Eech (Itch)
Vegetarian
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Serves4
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Cooks in35 minutes with extra time for cooling
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DifficultyEasy
Eech or Itch is a traditional Armenian dish that you can eat as salad or spread as mezze, side or main dish. It is made with bulgur, tomato, parsley and Armenian pepper paste. We eat Itch in early summer when the tomatoes are juicy and full of flavor, and we use the young vine leaves to scoop it up and make a perfect bite. You can also eat it with crispy cabbage leaves or lettuce.
Reprinted with permission from Armenian Cuisine, by Aline Kamakian and Barbara Drieskens, copyright © 2001. Published by Aline Kamakian. Photographs copyright © 2001 by Jeroen Kramer.
Ingredients
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1onion, finely chopped
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2spring onions
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3ripe tomatoes, peeled and diced
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1/4green bell pepper
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1/2 cupmedium white bulgur
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1 cupwater
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2-4 tbsolive oil
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1 tpssalt
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1 tbshot red pepper paste
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1/3 tspseven spices
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2 tbsparsley, chopped
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3 leavesfresh mint, finely chopped
Instructions
- Fry the onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for 1 minute.
- Add the green pepper and fry for another 4 minutes.
- Stir the tomatoes into this mixture and simmer.
- After two minutes, add pepper paste, water, Seven Spice mixture, and salt.
- Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir the bulgur through the tomato mixture, remove from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Combine with lemon juice and let it cool further. When the mixture is cold, stir in parsley, mint and spring onions, and extra olive oil, according to taste.
Note: Serve itch in a cabbage leaf.
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