardamom pods, crushed slightly to open a bit, turmeric powder (it s really for colour), scant 1/2 cup date molasses (dibis tamar in middle eastern shops), balkan yogurt, to serve