Kebab Persian cuisine

10 Famous Persian Dishes (Photos, Video, Info)

Persian cuisine is not just ancient and cosmopolitan; it is also therapeutic for the body and soul. The legendary physician and philosopher Avicenna describes in his great book “The Canon of Medicine” the healing and beneficial aspects of different foods, fruits, and vegetables for the body. When you travel to Iran, you can learn more about Iran foods and drinks. Every city in each province of Iran has hundreds of local dishes for every season of the year. How fascinating is that? Therefore, we picked the most famous Persian dishes you must try on your visit to Iran.

Fesenjan

Fesenjan is one of the most popular stews, made with pomegranate sauce, walnut, and chicken or ground beef. It is a local food from the northern part of Iran and has a sweet and sour taste. In some regions, locals make this stew with meatballs or lamb. Adding orange zest, whole pomegranate seeds, butternut squash, or dried apricots is traditional in other parts. It is not a regular item on restaurant menus since it’s usually served on special occasions such as weddings or formal parties.

There is a wide variety of Iranian stews as famous Persian dishes. Each region of the country has its unique stew made of its own local and seasonal ingredients. The three main stews in Iran are Fesenjan, Gheymeh, and Ghormeh Sabzi, and all are served with Chelo (white, fluffy rice).

Iranians are proud of their skills in preparing rice, and there are different ways to cook them, such as Chelo, Polo, Abkesh, and Kateh. Chelo is fluffy Persian rice with some saffron rice on top. Polo is mixed rice usually served with chicken, lamb, beef, or fish. Zereshk Polo is one of the most popular Polos that has Persian barberries and saffron, and you mostly see it served with chicken. Another is dill and lima bean rice usually served with lamb shank next to the chicken. There is an individual meal called Tahchin that is entirely made with rice!

Tahchin

Tahchin is a kind of rice cake with four layers. First, the lowest layer is a mixture of cooked rice, yogurt, egg, and saffron. The second layer consists of flavored rice and Persian spices such as saffron or turmeric. The third layer contains cooked chicken pieces, and the last layer is spicy rice. Iranians, generally, are very fond of Tahdig. In Tachin, it is essential to add a crispy layer of Tahdig on the upper part of the Tachin to bring a touch of lusciousness to this traditional Iranian food.

Biryani

In addition to enjoying the gorgeous mosques, ornate domes, and ancient bridges in Isfahan, the Biryani is another highlight of this city. This dish is made with shoulder lamb and onions. First, the lamb is cooked through a particular process and then soon after fried. In the end, the lamb will be ground or chopped very finely. The result is a highly aromatic and colorful dish of meat and rice. Our lovely Isfahani locals serve Biryani on bread and decorate with some cinnamon on top.

Kebab

You will most definitely see Kebabs on the menus of restaurants since it is one of the most famous Persian dishes. Kebab is grilled meat such as filet mignon, chicken, ground beef, or fish served with Chelo with grilled tomato and pepper.  The most famous Persian kebabs you come across in Iran are Joojeh Kebab and Koobideh, Iranians’ all-time favorites, and they sometimes have Naz Khatoon and Dough beside their dish. During your travel to Iran, do not miss this tasty meal!

famous Persian dishes

Persian Dishes – In the Iranian restaurant menus you will mostly see Kebabs; one of the bests in Persian Cuisine.

Ghormeh Sabzi

The delicious Ghormeh Sabzi, or as some people might call it, the king of the stews, is on another level. Ghormeh Sabzi is the hallmark of Iranian food that dates back more than 2000 years. You would rarely find someone who does not love Ghormeh Sabzi. Ghormeh Sabzi is served in most restaurants as lunch or dinner. The ingredients are kidney beans, a mixture of herbs, and dried limes. Nothing surpasses Ghormeh Sabzi when it comes to its taste and texture as a dish.

Gheymeh Nesar

Imagine the taste of Persian barberries, pistachio, cinnamon, rose water, turmeric, and saffron. It will take you to the magnificent feast of a Persian king in his exotic palace surrounded by gorgeous decorations on the walls and silk carpets on the floor. Gheymeh Nesar of Qazvin is one of the bests in Persian Cuisine. It is a food mostly made for special events. The topping of the rice has almond, pistachio, orange pill slices, Persian barberries, and lamb meat, which creates an unforgettable taste.

Gheymeh

The other favored stew is Gheymeh, but this one is pretty common in most restaurants in the country. The word Gheymeh comes from how the meat is cut into small cubes in this recipe. Gheymeh is a traditional and popular Iranian stew with saffron potatoes, served with either white or aromatic rice. The main ingredients of this tasty stew are tomato paste, lintels, dried lime, and beef with the addition of French fries or eggplants on top instead. Khoresht-e Gheimeh can turn into Gheymeh Bademjan by adding eggplants to the stew.

Gheymeh Persian cuisine

Persian Dishes – A traditional and popular Iranian stew with saffron potatoes

Dizi or Abgoosht

Dizi is quite different from other foods, and that’s why Abgoosht is among the most famous Persian dishes in Iran. The ingredients are lamb, tomato, onion, potato, chickpeas, and different seasonings such as turmeric. The juice is separately served, so you can dip Persian bread in it and enjoy it. The solid materials will be mashed and mixed and served with broth. Usually, you can eat pickles or yogurt with Dizi and fully enjoy the fascinating taste of traditional Persian food.

Ash Reshteh

Ash Reshteh is the traditional Iranian version of noodle soup, cooked with beans, peas, and vegetables. With a strong taste of the dried mint powder. The soup is garnished with a salty dairy sauce named Kashk. That’s why it also is called Ash-e Kashk. The name makes sense, as “ash” translates to thick soup and “reshteh” to noodle! Ash Reshteh is a great option that will leave you satisfied and full of energy for quite some time!

Kofte Tabrizi

If you are visiting Tabriz during your stay in Iran, make sure you try the most famous Persian dish of the city, Kofteh Tabrizi. Kofte Tabrizi is a super meatball made of ingredients such as rice, ground beef, yellow split peas, leeks, mint, parsley, onion, walnuts, dried apricots, barberries, and Persian spices, cooked in tomato paste. Some like to stuff the meatballs with prunes, walnuts, and fried onions until it cooks slowly to perfection.

Kufte Tabrizi - Persian Cuisine

Persian Dishes: Kofte Tabrizi

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

Chaharshanbe suri

Chaharshanbe Suri (Meaning, Origins, Photos)

Traveling to Iran on the last days of the Iranian year, you will see Chaharshanbe Suri an ancient celebration on the sunset of last Tuesday of the year. It is a fire jumping festival and one of the most favorite celebrations among Iranian people. Bushes and firewood are piled in the streets and on roofs and the celebration starts by starting the fire. People gather by the fire, jump over it, and they say to the fire “Give me your beautiful red color and take back my sickly pallor!”

The origin of Chaharshanbe Suri

It is widely believed that Chaharshanbe Suri is a Zoroastrian celebration, which is not entirely true. The way people celebrate it today has changed a lot after the invasion of Arabs. Originally, Iranians were followers of Zoroaster and they believed that water, fire, soil, and air are sacred because they are the four main elements of nature. Among these four, the fire has the most blessings within it because it is purifying and it never gets polluted. Since the fire was highly respected among Zoroastrians, they would never set fire in the streets and jump over it.

The story Chaharshanbe Suri festival is deeply rooted in ancient Iranian literature, the Epic of the kings or Shahnameh. It is written that, Sudabeh, who was the queen of the king Keikavoos, falls in love with the king’s son, Siavash. Sudabeh tries to deceive him, but Siavash rejects her love interest. When the king becomes aware of the story going on between the stepmother and the son, he calls Siavash to explain. Siavash tells his father, king Keikavoos, that he is ready to prove his innocence by crossing the fire. Fire was highly respected and he believed that the fire would not harm an innocent person.
He gets ready to cross the fire on the last Tuesday of the Iranian year and he comes out of the flames of the fire harmless. So, by king’s order, the next day, the last Wednesday of the year there was a great celebration all over the country and was called “Chahrshanbe suri”, meaning a celebration on Wednesday!

Since then, Iranians celebrate the last Tuesday of the year by getting around and jumping over big fires, dancing, singing, and listening to Shahnameh poets to commemorate this great day.

How Chaharshanbe Suri is celebrated in different cities in Iran?

Many different traditions are followed on this night in different cities of Iran. Jumping over the fire and buying a special mix of sweet and sour nuts is done in almost every city of Iran. It’s believed that eating these nuts on Chaharshanbe Suri will make your wish come true. One of the fun activities is done after fire jumping on this night and is similar to Trick or Treat of the Halloween night. Men and women cover their faces to not be recognized and go to their neighbor’s door making noise by hitting on a bowl with a spoon to notify the house members. When the house members hear the noise, one of them comes to the door, gets the bowl fills it with Ash (Persian soup) or candy, and brings it back to the person. The trick is not to be known by the housing member. It is known as Ghashogh Zani in all cities.

Chaharshanbe-suri

Many different traditions are followed on this night in different cities of Iran.

In Tehran, people drop a jug that was never used during the year from the roof of their house which is the symbol of destroying all the bad lucks and misfortunes that were stuck in the jug during the year. Unmarried girls eavesdrop outside their neighbors’ doors as a deviation on their marriage. What the girl hears will determine whether she is going to marry a nice man pretty soon or not. This tradition is less followed today or the girls do it for fun only.

In Isfahan, jumping over fire, dropping a jug from the roof, and eavesdropping by the girls are the common customs on Chaharshanbe Suri night. There is a belief that if a person who is experiencing an unfortunate situation must tie a corner of a handkerchief or any other piece of textile and stand on away. She or he will ask from the very first person that appears on the way to open the tie and this is how the bad situation will pass and that person will find the solution for their complex condition.

In Shiraz, people believe if they bathe in a qanat (traditional water system) that originates from the tomb of Saadi on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year they won’t get sick in the future year. The young girls go to the holy shrine of Shah-e Cheragh to pray for a blissful future and a good marriage. Eavesdropping is done by Shirazi girls as well. Of course, reading Hafez on the last Tuesday night of the year is a custom that won’t be forgotten by Shirazi people. Any celebration is an excuse to pay tribute to this great Persian poet.

One of the interesting traditions done in Tabriz is that on Wednesday morning family members jump over springs and creeks three to seven times for a healthy new year. In this city, people jump over the fire on Tuesday evening and the girls go eavesdropping in the neighborhood as well. Wives buy a new mirror, comb, and a sweep. Some people believe at the New Year the waters get renewed as well, so they break all the old jugs and fill new jugs with the new water to splash it in their rooms and make tea for a prosperous year ahead. Interesting!

 

Iran Doostan will attend the ITB Berlin

Iran Doostan will attend the ITB Berlin on 9-13 March, 2016

IRAN DOOSTAN TOURS COMPANY (IDT) will attend the ITB Berlin on 9-13 March 2016.

Iran Doostan team has been attending the ITB Berlin exhibition for two decades now. And this year Mr. Hadi Ashraf the president and Mr. Ali Vaghefi the managing director at IDT will present travel opportunities to Iran and new unique tour itineraries designed by the IDT team.

You can set up an appointment by sending an email to sahar@idt.ir to meet with our team members to ask any questions about the group or private tours, visa, and any other inquiries for your travel to Iran.

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin.

Exhibition Date: 9-13 March 2016.

Exhibition Time: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Booth Information: Hall 7.2A, Booth A35.

Company: Iran Doostan Tours Co. Pjs.