Kuku Sibzamini With Lemon Yogurt

These traditional Persian-style potato patties are made with sibzamini—“apples of the earth,” a.k.a. potatoes. The patties’ scent and color comes from saffron, a staple in many Persian recipes, which is ground into a powder to draw out intense color and flavor. Adding a bit of water to the powder makes the magic happen: A pool of intense vermillion forms, to be added to your eggs and potatoes. A combination of baking powder and baking soda lightens the batter as it cooks, making for fritters that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.