With Christmas only a
week away, I felt it appropriate to make douzma again, that wonderful,
wintery, Armenian (Dikranagerdtsi) comfort food. ‘Douzma”, you might
recall from a previous post, means “lined up” or “alternating”,
which indicates how the ingredients are assembled in the baking pan.
week away, I felt it appropriate to make douzma again, that wonderful,
wintery, Armenian (Dikranagerdtsi) comfort food. ‘Douzma”, you might
recall from a previous post, means “lined up” or “alternating”,
which indicates how the ingredients are assembled in the baking pan.
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Douzma, a Dikranagerdtsi Comfort Food |
Douzma
Serves 5 to 6
NOTE:
Select vegetables that are similar in size. Cut the
vegetables to the same thickness to ensure even baking.
vegetables to the same thickness to ensure even baking.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground lamb, beef or turkey – not too fatty
Salt, pepper, and allspice, to taste
2 Japanese eggplants, cut into 1/4 inch circles (any
eggplant will do, but my preference is Japanese)
eggplant will do, but my preference is Japanese)
1 zucchini, sliced into 1/4 in. slices
2 medium (starchy variety) potatoes, peeled and sliced into
about 1/4 in. slices
about 1/4 in. slices
Sliced tomatoes – as many as will fit in between above
ingredients (about 2 medium)
ingredients (about 2 medium)
6 oz. can tomato paste, diluted in about 1 to 1-1/2 cups
water; seasoned with additional salt, pepper and allspice to taste
water; seasoned with additional salt, pepper and allspice to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to
350°F.
350°F.
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Douzma Ingredients |
2. Mix meat with
salt, pepper, allspice to taste, and one or two tablespoons of the tomato
paste, until well-combined. Form meat into patties, about ¼ to ½ inch thick.
(Make sure you end up with enough meat patties to alternately arrange between
the vegetable slices.)
salt, pepper, allspice to taste, and one or two tablespoons of the tomato
paste, until well-combined. Form meat into patties, about ¼ to ½ inch thick.
(Make sure you end up with enough meat patties to alternately arrange between
the vegetable slices.)
3. Dilute remaining
tomato paste with 1 to 1/2 cups water, season with additional salt, pepper, and
allspice, if desired. Pour a little sauce onto the bottom of the baking pan and
spread to cover.
tomato paste with 1 to 1/2 cups water, season with additional salt, pepper, and
allspice, if desired. Pour a little sauce onto the bottom of the baking pan and
spread to cover.
4. Arrange all of
the above vegetables, and meat patties alternately, in a standing position in a
large roasting pan (approx. 9“x13“), until all of the ingredients are used.
the above vegetables, and meat patties alternately, in a standing position in a
large roasting pan (approx. 9“x13“), until all of the ingredients are used.
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Step #5 |
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Step #4 |
5. Pour the remaining sauce over the meat and vegetables.
6. Bake, uncovered, for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until vegetables
are tender and top is lightly browned.
are tender and top is lightly browned.
Serve with a chopped salad and bread for dipping for an
extra-hearty meal!
extra-hearty meal!
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