Bamieh – bite-sized “donuts” soaked in saffron-rosewater syrup

Bamieh is a mouth-watering Persian dessert famous for its distinctive textures and flavors. Deep-fried to perfection, these doughnut-like treats have a crispy exterior but are soft and juicy inside. They are soaked in syrup infused with rosewater, saffron, and lemon juice, creating a perfect balance of sweetness, tanginess, and floral notes. I’m showcasing Bamieh here…

Shirini Napoleoni – Napoleon pastries

Shirini Napoleoni, or Napoleon pastries, are popular dessertys in Iran that are closely related to the French Mille-feuilles. The French name translates to “a thousand leaves”, referencing the layers of flaky and buttery puff pastry. Traditionally, a mille-feuille is made of three layers of puff pastry, alternating with two layers of crème pâtissière. The top…

Cake Yazdi – cardamom and rosewater cupcakes

Cake Yazdi is to Iranians what vanilla or chocolate cupcakes are to Americans! I have yet to serve this cupcake without sparking a twinkle in someone’s eye, followed by an ear-to-ear smile. For anyone of Iranian origin, this familiar little treat evokes sweet and tender emotions, often prompting nostalgic stories of a distant childhood spent…

Saffron and pear cake with Seville orange and pistachio frosting

There is so much to this cake, but not in the way you might think. It’s a simple cake, even if it does have some unique flavors. This cake tells the story of my life. Every ingredient, every choice, every combination, and every approach in the cooking method results from the experiences I have had…

Cake Eshgh – Persian love cake

Today and every day we celebrate LOVE (Eshgh)! Maybe with a Persian love cake? Valentine’s day has come and gone and I am just getting around to posting this Persian love cake recipe on the blog. To state the obvious, Valentine’s day was not always a day that was celebrated in Iran and there was…