Delicious Iranian Food

Question:

After I checked some of the Persian recipes on your website, now I think I love Persian food! It’s much healthier than the food we’d eat in Britain!

There is less junk, fewer sweets and chocolates, and no alcohol. Instead, the Iranians are very well nourished by all that meat, fruit, vegetables, and beans.

Being a fan of food and new cuisine, I can’t wait until 2 weeks to be in Iran. Looking forward to my flight to Tehran on 11th May.

Ed

Answer:

Hi Ed,

Here is a list of the Persian cuisine that you can order while in Iran. Or you can try cooking some for your family:

Soups

1. Aash-e Reshteh: with reshteh (similar in shape to spaghetti), kashk (thick whey), herbs
2. Aash-e Shalgham: with turnip, rice, meat, split peas, mint, and turmeric
3. Aash-e Gojeh Farangi: made with rice, herbs, meat, and tomato paste
4. Aash-e Aab Leemoo: a rich soup with rice, herbs, meat, sugar, and lime juice
5. Aash-e Gandom: a rich soup made with wheat, spinach, peas, beans, and lentils
6. Aash-e Sholeh Ghalamkar: a very rich soup made with various herbs, rice, and meat, …..
7. Aash-e Aaloo: a rich soup made with various herbs, rice, meat, and prunes
8. Aash-e Anaar: a very rich soup made with rice, various herbs, meat, and pomegranate paste

Light/Side Dishes

1. Maast-o-Khiar: made with yogurt, cucumber, onions, mint, salt, and pepper
2. Naan-o-Paneer-o-Sabzi: Iranian thin bread, feta cheese, and herbs
3. Mirza Ghasemi: made with fried eggplants, eggs, tomatoes, and garlic
4. Kashk-e Baadenjaan: made with eggplants, kashk (thick whey), mint, and onions
5. Haleem Baadenjaan: with eggplants, kashk (thick whey), meat, mint, and onions
6. Borani Esfanaaj: fried spinach with yogurt, onions, and garlic
7. Nargesi Esfanaaj: fried spinach with eggs and onions
8. KooKoo Sabzi: made with various herbs, eggs, and flour
9. KooKoo Seeb-Zamini: made with potatoes, and eggs
10. KooKoo Loobia-Sabz: made with string beans, eggs, and onions
11. KooKoo Baadenjaan: with eggplants, eggs, onions, and saffron
12. KooKoo Morgh: with chicken, eggs, onions, saffron, and lime juice
13. KooKoo Gol-Kalam: with cauliflower, eggs, and saffron
14. Naaz Khaatoon: with eggplants, tomatoes, pomegranate juice, sour grape juice, and marjoram
15. Ghalieh Esfanaaj: with ground meat, split-peas, lentils, spinach, mint, and kashk (thick whey)
16. Kaleh Joosh: made with ground meat, walnuts, mint, turmeric, and kashk (thick whey)
17. Khaviar: caviar with onion, lime juice, butter, and parsley

Main Dishes

1. Kateh: white rice (simpler)
2. Polow (or Chelow): white rice
3. Kebab Koobideh: barbequed ground lamb or beef
4. Kebab Barg: barbequed lamb or beef
5. Kebab Hosseini: lamb or beef cooked on skewers with onions, tomatoes and green peppers
6. Joojeh Kebab: barbequed chicken with olive oil, tomatoes, and saffron
7. Maahi Kebab: barbequed fish with lime juice, olive oil, saffron, and herbs
8. Beryani: a dish from Esfahan made with specially prepared lamb and bread
9. Dolmeh Felfel: peppers filled with ground meat, rice, and herbs
10. Dolmeh Baadenjaan: eggplants filled with ground meat, rice, and herbs
11. Dolmeh Barg: vine leaves wrapped around a mix of ground meat, rice, and herbs
12. Dolmeh Gojeh Farangi: large tomatoes with a filling of ground meat, rice, and herbs
13. Dolmeh Seeb Zamini: potatoes with a filling of ground meat, rice, and herbs
14. Ghormeh Sabzi: an exquisite dish made with various herbs, meat, black-eye beans, and potatoes
15. Koofteh Berenji: large balls of rice, ground meat, various herbs, onions, and walnuts
16. Koofteh Nokhodchi: balls of ground meat, chickpea flour, sugar, and saffron
17. Kotlet: ground meat with eggs, potatoes, and bread crumbs
18. Kotlet-e Morgh: ground chicken with ground almonds, bread crumbs, eggs, milk, and butter
19. Shaami: ground meat with eggs, bread crumbs, milk, and tomato juice
20. Tah Cheen: a delicious dish made with chicken, rice, eggs, yogurt, and saffron
21. Toss Kabab: with meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions
22. Khoresht Baamieh: made with okras, potatoes, and meat
23. Khoresht Fesenjaan: made with chicken, walnuts, pomegranate juice, and sugar
24. Khoresht Anaar-Aveej: made with chicken, walnuts, pomegranate juice, herbs, sugar, and garlic
25. Khoresht Baadenjaan: with meat, eggplants, onions, and lime juice
26. Khoresht Ghaimeh: made with meat, split peas, potatoes, and limes
27. Khoresht Karafs: made with meat, celery, herbs, sugar, and lime juice
28. Khoresht Reevaas: with rhubarb, meat, herbs, and sugar
29. Khoresht Loobia Sabz: made with meat, string beans, potatoes, and lime juice
30. Khoresht Ghaarch: with chicken, mushrooms, and saffron
31. Khoresht Aaloo: with chicken, pitted prunes, potatoes, and saffron
32. Zereshk Polow: with rice, barberries, sugar, chicken, and saffron
33. Morasah Polow: rice, chicken, raisins, barberries, almonds, pistachios, orange peel, and saffron
34. Shirin Polow: rice, chicken, sugar, almonds, pistachios, orange peel, and saffron
35. Kalam Polow: made with rice, ground lamb or beef, and cabbage
36. Adas Polow: made with rice, meat, raisins, saffron, dates, and lentils
37. Eslaamboli Polow: with rice, ground lamb/beef, and tomato paste
38. Haveej Polow: with rice, chicken, carrots, sugar, and saffron
39. Loobia Polow: with rice, meat, green beans, and tomato paste
40. Albaloo Polow: made with rice, black cherries, chicken, sugar, and saffron
41. Sabzi Polow: made with rice, and herbs
42. Maash Polow: with rice, moong, meat, and turmeric
43. Meigo Polow: with shrimps, rice, eggs, and curry powder
44. Zabaan: tongue with herbs
45. Del: sheep hearts with mushrooms, herbs, and cheese
46. Maghz: fried brain with herbs
47. Gholveh: fried kidneys with herbs and lime juice
48. Donbalaan: fried sheep testicles with eggs, bread crumbs, and parsley
49. Aab Goosht-e Lappeh: with meat, split peas, limes, onions, turmeric, and potatoes
50. Aab Goosht-e Baadenjaan: with meat, split peas, eggplants, turmeric, and potatoes

Desserts/Pastry

1. Baagh-Lava: with almonds, sugar, cardamom, egg yolks, milk, flour, and rose-water
2. Yakh Dar Behesht: made with rice flour, starch, sugar, rosewater, milk, and pistachios
3. Shir Berenj: made with rice, sugar, rosewater, milk, and cream
4. Halva: made with fried wheat flour, sugar, saffron, rosewater, pistachios, and almonds
5. Ranginak: with fried wheat flour, sugar, dates, walnuts, pistachios, cinnamon, and cardamom
6. Zoolbia: with starch, yogurt, sugar, and rosewater
7. Baamieh: with flour, eggs, sugar, and rosewater
8. Fereni: made with milk, rice flour, sugar, and rosewater
9. Sekanjebin: made with vinegar, sugar, mint, and lettuce
10. Sharbat-e Limoo: made with fresh lime juice, sugar, and grated lime peel
11. Sharbat-e Portaghal: made with fresh orange juice, sugar, and grated orange peel
12. Sholeh-Zard: with rice, sugar, saffron, rosewater, pistachios, almond, and cinnamon
13. Naan-Berenji: made with rice flour, sugar, eggs, and rosewater
14. Naan-Gerdooee: made with egg yolks, vanilla, sugar, and walnuts
15. Naan-Nokhodchi: with chick-pea flour, sugar, and oil
16. Ghors-e khorsheed: made with rice flour, sugar, rose-water, egg, and saffron
17. Sohaan-e Asali: with almonds, sugar, honey, saffron, and pistachios
18. Ghotaab: made with eggs, yogurt, flour, almonds, sugar, and cardamom powder
19. Samanoo: made with wheat and wheat flour
20. Bastani Akbar-Mashti: vanilla ice cream with thick cream and rosewater

Miscellaneous

1. Salad-e Shirazi: salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and mint
2. Piaaz Torshi: pickled onions with garlic and mint
3. Torshi Gol-Kalam: pickled cauliflower with garlic and mint
4. Torshi Haveej: pickled carrots with garlic and mint
5. Torshi Liteh: pickled eggplants with herbs
6. Torshi Makhloot: mixed pickles with herbs
7. Maast: yogurt – make it at home
8. Doogh: yogurt-drink
9. Morabaa-yeh Aalbaloo: black cherry jam with vanilla essence
10. Morabaa-yeh Haveej: carrot jam with rose water and lime juice
11. Morabaa-yeh Beh: quince jam with lime juice and cardamom
12. Morabaa-yeh Seeb: apple jam with rose water and lime juice

Hope you enjoy your trip to Iran.

If you need further help in any other matters, do not hesitate to ask us.

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