My grandmother enjoyed cooking and feeding her family, friends, and neighbors. She loved to host dinner parties and prayer gatherings, and every time, she made this rosewater bundt cake, dusted with powdered sugar. It was her signature cake, served at every "mehmooni" (which means a gathering or party in Persian). My grandmother is one of … Continue reading Persian Rosewater Bundt Cake
Food is an important part of culture. I recently read a great article that asked whether meat consumption is a necessary part of “culture.” Since most cultures eat meat, the passing down of culture through food is often through the flavors, the spices, the cooking methods and the memories - not the meat itself. In … Continue reading Saffron 101
A friend recently asked if I had 10 minute meal ideas! I laughed because it takes me 10 minutes just to make a salad. Since then, however, I have been thinking of quick and easy meal options for kids. These KooKoo Sibzamini muffins are very easy, and while they take longer than 10 minutes to … Continue reading KooKoo Sibzamini Muffins (Persian “Egg” and Potato Muffins)
Khoresh-e-Fesenjoon is one of my favorite Persian dishes, and it is surprisingly one of the simpler recipes. It is made with pomegranate molasses and can be quite tart. This recipe adds pumpkin purée and maple syrup to add a hint of sweetness. Khoresh-e-Fesenjoon is traditionally made with meat (chicken or meatballs). While we typically replaced … Continue reading Khoresh-e-Fesenjoon (Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Stew)
I love Indian food. I was recently talking to someone who said that she is open to eating plant-based but does not know what to cook. I was a bit surprised considering she is Indian! Whether making home-made Indian food, heating a ready-made Indian dish (Saffron Road is my favorite brand) or ordering from your … Continue reading Aloo Gobi (Potatoes and Cauliflower)
Who doesn’t love a pot pie? Marie Calendar’s frozen Chicken Pot Pies were my favorite in college. I remember eating them for lunch and dinner while studying for final exams and the Law School Admissions Test. Thankfully, I have a delicious, plant-based chick’n pot pie recipe that is easy and perfect for the holiday season. … Continue reading Holiday Chick’n Pot Pie
Torshi is a pickled vegetable side dish enjoyed in Persian culture. It is the hot sauce or chutney of Persian food. The word “torshi” is derived from the Persian word “torsh,” which means sour. Iran has hundreds of different types of torshi with variations in flavors and the vegetables and seasonings used. Making homemade torshi … Continue reading Torshi (Pickled Vegetables)
Love trumps hate; let’s eat cake and celebrate. Today, I celebrate for women. Today, I celebrate for immigrants. Today, I celebrate for refugees. Today, I celebrate for children. Today, I celebrate for Black lives. Today, I celebrate for democracy. Today, I celebrate for science. Today, I celebrate for breaking barriers. Today, I celebrate for human … Continue reading Persian Baklavah Cake
My 6 year-old daughter Layli loves to cook. Every Friday afternoon, we cook together. She is already planning to take over the blog and started to write recipes for us to share. 🙂 We enjoy making kale chips, cookies, lemonade, vegan Rice Krispies, and veganizing some of my own childhood recipes. These cinnamon rolls are … Continue reading Cinnamon Roll Scones
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. Celery is not the most exciting vegetable. I can barely get my kids (let alone myself) to eat raw celery. But this Persian celery stew is definitely not "eww." It is flavorful, tangy and delicious. Even my kids like this dish! Like every Persian Khoresh (stew), this dish is traditionally … 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
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)
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
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-Qaymeh (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-Ghaymeh 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
