Kookoo-e-Nokhod Sabz (Green Pea Fritters)

Having two kids is always a challenge for parents, especially when it comes to eating.

I have 2 picky eaters and it is really hard to feed them vegetables.

I always try to throw some kind of vegetable in every meal that I am making and make a new, healthy, yummy meal with the left overs.

Yesterday I made pasta with meat sauce and I grated some zucchini, carrots and chopped some mushrooms and green pepper in the sauce.

From the left overs I made this amazing green pea fritters.

So beautiful and tasty.

In Persian we call it Kookoo-e-Nokhod Sabz (Green pea kookoo) Kookoo is similar to fritter. You can

pour the whole amount of batter in a large hot skillet and fry one side then slice them and fry the other side or form patties from the batter and fry both sides in the oil. 

Ingredients for the meat sauce:

- 1 onion, chopped

- 150 grams ground beef

- Salt & pepper

- Turmeric, Paprika

- 1 teaspoon each oregano and basil

- 1 small zucchini , grated

- 1 small carrot , grated

- 1/3 cup chopped green pepper

-  1/3 cup chopped mushrooms

- 1 tablespoon tomato paste

- Olive oil

* The actual recipe for the Kookoo is called for the meat sauce without vegetables. Adding vegetables is optional. As I said I used meat sauce leftovers from pasta.

In a saucepan add olive oil over medium-high heat and saute the onions with turmeric and salt until light and golden brown. Add beef and brown the beef. Add pepper, paprika, turmeric, oregano and basil. Stir and cook for 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and salt. Add grated zucchini and carrots. Add green pepper and mushrooms. Stir and cook for 10 more minutes. Until all ingredients are cooked and well incorporated.

Remove from the heat and let it cool.

Ingredients for the fritters:

- 1 cup green peas

- 1 1/2 cups meat sauce

- 2 eggs

- Salt & pepper

- 1 tablespoon bread crumbs

Transfer the meat sauce to a large bowl add green peas, salt & pepper, eggs and bread crumbs.

Place a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add olive oil and when the oil is hot pour the batter in the skillet and let it cook for 10 minutes. Then slice the fritter and fry the other side for 10 minutes.

Serve with salad, rice or bread.