Chaghtermeh kuku is one of the special and festive dishes of the Rashti people, served as breakfast at wedding ceremonies and parties. If you are looking for a recipe that distinguishes a regular homemade kuku from a festive wedding kuku, this guide is for you.
Ingredients for Chaghtermeh Kuku
To prepare this kuku, you will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken breast: 400 grams
- Potatoes: 2 medium
- Onions: 2 medium
- Carrot: 1 medium
- Eggs: 5
- Fresh garlic: 3 medium cloves
- Orange paste: 1 heaping tablespoon
- Saffron (strongly brewed): 2 tablespoons
- Bay leaves: 2
- Salt, turmeric, black pepper: to taste
Steps to Prepare Chaghtermeh Kuku
Cook the chicken breast along with the onion (halved), crushed garlic cloves, chopped carrot, bay leaves, a few black peppercorns, turmeric, and salt in 2 cups of boiling water. Let it simmer for 45 to 60 minutes on low heat until the water evaporates and the spices are fully absorbed by the meat. After cooking, remove the chicken and shred it finely.
Finely chop the onion and sauté it in a pan until it becomes soft and golden. Then add turmeric. Remove the onions. In the same pan, fry the diced potatoes until golden.
Break the eggs into a separate bowl, add saffron, and whisk thoroughly with a hand whisk until the texture is smooth. Now add the sautéed onions, fried potatoes, shredded chicken, salt, black pepper, and orange paste to the egg mixture and mix well.
Choose a non-stick pan and pour in plenty of oil. When the oil is fully hot, pour the kuku mixture into the pan and spread it out. Note that this kuku is thicker than regular kukus. Let one side fry and brown completely, then flip it over to brown the other side as well.
Golden Tips for Preparing Chaghtermeh Kuku
If you want a more authentic taste, add some local Gilan herbs like kholvas or chochagh to the mixture. You can also let the kuku mixture rest in the refrigerator for an hour to make it firmer. Make sure the oil is very hot and the ratio of ingredients follows the above instructions precisely to prevent the kuku from falling apart.
You can keep this dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For serving, fresh lemon and herbs alongside it create an incredible combination. Enjoy!
