Borani-yeh Esfenaj (Spinach Yogurt Dip)
Published May 23, 2022

- Total Time
- 35 minutes, plus at least 2 hours’ chilling
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- 1medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2large garlic cloves, finely grated
- Salt and black pepper
- ¼teaspoon ground turmeric
- 12ounces fresh baby spinach, or thawed frozen spinach (no need to squeeze)
- 1cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1tablespoon regular plain yogurt (or water; see Tip), plus more as needed
- ½teaspoon lemon zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus more juice to taste
Preparation
- Step 1
In a large (12-inch) pan, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the garlic, sprinkle with a little salt, stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the turmeric, stir and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Step 2
Add about half the spinach and increase the heat to medium. Using tongs, quickly and continuously toss the spinach with the onion mixture until slightly wilted and reduced in volume. Add the rest of the spinach, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Toss and cook until the spinach is wilted and any liquid has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat slightly if the spinach releases too much water. Transfer the spinach mixture to a bowl and cool to room temperature.
- Step 3
To the cooled spinach, add the Greek yogurt, regular plain yogurt, lemon zest and lemon juice. Stir well to combine, and add salt to taste. If the mixture is too thick, thin out with more regular yogurt, 1 tablespoon at a time. Taste and add more salt and lemon juice as needed. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours. Stir to combine, then drizzle with olive oil and serve.
- You can thin out the Greek yogurt with water instead of regular yogurt, but it might not be as creamy as using regular plain yogurt.
Private Notes
Comments
Mast esfenaj is what we call it. Even though you're *supposed to* eat it cold, I love it warm. The flavors are so delicious together. I always cook the spinach separately and chop it all up once it's steamed because it's so easy to do then, and then add back in to the onions, etc.
I like to eat this with a fried egg. Yum.
Or in a baked potato. Yum
SO DELICIOUS! Made just as described. Served with Mark Bittman's Crispy Chickpeas with Ground Beef for a quick & tasty weeknight meal.
Guests liked it. I thought it was ok. I suggest trying frozen spinach, which would be less work, and also adding cumin, which I did not do.
Why does it say to start at medium high, then increase the heat to medium?
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