When I became vegetarian, there was one Persian dish I really missed - Tacheen. But here I am, 12 years later, sharing a delicious plant-based Tacheen recipe!! Tacheen is a simple Persian rice dish layered with marinated chicken and rich with saffron. “Zereshk” are barberries in Persian. Zereshk Polo is traditionally a separate Persian rice … Continue reading Tacheen with Zereshk (Persian Rice with Barberry)
Karafs is “celery” in Persian. Khoresh-e-Karafs is a celery stew that is flavorful, tangy and delicious. Even my kids like this dish! It is very similar to Khoresh-e-Ghormeh Sabzi as it is also made with cilantro and parsley. This dish, however, also has mint leaves. Like every Persian Khoresh, this dish is traditionally made with … Continue reading Khoresh-e-Karafs (Celery Stew)
This carrot cake recipe has a special place in my heart. It is the first vegan cake I ever baked. It was 8 years ago, and I had never even heard of flax seeds let alone used them as an egg replacer in baking. One of my first vegan friends (whom I met at a … Continue reading Plant-Based Carrot Cake
Baghali Polo is a traditional Persian rice dish made with fava beans. Sabzi Polo is a separate Persian rice dish made with various herbs. Both are traditionally served with a side of meat. Sabzi Polo is commonly served with fish and is a classic dish to celebrate NowRooz (Persian New Year). We have combined these … Continue reading Sabzi Baghali Polo (Persian Rice with Herbs and Fava Beans)
A challah-inspired, homemade bread perfect for a season filled with delicious stews and comfort foods. Happy Fall, y'all. Challah bread has a distinctive braid, which symbolizes the coming together of family and friends. It is a bread of celebration in Jewish tradition. I love the slightly-sweet flavor, the golden crust, and the symbolism. A perfect … Continue reading Challah-Inspired, Homemade Bread
Does 2020 have you stress eating? Do your kids ask for snacks all day, every day? Well, the answer is yes and yes to those questions in my household. Even when I put my kids in front of the tv hoping to have some time for myself, I invariably hear ten minutes later, "mommy, what … Continue reading Graze, Play, Thrive
Lentils are a legume and a nutritional powerhouse. They are an excellent source of iron and protein. Lentils were traditionally called the "poor man's meat." I like to think of it as the "more mindful meat alternative." Thankfully, my kids enjoy lentils, and we eat it often; yellow lentils, green lentils, brown lentils. This Persian … Continue reading Adas Polo (Persian Rice with Lentils)
I was recently referred to as an “animal lover.” This took me by surprise. I haven’t thought of myself as an animal lover. Not really. Sure, I love dogs. Baby animals are adorable. But I’m scared of geese; they can be aggressive. I’ve been scratched by cats one too many times. A mouse in the … Continue reading Peace Begins with Empathy
Tahdig makes everything better, even pasta. Macaroni is the Persian version of Italian pasta. The pasta is steamed similar to Persian rice to create a delicious crispy crust (tahdig) at the bottom of the pot. The tahdig can be a potato tahdig as in this recipe or made from the pasta itself. While Macaroni still … Continue reading Macaroni – A Persian-style Pasta
I recently shared my experience trying to raise vegan kids in a non-vegan world in a guest blogpost for the Green Soul Project. To read, please visit http://www.greensoulproject.com/3-main-struggles-of-raising-vegan-children/
The world feels messy, frustrating, and full of chaos and confusion, but at least egg-free baking doesn’t have to be. Have no fear, egg replacers are here. Almost every baking recipe calls for eggs. Why? Eggs provide binding, leavening, moisture, and a golden brown appearance to baked goods. But there are many reasons people omit … Continue reading Have No Fear, Egg Replacers are Here!
This beautiful painting is by my great aunt (my grandfather’s sister). During difficult times, I often think of my grandfather and my grandmother. The challenges they faced. Their strength and resilience. This post is part recipe, part reflection. I had never heard of Shirini Donmarki (a Persian pastry) until my mom made it for my … Continue reading Shirini Donmarki (for my Grandma with love)
I always ask people what is the hardest food to give up when trying to eat more plant-based. I often hear dairy products like cheese or yogurt. Persians, of course, love their kabob. For me, it was definitely hard to give up eggs. I quickly and easily gave up meat. Dairy was initially challenging, but … Continue reading KooKoo Sibzamini (Persian Potato Patties)
In Persian cuisine, this khoresh (Persian stew) is typically prepared as two separate dishes - Khoresh-e-Bademjan (eggplant stew) and Khoresh-e-Gheymeh (split pea stew). Each is made with meat and is a tomato-based stew. Each are incredibly popular dishes. To be honest, however, I did not like Khoresh-e-Bademjan as a child. The texture of the eggplant, … Continue reading Khoresh-e-Gheymeh Bademjan (Split Pea and Eggplant Stew)
Last week, my kids and I made a gratitude list. We have been reading the book "30 Days to a Better World Starting with Me." One of the days was to make a gratitude list because gratitude brings happiness, and happy people try to make others happy. When I asked my 3 year old son … Continue reading Veggie Thai Red Curry
I was a practicing attorney for almost 13 years. Then COVID-19 happened, schools closed, and I resigned from my job three months ago. “COVID-19 might not kill me, but the stress might.” That is what I told the managing partner at my law firm. I resigned a few weeks later. The day I resigned, I … Continue reading I am Mommy, Trying to Also be Me
Kotlet is a Persian pan-fried meat patty. It is generally made with ground meat, egg, and potato. It is eaten warm or cold, plain or in a sandwich, on a picnic or at a dining table. I remember my grandmother often making Kotlet for picnics or as a side to a warm bowl of Ash-e-Reshteh … Continue reading Kotlet (Persian Cutlet)
My mom created this recipe after tasting one of the frozen meals I would buy to eat during lunch at work. 🙂 This recipe, of course, is a better, fresher, healthier version and is now one of my favorite dishes. When my mom cooks for my family, I often ask her to make this dish. … Continue reading Indian-Persian Tofu Daal Aloo Mattar
Dolmeh is a stuffed vegetable dish enjoyed in many cultures. I remember growing up, my grandmother always made Persian dolmeh with stuffed tomatoes, bell peppers, and cabbage. My favorite was the stuffed cabbage. The stuffing in Persian dolmeh is generally made with rice, yellow split peas and meat. The meat can be easily excluded for … Continue reading Dolmeh (Stuffed Vegetables)
Lubia means "green beans" and Polo means "rice." This Persian rice dish is traditionally made with meat. The meat can easily be excluded for a plant-based rice dish. The recipe below includes the option to include a plant-based meat alternative. We have used the Beef-less Ground Beef from Trader Joe's, but you could use other … Continue reading Lubia Polo (Green Beans & Rice)
