Shushtar Mills
Blood orange, saffron, coriander and a slice of chili shaken with vodka: Khuzestan's bright, hot, sweet south in a glass.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | ml | oz |
|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 45 ml | 1½ oz |
| Fresh blood orange juice · homemade, J11 | 40 ml | 1⅓ oz |
| Fresh lime juice · homemade, J01 | 15 ml | ½ oz |
| Plain syrup · homemade, P01 | 10 ml | ⅓ oz |
| Saffron infusion · homemade, P14 | 2 drops | |
| Fresh coriander (geshniz) leaves | 6 leaves | |
| Fresh red chili | 1 thin slice |
Ounces are rounded; measure in ml for accuracy. Homemade items link to their own page.
chilled coupe
shaken with ice, served up
a coriander leaf floating and a thin half-wheel of blood orange on the rim
The story
Shushtar’s watermills are seventeen centuries old: a Sassanid system of canals, bridges and waterfalls cut through sandstone, still roaring in the middle of a Khuzestan town and listed as world heritage. The province around them grows Iran’s citrus, Dezful’s blood oranges above all, and cooks hotter than anywhere else in the country: coriander in everything, chili on the table. This drink is that heat and that colour. Blood orange and lime for the juice, two drops of saffron, coriander leaves and a slice of chili shaken in, vodka to carry it. There is nothing in it you cannot buy in a Shushtar market.
Method
- Chill a coupe.
- Shake the vodka, blood orange juice, lime juice, syrup, saffron infusion, coriander leaves and chili slice hard with ice for 12 seconds.
- Double-strain into the coupe.
- Float a coriander leaf and rest a thin half-wheel of blood orange on the rim.
How it tastes
Blood orange and lime first, then saffron and the green of coriander, a slow chili warmth at the end. Bright red-orange, slightly hazy. Sweet enough to drink fast on a hot night.
Persian taste: torsh (sour), tond (hot), shirin (sweet)
Pair it with
- Food: Ghalieh mahi, the Khuzestani fish and herb stew; or grilled shrimp with coriander and lime.
- Sweet: Halva ardeh, or a date.
- Snack: Salted pistachios
Variations
Tequila
Blanco tequila for vodka; the cousin of Abadan Mango Heat.
No heat
Leave out the chili; add a pinch of golpar instead.
Out of season
30 ml fresh orange juice and 10 ml pomegranate juice in place of the blood orange.
Balancing tips
- One thin slice of chili is enough; it builds as the drink sits.
- Blood oranges vary from orange to deep red; taste and adjust the syrup between 5 and 10 ml.
- Double-strain, or the coriander floats as flecks.
Allergens
- No common allergens.
- Contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.
Development notes
- Status: original recipe draft v0.1, not yet taste-tested.
- Test with and without saffron.
- Try a chili rim salt.
Watch it mixed
Follow along
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Shushtar, Khuzestan, imagined
