Shahmirzad tahchin with lamb, lentils and herbs

Shahmirzad tahchin with lamb, lentils and herbs

Main dishes

Shahmirzad’s Tahchin: A rice dish made with lentils and herbs, cooked for 3-4 hours in a pot covered with spiced lamb, along with quince, beets, and eggpl…

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Shahmirzad, a summer village in the Semnan province, is famous for its walnut trees and is the origin of this festive dish. The lamb, seasoned and spread in a sheet, is cooked for hours between layers of rice with lentils and herbs, surrounded by vegetables and fruits.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time1 hr
  • Cook time4 hr
  • Resting1 hr
  • Total6 hr
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostPricey
  • Cooking methodpot
  • Estimated cost$73.54 $9.19 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.

Ingredients

8 people
  • $2.33
  • $4.63
  • $34.98
  • $15.10
  • $0.08
  • $1.70
  • $6.12
  • $6.16
  • $2.10
  • $0.34

Prices from US supermarkets for 5 of 10 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Cook the soaked rice, but keep it slightly firmer than usual. Add the lentils and herbs, let it simmer for one or two minutes, then drain.
  2. Lay the meat flat and rub it with turmeric, pepper, spices, and a little salt. ≈ 3 min
  3. Grease the bottom of a large pot, sprinkle with a little turmeric, and spread three to four spoonfuls of rice evenly over the surface. ≈ 4 min
  4. Place the seasoned raw meat on top of the rice and cover it with a little more rice. ≈ 3 min
  5. Arrange the beets, turnips, quince, kale, eggplants, spinach, and plums around and within the spaces. ≈ 3 min
  6. Cover the rest of the rice and let it cook for 3 to 4 hours over very low heat, so that the meat becomes tender.
  7. Transfer the mixture to a large serving dish and arrange the garnish around it. ≈ 3 min

The bill

Shahmirzad tahchin with lamb, lentils and herbs

  • 800 g of rice$2.33
  • 2 cups of cooked lentils$4.63
  • 500 g of chopped herbs: chives, parsley, cilantro, dill, and a little fenugreek$34.98
  • 750 g to 1kg of lamb (shoulder or rib)$15.10
  • turmeric, a spice blend, black pepper, and salt$0.08
  • 5 small potatoes$1.70
  • 3 to 4 small eggplant, cut into french fry-sized pieces$6.12
  • 250 g of sautéed spinach with fried onions and verjus powder$6.16
  • 100 g of dried plums (prunes)$2.10
  • oil$0.34

Total$73.54

that's $9.19 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 800 g of rice
  • 2 cups of cooked lentils
  • 500 g of chopped herbs: chives, parsley, cilantro, dill, and a little fenugreek
  • 750 g to 1kg of lamb (shoulder or rib)
  • turmeric, a spice blend, black pepper, and salt
  • 5 small beets
  • 5 small potatoes
  • 2 quince, sliced
  • 3 to 4 small Savoyard cabbages, sliced
  • 3 to 4 small eggplant, cut into french fry-sized pieces
  • 250 g of sautéed spinach with fried onions and verjus powder
  • 100 g of dried plums (prunes)
  • oil

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