Ingredients: (4 servings)

• chicken, 600 grams
• eggs, 4 large
• medium onions, 4
• fresh lime juice, 1-2 spoons
• saffron, 1/2 teaspoon
• baking soda, one teaspoon
• cooking oil
• salt
• black pepper

Directions:

Peel and slice onions, then fry in oil until slightly golden. Wash and cut chicken into pieces, then fry in onions on both sides until color changes. Add salt, black pepper, and one glass of hot water, and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes until little water is left. Allow chicken to cool down, then remove the bones and cut the meat into small pieces.

Dissolve saffron in 2-3 spoons of hot water, and baking soda in 2-3 spoons of cold water. Add salt and black pepper to eggs and mix well. Add saffron, baking soda, lime juice, chicken (with juice), and onions to eggs and mix well. Heat oil in a pan until hot. Pour the mix in, flaten the surface with the back of a spoon, and fry over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Cut radially into 8 pieces, turn over and fry for another 5-10 minutes.

In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration, or NOROOZ, always begins on the first day of spring. Nowruz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts - the End and the Rebirth; or Good and Evil. A few weeks before the New Year, Iranians clean and rearrange their homes. They make new clothes, bake pastries and germinate seeds as sign of renewal. The ceremonial cloth is set up in each household. Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise themselves with makeup and wear brightly colored outfits of satin. These Haji Firuz, singing and dancing, parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year.

The origins of NoRuz are unknown, but they go back several thousand years predating the Achaemenian Dynasty. The ancient Iranians had a festival called "Farvardgan" which lasted ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that this was a festival of sorrow and mourning, signifying the end of life while the festival of NoRuz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration.

 

The other ancient symbolic representation of NoRuz is based around the idea of the triumph of good over evil. According to the Shah-nameh (The Book of Kings), the national Iranian epic by Ferdowsi, NoRuz came into being during the reign of the mythical King Jamshid; when he defeated the evil demons (divs) seizing their treasures, becoming master of everything but the heavens and bringing prosperity to his people. To reach the heavens, Jamshid ordered a throne to be built with the jewels he had captured. He then sat on the throne and commanded the demons to lift him up into the sky. When the sun's rays hit the throne, the sky was illuminated with a multitude of colours. The people were amazed at the King's power and they showered him with even more jewels and treasures. This day of great celebration was named NoRuz, and was recognised as the first day of the year