Usually made of a brass- or copper-based material and
ornately decorated, the bowl on three legs with a dome-
shaped cover (left) is a traditional utensil for serving
caviar. The history of caviar is most notable in Iran,
illustrious and spanning centuries, with the Caspian
Sea in the country’s north producing several varieties
of superior and internationally sought-after caviar.
Today, however, the sturgeon population has dwindled
to near-extinction levels and there is international
pressure to stop illegal fishing of wild sturgeons by
Iran’s neighbours. Within Iran, the caviar industry is
controlled by the government and a research centre
dedicated to sturgeons in the Caspian Sea has made
encouraging advances in sturgeon farming.
The colander can be used up to several times a day, from
washing uncooked rice and draining parboiled rice to
washing and draining herbs for stews. Typically bowl-
shaped with many holes to facilitate the draining away
of liquid, the colander can be made of plastic or metal. It
may be useful to have several colanders of different sizes.
Flame tamers today come in various shapes and sizes.
The traditional and most commonly seen one is a
round metal disc that is perforated with holes and has a
handle. The flame tamer’s purpose, as its name suggests,
is to diffuse heat. Although it is popular, it does not
affect the overall dish dramatically. Simply use lower
heat if a flame tamer is not available.
To make minced lamb kebab, one would need these flat
skewers, which are about 60 cm (24 in) in length and
range from 1.5 cm (¾ in) to 3 cm (1½ in) wide. The minced
meat is shaped and pressed onto them so that it can later
be frequently turned over intense charcoal heat to cook.
This is one type of kebab that cannot be prepared using
regular rod skewers, and such flat skewers are hard to
find outside of Iran. Nevertheless, minced lamb kebabs
can be made at home by shaping the meat into strips on a
baking tray and then baking them in the oven, although
the smoky, char-grilled flavour will be sacrificed.
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