Iran: Recipes and Cuisine

Family and friends in Isfahan, Iran
Image by Hamed Saber

The culinary traditions of Iran reach back to the time of the ancient Greeks, when Persia was the most powerful civilization in the world. Through time, Persian cuisine has grown and influenced the culinary traditions of the Middle East, Central Asia and India. Iranian cooking is renowned for its elaborate rice dishes, nourishing soups and hearty stews. Iranians delicately flavor their food with herbs, spices and dried fruits. A variety of naan-like breads supplement rice. Pomegranates and dates provide a sweet finish to meals.

Typical Iranian Dishes

Appetizers

  • Dolmeh (Stuffed grape leaves)

Soups and Stews

  • Ash-e Jow (Barley soup)
  • Ash Sak (Meatball soup)
  • Shurit Ads (Lentil soup)

Salads

  • Borani (Spinach and yogurt salad)
  • Mast-o Khiyar (Yogurt-cucumber salad)

Eggs and Dairy

  • Koukou Sabzi (Eggs baked with herbs)
  • Mast (Yogurt)

Poultry

  • Kababe Morgh (Grilled skewered chicken)
  • Fesenjan (Chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Meats

  • Chelo Kebab (Grilled lamb patties with rice)
  • Gormeh Sabzi (Braised lamb with kidney beans)
  • Khoresht Ghaimeh (Persian lamb and split pea stew)
  • Shishlik (Grilled lamb)

Vegetables and Beans

  • Khoresht Badenjan (Eggplant stew)

Breads and Grains

  • Lavash (Unleavened flatbread)
  • Noon-e Barbari (Focaccia-style bread)
  • Polo (Basic rice pilaf)
  • Kalam Polo (Rice pilaf with meat and cabbage)
  • Shireen Polo (Rice pilaf with nuts and fruits)

Sauces and Condiments

  • Rob-e Anar (Pomegranate molasses)

Desserts

  • Halva (Rose-scented sweet)

Beverages

  • Sharbate Beh (Quince beverage)
  • Sharbate Rivas (Rhubarb beverage)

Iranian Recipes

Try these recipes from Iran.

Sabzi Polo 
(Persian herbed rice)

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)

Mast 
(Persian cultured milk)

Reshteh Polo 
(Persian aromatic rice and noodle pilaf layered with meat)

Rob-e Anar 
(Persian pomegranate molasses)

Tah Chin 
(Persian layered rice and chicken dish)

Mast-o Khiyar 
(Persian yogurt-cucumber spread)

Halva 
(Persian rose-scented sweet)

Khoresht Ghaimeh 
(Persian lamb and split pea stew)

Lavash 
(Southwest Asian thin flatbread)

Kookoo Sabzi 
(Persian herbed omelet)

Torshi 
(Iranian, Afghan pickled vegetables)

Ash-e Jow 
(Persian barley bean soup)

Shirin Polo 
(Persian sweet rice pilaf)

Kalam Polo 
(Persian rice with meat and cabbage)

Kufteh, or Koofteh 
(Persian spiced meatballs)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)



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