Kousa Bi-Zeit Az-Zeitoun
May 18th, 2009
Syrians love olive oil, we use it in many dishes, and kousa Bez-Zeit is one of them. It consists of vegetable marrow (marrow squash), cooked in olive oil, garlic, dried mint, sweet paprika, salt and water. Just simple, easy and delicious. Kousa means vegetable marrow and Zeit means oil. This can be served for lunch, dinner and as a snack.
I remember in an interview with president Dr.Bashar, one of the questions was “What is your favorite Syrian food?” and he replied “Foods prepared with olive oil”.
Let’s make Kousa Bez-Zeit:
Before the recipe, look at the picture to see the type of marrow (squash) is used for this dish.
Source of the picture: gourmetsleuth
1. Wash vegetable marrow, cut off ends, then peel , and cut in half lengthwise, then each half in half lengthwise, so you end with quarters, then cut crosswise to dice.
2. Prepare a pot with olive oil, then add crushed garlic to olive oil, and sauté for 3 – 4 minutes.
3. Add vegetable marrow.
4. Add dried mint, sweet paprika and salt.
5. Add 750 ml water.
6. Let it boil on medium heat for about one hour and 20 minutes without covering the pot, during this hour don’t forget to check every 15 minutes, just to make sure that everything is fine.
Serve warm or cold.
Serve with fresh mint and pita bread or Arabic bread.
Kousa Bez-Zeit
From: Family Recipe / Servings: 4 – 5 People
PDF Text Only / Print With Images
| 1 1/2 kg vegetable marrows
120 ml olive oil 10 – 12 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp dried mint 2 tsp ground sweet paprika Salt 750 ml water To Serve Fresh mint Pita bread or Arabic bread |
Wash vegetable marrow , cut off ends, then peel, and cute in half lengthwise, then each half in half lengthwise, so you end with quarters, then cut crosswise to dice.
Prepare a pot with olive oil, then add crushed garlic to olive oil, and sauté for 3 – 4 minutes. Add vegetable marrow. Add dried mint, sweet paprika and salt. Add 750 ml water. Let it boil on medium heat for about one hour and 20 minutes without covering the pot, during this hour don’t forget to check every 15 minutes just to make sure that everything is fine. Serve warm or cold. Serve with fresh mint and pita bread or Arabic bread. |
This looks great Dimah! I love learning about Syrian food from you, you make it so easy and approachable! I also love finding the similarities with my beloved Lebanese food. Olive oil rocks!
This looks scrumptious. And I agree – I always feel virtuous using olive oil! And the taste is outstanding.
Squash is a favorite of mine, and this looks delicious!
Thanks everyone for your lovely comments!
Sounds like such a simple, delicious dish! :)