Siti Zbeqi
Siti Zbeqi is a traditional vegetarian Damascene dish based on brown lentils and pasta. It is prepared by boiling the lentils and pasta, then sautéing onion in olive oil and combining them with lentil broth and pomegranate molasses. Fried garlic and coriander are then added for a rich, lightly tangy flavor.
A traditional Damascene dish from local heritage.
Like a regional traditional home-style dish.
Ingredients
- lentils
- pasta
- olive oil
- pomegranate molasses
- garlic
- cilantro
- onion
- black pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Boil 1 cup of pasta in a pot over the heat with plenty of hot water and a pinch of salt, without adding oil.
- Boil 1 cup of washed brown lentils in a pot over the heat with 5 cups of water and a pinch of salt, reserving the lentil broth for later use.
- Finely chop 1 bunch of coriander on a cutting board, reserving a little for garnish.
- Finely chop 1 onion on a cutting board.
- Crush 9 garlic cloves, or about 8 to 9 garlic cloves.
- Drain the boiled pasta, then rinse it in a colander with cold water and set aside.
- Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a pot over the heat.
- Fry the chopped onion in the pot with a pinch of salt until it softens slightly.
- Add the boiled pasta to the pot and stir it with the onion and oil.
- Add the boiled lentils to the pot and stir with the pasta and onion until they take on the flavor of the olive oil.
- Add enough lentil broth to the pot to cover the mixture.
- Add 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to the pot.
- Add 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses to the pot and stir the mixture.
- Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan over the heat.
- Fry the crushed garlic in the pan with the chopped coriander until fragrant.
- Add the garlic and coriander mixture from the pan to the pot and stir it into the lentil and pasta mixture.
- Serve the dish hot on a serving plate, garnished with the reserved coriander.