- 350 g extra lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2-3 tablespoons dried barberries (also known as Zereshk, you can find at any Iranian store), picked over to remove any stones
- 1/3 cup coarsely ground walnuts
- 4 medium potatoes, cooked, peeled, grated on the small holes of a box grater
- vegetable oil
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
- 2 1/2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- salt & pepper to taste
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
Increase heat to medium-high, add ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
Add 2 teaspoons turmeric powder, crushed tomatoes, chopped bell peppers, water, salt and pepper. Cover the pot and simmer over medium-low heat until all of the liquid is evaporated.
Add dried barberries (Zereshk) and ground walnuts; cook for 5 more minutes.
Meanwhile, place the grated potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Slowly add the milk and mix until smooth. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Spoon the ground beef mixture into an 8x11 inch casserole dish. Sprinkle with oregano.
Spread the potato mixture on top of the beef mixture. Pour 4 tablespoons oil evenly on top.
Place on the middle rack of the oven and broil on low heat until golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.