Master the Art of Tabrizi Doymaj with These Two Simple Recipes

According to SAEDNEWS, The Azerbaijan region and Tabriz are filled with a variety of traditional local dishes, ranging from soups and stews to Koofteh Tabrizi and rice dishes. The culinary diversity in this city and region is unparalleled, and that is why Azerbaijani food is widely recognized. This variety of local dishes has been able to satisfy every taste and preference. If we take a look at the ingredients used in Azerbaijani food, we will notice various types of nuts and nutritious vegetables, which have elevated the nutritional value of the region's cuisine. One of these dishes is Doymaj. Doymaj is a well-known dish in the Azerbaijan region, and since it is easy and quick to prepare, it has many fans. Due to the nutritious and healthy ingredients it contains, it is suitable for breakfast, especially for children. Although the people of Azerbaijan also prepare and enjoy this dish as a delicious snack in the evening.

Ingredients

• Chopped walnuts: 100 grams

• Dry Lavash bread: 4 pieces

• Scallions: 5 stalks

• Fresh herbs (Sabzi Khordan): 1 kilogram

• Cream: 1 pack

• Cucumbers: 5 medium-sized

• Cheese: 100 grams

• Buttermilk: 1 glass

How can we make it?

In a large bowl, break the dry bread into pieces and add the buttermilk. Stir well until the bread absorbs the buttermilk. Then, add the chopped walnuts, cheese, scallions, and chopped cucumbers, and mix everything thoroughly. Finally, add the cream and mix again. Shape the mixture into circles or ovals with your hands and arrange them in your desired dish. Decorate with olives and tomatoes, and serve as a breakfast or snack along with fresh herbs.

Tabrizi Doymaj

Doymaj is a traditional dish from East Azerbaijan Province, made with dry bread, water or buttermilk, cheese, butter, chopped walnuts, and sometimes scallions and cream. This dish is widely popular in Turkish-speaking regions of Iran, such as Tabriz, Qazvin, Azerbaijan, and Zanjan. Doymaj is typically served as a snack, breakfast, or light meal, accompanied by colorful and tasty fruits like grapes and watermelon. It's also considered an excellent choice for Iftar during Ramadan.

Ingredients for Tabrizi Doymaj:

• 4 pieces of dry Tabrizi bread or Lavash

• 1 cup of buttermilk or water

• 100 grams of butter

• 200 grams of Tabrizi cheese

• Chopped walnuts to taste (about half a cup)

• 2 tablespoons of mixed herbs (dill and parsley)

• Cucumber, tomato, and radish for decoration

How to Make Tabrizi Doymaj

Preparing the Doymaj Bread:

Start by cutting the dried Lavash or Tabrizi bread into small pieces and place them in a large bowl. Gradually add water or buttermilk to the bread pieces and stir until they are well mixed. Let the bread soak for a few minutes. However, be careful not to mash the bread completely. It is enough for the bread pieces to soften and lose their dryness.

Grate or chop the cheese. Then add the chopped cheese, chopped walnuts, and melted butter to the soaked bread and stir.

Chop the herbs (parsley and dill) finely and add them to the bread mixture. Stir well until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the Doymaj rest for one to two hours, allowing the flavors to blend together and the mixture to reach the right consistency.

Serving the Doymaj:

Take a spoonful of the Doymaj mixture and shape it with your hands, or for a more attractive presentation, use silicone molds. Repeat this process with the remaining mixture until all the Doymaj is shaped. Arrange the Doymaj in a serving dish and garnish with cucumber, tomato, and radishes.

Important Tips for Making Doymaj:

• The quantities of ingredients mentioned in this recipe are approximate, and you can adjust them according to your taste.

• You can buy packaged Tabrizi dry bread or Lavash from stores.

• You can also use coriander seeds or cumin (green or black) in this dish.

• The bread pieces should not be chopped too finely.

• Don’t chop the walnuts too finely so that they remain crunchy when served.

• Doymaj must rest with a cover or a towel for one to two hours in the kitchen so that the flavors meld and the mixture can be shaped easily. If served immediately after making it, the mixture will not hold its shape or may fall apart.

• Press the Doymaj mixture firmly in your hands to shape it into balls.

• You can use any type of cheese (store-bought or homemade) for making Doymaj.

• You can also add a little bit of raisins to the Doymaj if desired.

• In some recipes, grated garlic or garlic powder is added to the Doymaj mixture.