I seem to be on a roll, making back-to-back northern Iranian dishes! Across Iran, many stews feature fresh herbs in place of other vegetables to accompany either animal or plant-based proteins. While each stew has its own unique combinations and ratios, they all share one thing in common: Iranians’ celebration and love of herbs. This…
Category: Main Course
Anar Bij – Meatballs in pomegranate and herb sauce
Anar Bij, meatballs in pomegranate and herb sauceis a hearty and flavor-packed dish from Gilan province in the Caspian Sea region of Iran. Delicate meatballs are gently cooked in a creamy walnut sauce that is then flavored with fresh herbs and pomegranate molasses. Tart flavors, aromatics, and a hint of sweetness combine to make this…
Shami – Herb and meat patties
Shami is often referred to as a meat patty, though realistically it is more about herbs and ground walnuts than it is about the meat. Throughout Iran, you will find a multitude of Shami varieties using different types of meat, often with added chickpeas, yellow split peas, or red lentils. This version from the Caspian…
Kuku Gerdu – Walnut and herb frittata
You say frittata: I say Kuku; you say (Spanish) tortilla: I say K . . . and we are saying the same thing – almost! It is actually a stretch to call this dish a frittata or a tortilla, but I don’t know a better comparison. Kuku is an Iranian egg-based dish that combines vegetables,…
Mella Ghormeh – Eggplant with herbs and poached eggs
Mella Ghormeh is a signature dish from the Caspian Sea region of Iran that celebrates the region’s abundance of local produce while bringing depth of flavor to a simple dish. In many regions of Iran, there is a heavy reliance on a medley of spices. However, many Northern Iranian dishes rely on simpler, fresh, and…
Tas Kabob – Meat and vegetable stew
Tas Kabob is the ultimate one-pot comfort food, this dish is as effortless as layering all the ingredients in a pot, covering it, and cooking it until the vegetables soften and the flavors meld together. There are many traditions behind this dish. Once upon a time, it was truly a celebration of fall, when root…
Ghalieh Mahi – Fish in a tamarind and herb sauce
The cuisine of Southern and South-Western Iran is known for its rich, bold flavors and the creative use of tamarind, dates, regional spices and of course, seafood from the Persian Gulf! This stew is a great representation of the region’s dishes: slightly spicier, and with a different flavor profile.
Aash-e Mash – Mung beans and herbs soup
Here is another delicious addition to the long line of Aashes, the thick, hearty Persian soups. Like others in the series, this Aash features a generous mix of fresh herbs, Kashk, a tangy Persian whey sauce, crispy garlic, caramelized onions, and aromatic mint sauce. While mung beans are the main ingredient, the real star of…
Aash-e Anar – Pomegranate soup with meatballs
This is Aash-e Anar, a beloved member of the Aash family known for its enticing and creative seasonal variations. Aash has always been a cornerstone of Iranian cuisine. The Persian word Aash, refers to a thick soup that typically includes a mix of beans, grains, occasionally noodles, herbs, spices, and meat.