Delal, also known as green salt, is a specialty condiment from the Caspian Sea region of Iran, specifically from the Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. Traditionally, locally foraged herbs are harvested, roughly chopped, and placed in a traditional stone bowl along with salt, and pulverized by a repetitive rolling and grinding action using a smooth rock….
Salad Shirazi – Cucumber and tomato salad with dried mint dressing
There is something extraordinarily special about this salad, which has great significance in Persian cuisine. The bright and refreshing flavors of tomato and cucumber are enhanced by a dressing of dried mint and unripe sour grape juice (Ab Ghooreh in Farsi). Its simplicity makes it relatively easy as a perfect companion to just about any…
Moraba Rivas – Rhubarb jam
It’s rhubarb season! Well, actually, the season is about to wrap up, and I am just a little behind in getting this posted! Here in the Pacific Northwest, rhubarb begins to show up in farmer’s markets and grocery stores in April and lasts until late June or early July. Unlike other seasonal vegetables that are…
Ghapeli Polo – Rice with beef and garbanzo beans
This dish traces its roots to the province of Kermanshah, located in western Iran. At its core, it is a simple one-pot meal that begins with the slow cooking of beef and garbanzo beans. Along the way, onions and simple spices are added to deepen the flavor and complexity. Once the beef and beans are…
Khoresh Gol Kalam – Beef and cauliflower stew
Long before the humble cauliflower became a trendy superfood, Iranians were cooking it into stews (Khoresh), egg-based dishes (Kuku), and even pickles (Torshi). This is Khoresh Gol Kalam, a beef and cauliflower stew. Like many Iranian stews, this dish is especially simple, with only a few ingredients. Nevertheless, certain culinary techniques bring out a spectacularly…