Lubia Pokhteh (Red Kidney Bean Dip)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is turmeric?

  Turmeric is a rhizome, or root, cultivated as a spice for food like its relative, ginger. Known for its deep, golden orange hue, turmeric adds earthy, citrus notes to lamb kebabs and haldi doodh. Also known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used for millennia

• What is cumin?

  Cumin is a perennial plant native to Iran and the Mediterranean, where it has been used for almost 5,000 years. A relative of parsley, ground cumin is derived from the cumin seeds that are traditionally harvested by hand three to four months after planting. Known for its medicinal and culinary uses as early as the fourth century, cumin was referred to as a pantry staple in a Roman cookbook. By the 16th century, it was one of the foods introduced to the Americas by the Spanish. Considered to be the most well-traveled spice in the world, cumin is found in dishes such as jeera rice from India and Mexican recipes featuring pork.