forkue

9 recipes · Iran

Persian kitchen

9 Persian recipes you can cook at home, from Ash Reshteh (Persian Noodle and Herb Soup), Fesenjan (Persian Walnut Pomegranate Chicken) and Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew) to Sholeh Zard (Persian Saffron Rice Pudding).

9 recipes

About Persian food

The Persian kitchen

Persian cooking uses herbs generously, often by the bunch rather than the pinch. In Iran, fluffy rice and crisp tahdig share the table with slow stews, grilled kebabs, yogurt sides and pickles. Saffron supplies aroma, while dried limes, barberries and pomegranate molasses bring different kinds of tartness to rich food.

Begin with basmati rice, lentils, onions and a few fresh herbs, then add specialty ingredients as you need them. Fry stew herbs gently, keep steaming rice covered and taste sour ingredients before sweetening them. Many dishes build depth through patient cooking rather than hot chile, with fresh herbs or cool yogurt providing contrast.

Questions, answered

Is Persian food spicy?

Much Persian cooking is aromatic rather than chile-hot, using saffron, turmeric, herbs and tart fruit. Regional exceptions exist, especially in southern cooking, so heat depends on the particular dish.

What is tahdig?

Tahdig is the crisp layer formed at the bottom of a rice pot. It may be made from rice, potato slices or bread, depending on the preparation, and is served alongside the fluffy grains.

What can replace dried limes?

Fresh lime juice added near the end supplies acidity, though it lacks the fermented, dried-fruit character of whole dried limes. Start with a little and taste before adding more.

Are Persian and Iranian food the same?

The terms overlap in common use, but Iran includes many regional and ethnic cooking traditions. Persian often describes the rice, stew, herb and kebab repertoire familiar on restaurant menus, rather than every food cooked in the country.

What Persian dishes can I make at home?

Start with Adasi (Persian Lentil Breakfast), Ash Reshteh (Persian Noodle and Herb Soup), Borani Esfenaj (Persian Spinach Yogurt Dip), Fesenjan (Persian Walnut Pomegranate Chicken) and Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew). Every recipe here is written for a home kitchen, with substitutes for anything hard to find.

What's the quickest Persian recipe?

Borani Esfenaj (Persian Spinach Yogurt Dip), ready in 53 min.