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…

Kashk-e Kadu – Butternut-squash-spread with whey and mint

Fall is my favorite season for a variety of reasons: the turning of the leaves, the bright and colorful fall foliage, my birthday, and the arrival of harvest time. Squashes, persimmons, quinces, and pomegranates top the list of seasonal favorites for me. I find the flavors of squashes quite appealing and when you think of…

Sekanjebeen – Mint and vinegar syrup

Sekanjebeen highlights the Iranian tradition of mixing familiar ingredients to create unique and exotic flavors. Sekanjebeen is quite simple in nature and easy to prepare: even though it has only 4 ingredients and takes just 30 minutes to cook, you will be rewarded with an unexpectedly delicious summery treat! The syrup is normally prepared ahead…

Maast-o Museer – Yogurt with Persian shallots, garlic and mint

This is another gem in the Persian yogurt series. Yogurt plays such a significant role in the cuisine and is always there to accompany a flavorful layered rice or well-seasoned stew. The star of this yogurt dish is Museer, a Persian shallot. Museer is best described as a mix between an elephant garlic and a…

Maast-o Khiar – Yogurt with dried mint, cucumber and raisins

Yogurt is no stranger to Persian cuisine and is frankly a mandatory side item on the table. Each region of Iran offers its own unique version of a yogurt dish to accompany a Persian meal. In the North by the Caspian Sea, the specialty is a garlic and shallot yogurt, which has an intoxicating quantity…