Mirza Ghasemi is a delicious roasted eggplant and tomato dish. It is eaten with Persian bread as an appetizer or with Persian rice as a main dish. It is traditionally made with eggs, but our vegan version uses "Just Egg," which is a fantastic egg replacer made from mung bean. Mirza Ghasemi is a dish … Continue reading Vegan Mirza Ghasemi (a Persian Eggplant Appetizer)
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 with Jackfruit
If tofu in Persian food is wrong, then I don't want to be right. Kalam Polo is a mixed Persian rice dish. Kalam is cabbage and polo is rice in Farsi. It is traditionally made with meat, but our vegan version is made with tofu for that added protein. The cabbage is sauteed and cooked … Continue reading Vegan Kalam Polo (Cabbage Rice)
Growing up, my aunt made Noon-e-Khamei, and it was my favorite Persian dessert as a child. It is a Persian recipe I have wanted to veganize for many years. I had no idea how challenging it would be as the traditional Persian recipe calls for 4-5 eggs. Then I discovered Just Egg. It is a … Continue reading Noon-e-Khamei (Persian Cream Puffs)
Spring is near. Make vegan kabab and Mast-o-Musir! Mast-o-Musir is a traditional Iranian side dish, commonly served with kabob. I personally enjoy this Persian dip with a bowl of potato chips. It is prepared with yogurt (called "mast") and dried wild shallots (called "musir"). It is similar to French Onion dip. Our version of Mast-o-Musir … Continue reading Mast-o-Musir (Persian Shallot Dip)
Haleem is a meat and wheat porridge popular in India, Iran, and other parts of the Middle East. There are many different varieties based on the different countries and regions. In Iran, Haleem is traditionally served for breakfast and can be enjoyed savory or sweet with traditional oatmeal toppings. It is similar to cream of … Continue reading Vegan Haleem
“Where there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time.” - Abdul-Baha Persian cooking is a labor of love, and my grandmother was the epitome of selflessness and love. She enjoyed cooking for her family, and she regularly made Iranian Halva. Only later, when I made Iranian Halva myself, did I … Continue reading Iranian Halva
Iran has over 30 provinces. In Northern Iran, there is the Semnan province. My family is from a city in the Semnan province called Sangesar (now called Mehdishahr). Sangesari people have their own language, culture and food. Gandom Patteh is a Sangesari dish, and this is my grandmother's recipe. Patteh is a Sangesari word that … Continue reading Gandom Patteh (a Sangesari Soup)
Kashk Bademjan is a flavorful Persian eggplant dip that is served as an appetizer with warm bread. Kashk is a dairy product made of drained yogurt and has a salty and tangy flavor. Bademjan means eggplant. This dish is traditionally made from the combination of these two ingredients. Our version skips the dairy and creates … Continue reading Vegan Kashk Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Dip)
Abgoosht translates into "meat water" in English. It is an easy one-pot Persian dish traditionally made with tender meat, potatoes, legumes, and spices. This dish, however, is wonderful without the meat, and I have had people tell me they prefer this vegan version. This past weekend, I enjoyed a four-day family reunion on a ranch … Continue reading Vegan Abgoosht (Persian Meat Stew without the Meat)
Bamieh is “okra” and Khoresh-e-Bamieh is a Persian okra stew. I remember my aunt's Koresh-e-Bamieh growing up! While it is traditionally made with beef or lamb, my aunt made it vegetarian, and it was delicious. Okra is a fruit but is utilized as a vegetable in cooking. While it is often overlooked, it actually has many nutrients and … Continue reading Khoresh-e-Bamieh (Persian Okra Stew)
If Iran had a national salad, it would be this: Salad Shirazi! A no-lettuce salad, it originates from Shiraz in Southern Iran. It adds texture and flavor to any Persian (or even Indian) dish. It is particularly popular in the summer along with skewers of (plant-based) kabob. I personally love it with dry rice dishes … Continue reading Salad Shirazi
If you love Persian Tahdig, you will love Tachin, which is a crispy Persian rice cake. It is traditionally made with several animal products - eggs, dairy, and meat. In today’s world, however, anything can be made vegan, and this vegan Tachin is amazing. We used two of our favorite vegan alternatives, Just Egg and … Continue reading Tachin (Crispy Persian Rice Cake)
Happy International Women's Day! I recently heard someone call March "a mighty month." She was referring to the celebration of women during the month, but I love that March is also a significant time for Baha'is around the world. In March, Baha'is fast for 19 days, abstaining from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset … Continue reading Persian Baghlava
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
Despite its high price, a pinch of saffron goes a long way. Saffron releases its flavor and aroma when wet. Our recipes on the blog generally call for "Brewed Saffron." Brewed Saffron To prepare "Brewed Saffron" take a big pinch or two of saffron threads. Grind the threads using a mortal and pestle. Add 1/2 … 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)
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
