Persian cooking: recipes

Khoresht: stews (served with rice)

Ghormeh Sabzi

This herb stew is Iran’s national dish: plenty of fried herbs, tender meat, kidney beans and the sour note of dried limes.

⏱ 180 min فسنجان

Fesenjan

A festive stew of ground walnuts and pomegranate molasses, sweet-sour and velvety, usually made with chicken.

⏱ 150 min قیمه

Gheimeh

A tomato stew with yellow split peas and dried limes, topped with crispy fries. A classic at nazri and family gatherings.

⏱ 150 min قیمه بادمجان

Gheimeh Bademjan

Gheimeh with fried aubergines: the soft aubergines soak up the sauce of tomato, split peas and dried lime.

⏱ 150 min خورش بادمجان

Khoresht-e Bademjan

Stew of meat and fried aubergines in tomato sauce, finished with a sour note of verjuice or dried lime.

⏱ 150 min خورش بامیه

Khoresht-e Bamieh

Okra stew from southern Iran, with tomato, garlic and a sour note.

⏱ 120 min خورش کرفس

Khoresht-e Karafs

Fresh stew of celery, parsley and mint, with meat and a delicate sourness.

⏱ 150 min خورش آلو اسفناج

Khoresht-e Alou Esfenaj

Spinach and dried plums with meat: sweet and sour and quick to make.

⏱ 120 min خورش ریواس

Khoresht-e Rivas

Spring stew of rhubarb, mint and parsley: pleasantly sour and light.

⏱ 150 min خورش کنگر

Khoresht-e Konger

Stew of wild cardoons (konger), herbs and meat, a spring classic from western Iran.

⏱ 150 min خورش به

Khoresht-e Beh

Autumn stew with quince, yellow split peas and dried plums, sweet-sour and fragrant.

⏱ 150 min خورش چغاله بادام

Khoresht-e Chaghaleh Badam

Rare spring stew with green unripe almonds, herbs and meat, fresh and tangy.

⏱ 150 min خورش هویج

Khoresht-e Havij

Tabriz-style carrot stew with dried plums and a sweet-sour note.

⏱ 150 min خورش پرتقال

Khoresht-e Porteghal

Festive chicken stew with oranges, orange peel, carrots and almonds, sweet and fragrant.

⏱ 90 min خورش کدو

Khoresht-e Kadoo

Light stew of courgettes in tomato sauce, tangy with verjuice.

⏱ 150 min خورش ماست

Khoresht-e Mast

Sweet Isfahan speciality of yogurt, lamb, saffron and sugar; more dessert than stew, eaten cold.

⏱ 180 min

Kebab: grilled dishes

کباب کوبیده

Kabab Koobideh

The classic: juicy minced lamb or beef skewers with onion, grilled and served with saffron rice and grilled tomato.

⏱ 60 min جوجه کباب

Joojeh Kabab

Chicken pieces marinated in saffron, lemon and yogurt and grilled, juicy and golden.

⏱ 60 min کباب برگ

Kabab Barg

Fine skewer of thinly pounded lamb or beef fillet, marinated with onion and saffron.

⏱ 60 min چلوکباب سلطانی

Chelo Kabab Soltani

The king’s dish: one skewer each of kabab barg and koobideh on a mound of saffron rice.

⏱ 90 min شیشلیک

Shishlik

Lamb chops marinated in onion and saffron and grilled over coals, a classic from the northeast.

⏱ 60 min کباب ترش

Kabab Torsh

Skewer from Gilan in northern Iran: beef marinated in walnuts, pomegranate molasses and herbs, tangy and nutty.

⏱ 60 min جوجه کباب ترش

Joojeh Kabab Torsh

The chicken version of kabab torsh: marinated with walnuts, pomegranate molasses and herbs.

⏱ 60 min کباب لقمه

Kabab Loghmeh

Spiced minced meat skewer with onion, garlic and spices, a bit bolder than koobideh.

⏱ 60 min چلوکباب وزیری

Chelo Kabab Vaziri

Combination of one skewer of koobideh and one of joojeh kabab with saffron rice.

⏱ 90 min کباب چنجه

Kabab Chenjeh

Cubes of lamb marinated in onion and yogurt and grilled alternately with tomato and pepper.

⏱ 60 min کباب حسینی

Kabab Hosseini

Small skewers of meat, onion, tomato and pepper that are braised in tomato sauce in a pot rather than grilled.

⏱ 120 min کباب تابه‌ای

Kabab Tabei

The quick pan kebab: seasoned mince pressed flat in a pan and fried with tomatoes. Everyday food without a grill.

⏱ 40 min بریانی اصفهان

Beryani (Isfahan)

Isfahan speciality: cooked, finely minced lamb seasoned with cinnamon, fried in a ladle and served on bread with walnuts and mint.

⏱ 120 min

Polo & dami: rice dishes

چلو و ته‌دیگ

Chelow with tahdig

Fluffy, fragrant saffron rice with the crispy crust from the bottom of the pot that everyone at the table fights over.

⏱ 90 min · vegetarian زرشک‌پلو با مرغ

Zereshk polo with chicken

Saffron rice with glossy, tart barberries and tender chicken in saffron sauce. The typical dish for weddings and guests.

⏱ 120 min باقالی پلو با ماهیچه

Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh

Rice with broad beans and plenty of dill, served with melt-in-the-mouth lamb shank in saffron broth.

⏱ 180 min آلبالو پلو

Albaloo Polo

Rice with sour cherries and little meatballs: sweet, tart and bright red.

⏱ 90 min سبزی پلو با ماهی

Sabzi Polo ba Mahi

Herbed rice with fried fish, the traditional meal on Nowruz eve.

⏱ 90 min لوبیا پلو

Lubia Polo

Rice with green beans, minced meat, tomato paste and cinnamon: a family favourite.

⏱ 90 min عدس پلو

Adas Polo

Lentil rice with raisins, dates and fried onions, often with mince or chicken.

⏱ 90 min استامبولی پلو

Estamboli Polo

Simple tomato and potato rice, often with a little meat: quick everyday food.

⏱ 70 min ته‌چین مرغ

Tahchin

Saffron rice cake with yogurt, egg and chicken, baked until a golden crust forms, topped with barberries.

⏱ 150 min کلم پلو شیرازی

Kalam Polo Shirazi

Speciality from Shiraz: rice with white cabbage, plenty of herbs and little meatballs.

⏱ 90 min رشته پلو

Reshteh Polo

Rice with toasted noodles, raisins and dates; traditionally eaten on the first evening of the new year for a good start.

⏱ 90 min هویج پلو

Havij Polo

Carrot rice with saffron, often with chicken or mince, slightly sweet.

⏱ 90 min شکر پلو

Shekar Polo

Sweet festive rice from Shiraz with sugar, saffron, almonds and pistachios, served with chicken.

⏱ 90 min والک پلو

Valak Polo

Spring rice from Shiraz with valak (wild garlic herb), often with fish or meat.

⏱ 90 min کلم قمری پلو

Kalam Gomri Polo

Shiraz rice with kohlrabi, herbs and little meatballs.

⏱ 90 min دمپختک

Dampokhtak

Yellow rice from Tehran with mung beans or broad beans and turmeric, cooked in one pot; simple and filling.

⏱ 60 min

Ash & soups

آش رشته

Ash reshteh

A thick herb and noodle soup with beans, chickpeas and lentils, topped with kashk, mint oil and fried onions. A dish for celebrations and cold days.

⏱ 150 min · vegetarian آش جو

Ash-e Jo

Warming stew of barley, pulses and herbs, with kashk and mint oil.

⏱ 150 min · vegetarian آش شله قلمکار

Ash-e Sholeh Ghalamkar

The heartiest ash of all: meat, rice, many pulses and herbs, long cooked and mashed; a dish for vows and feasts.

⏱ 210 min آش دوغ

Ash-e Doogh

Tangy yogurt stew from Ardabil with herbs, rice and little meatballs.

⏱ 90 min آش انار

Ash-e Anar

Sweet-sour pomegranate stew with herbs, split peas, rice and meatballs; an autumn and Yalda classic.

⏱ 120 min آش ساک

Ash-e Sak

Spinach stew from Kerman with rice, pulses and yogurt; light and green.

⏱ 75 min · vegetarian آش گوجه‌فرنگی

Ash-e Goje Farangi

Persian-style tomato stew with rice, herbs and meatballs, tangy and warming.

⏱ 75 min آش تره

Ash-e Tareh

Simple leek and herb stew with rice, split peas and egg, from Tehran and Isfahan.

⏱ 90 min · vegetarian سوپ جو

Soup-e Jo

Creamy barley soup with chicken, carrot and lemon, the classic starter soup in Iran and during Ramadan.

⏱ 90 min سوپ شیر

Soup-e Shir

Mild milk soup with pearl barley, mushrooms and vegetables, popular on cold days.

⏱ 60 min سیرابی

Sirabi

Traditional tripe soup with garlic and lemon, a hearty breakfast on cold mornings.

⏱ 240 min اشکنه

Eshkeneh

Simple onion soup with egg and fenugreek, the quick meal of our grandparents.

⏱ 40 min · vegetarian

Abgoosht & dizi: pot dishes

آبگوشت سنتی

Abgoosht

The classic stew of lamb, chickpeas, white beans, potatoes and tomato, slowly cooked.

⏱ 240 min دیزی سنگی

Dizi

Dizi is abgoosht in a stone pot, and above all the way to eat it: first the broth with bread (tilit), then the mashed meat (goosht-e koobideh).

⏱ 30 min بزباش

Bozbash

Abgoosht with herbs and red beans from Azerbaijan, similar to ghormeh sabzi but as a soup.

⏱ 180 min کله پاچه

Kaleh Pacheh

Traditional breakfast dish of sheep’s head and trotters, cooked for hours; a winter ritual in Iran.

⏱ 300 min

Kuku & kotlet: frittatas and patties

کوکو سبزی

Kuku sabzi

A herb frittata made almost entirely of fresh herbs. Part of the Nowruz meal and good warm or cold.

⏱ 60 min · vegetarian میرزاقاسمی

Mirza ghasemi

Smoky aubergines with garlic, tomatoes and egg from the Gilan region on the Caspian Sea.

⏱ 60 min · vegetarian کشک بادمجان

Kashk-e bademjan

A creamy aubergine dip with kashk, fried onions, mint oil and walnuts. With flatbread it’s a starter or a light main.

⏱ 60 min · vegetarian کوکو سیب‌زمینی

Kuku Sibzamini

Golden potato patties with egg, onion and turmeric, warm or cold in bread a picnic classic.

⏱ 45 min · vegetarian کتلت

Kotlet

Persian patties of minced meat, potato and onion, crisp outside; cold or warm in bread.

⏱ 50 min شامی لپه

Shami Lapeh

Patties of meat and yellow split peas, with a hole in the middle, often with tomato sauce or bread.

⏱ 90 min کوکو کدو

Kuku-ye Kadoo

Courgette frittata with dill and walnuts, light and summery.

⏱ 45 min · vegetarian کوکو گل‌کلم

Kuku-ye Gol Kalam

Cauliflower frittata with turmeric and parsley, a good way to win children over to cauliflower.

⏱ 45 min · vegetarian نرگسی اسفناج

Nargesi

Spinach with onions with eggs set on top; the yolks sit yellow in the green like narcissus flowers.

⏱ 25 min · vegetarian سوسیس بندری

Sosis Bandari

Spicy pan dish from the south with sausages, onions, potatoes and tomato, a popular snack in bread.

⏱ 30 min یتیمچه

Yatimcheh

Simple vegetarian braise of aubergines, tomatoes and onions; “the little orphan” because there is no meat in it.

⏱ 50 min · vegetarian

Dolmeh & kufteh: stuffed dishes

دلمه برگ مو

Dolmeh Barg-e Mo

Stuffed vine leaves with rice, mince and herbs in a sweet-sour sauce.

⏱ 120 min دلمه بادمجان

Dolmeh Bademjan

Hollowed aubergines with a spiced meat and rice filling, cooked in the oven or pot.

⏱ 120 min دلمه کدو

Dolmeh Kadoo

Stuffed courgettes with meat, rice and herbs in tomato sauce.

⏱ 120 min دلمه گوجه‌فرنگی

Dolmeh Goje Farangi

Stuffed tomatoes with a meat and rice filling, often cooked with peppers in the same pot.

⏱ 90 min دلمه کلم

Dolmeh Kalam

Persian-style cabbage rolls in a sweet-sour sauce.

⏱ 120 min کوفته تبریزی

Kufteh Tabrizi

Giant meatballs from Tabriz with rice, split peas and herbs, stuffed with egg, walnuts, barberries and dried fruit.

⏱ 150 min کوفته برنجی

Kufteh Berenji

Rice and meat balls with herbs in tomato broth, smaller and simpler than kufteh tabrizi.

⏱ 100 min کوفته قلقلی

Kufteh Ghelgheli

Little meatballs in tomato sauce with potatoes, a quick family meal.

⏱ 50 min

Regional specialities & fish

ماهی سفید سرخ‌شده

Mahi Sefid

Fried Caspian white fish, crisp outside, with lemon and herb rice.

⏱ 30 min قلیه ماهی

Ghalieh Mahi

Spicy fish and herb stew from Bushehr and the Persian Gulf, with coriander, fenugreek and tamarind.

⏱ 75 min قلیه میگو

Ghalieh Meygoo

The prawn version of ghalieh from the south, spicy, tangy and full of coriander.

⏱ 75 min ماهی کبابی

Mahi Kababi

Grilled fish with a saffron and lemon marinade, slightly smoky outside.

⏱ 40 min اکبر جوجه

Akbar Joojeh

Mazandaran’s famous dish: young chicken marinated in yogurt, deep-fried and served with pomegranate sauce.

⏱ 60 min مرغ ترش

Morgh-e Torsh

Gilan chicken in a sauce of herbs, walnuts and verjuice or pomegranate, green and tangy.

⏱ 75 min باقلا قاتق

Baghala Ghatogh

Gilan dish of broad beans, plenty of dill, garlic and egg, vegetarian and hearty.

⏱ 40 min · vegetarian ترشه تره

Torsheh Tareh

Tangy herb dish from Gilan with split peas, garlic and egg.

⏱ 50 min · vegetarian کله جوش

Kaleh Joosh

Quick dish of kashk, walnuts, onions and mint, eaten with bread.

⏱ 30 min · vegetarian قیمه نثار

Gheymeh Nesar

Festive rice dish from Qazvin: small cubes of meat with saffron, barberries, pistachios, almonds and orange peel over saffron rice.

⏱ 120 min خاگینه

Khagineh

Sweet omelette from Azerbaijan with flour, milk and saffron, served with syrup or honey.

⏱ 25 min · vegetarian

Snacks, sides & street food

سالاد شیرازی

Desserts

شله‌زرد

Sholeh zard

A golden saffron rice pudding with rose water, cinnamon and almonds. Traditionally cooked as nazri and shared with neighbours.

⏱ 90 min · vegetarian

Drinks

دوغ

Doogh

A refreshing yogurt drink with mint, drunk with almost every meal in Iran, especially with kebab.

⏱ 5 min · vegetarian