7 Things to Order off a Persian Menu

Persian food is a beautiful cuisine that varies greatly from region to region, family to family. I’ve cooked many Persian dishes on my channel and each time I am floored by the complexity and depth of flavor. And though I love cooking, I do live in NYC and love a good delivery moment. Which got me thinking, what would a Persian person order off a Persian restaurant menu? So, with the help of four of my subscribers of Persian background, I was able to order some Persian food to-go like a local. Read on to see what they said. Some of their recommendations may surprise you, I know they sure surprised me!

Featuring

Nick

Layla

Setareh

Parvaneh

1. Traditional Kashk-Bademjan (Eggplant Dip)

“‘Bademjan’ means ‘eggplant’ and ‘kashk’ is whey. Dip your bread in it and it’s really, really good.” – Nick

“I think when most people go to get Persian food and they order a dip for the table, they order hummus or baba ganoush, but they’re missing out.” – Layla

2. Ash Reshteh (Noodle Soup with Herbs & Beans)

“This stew is simmering a long time to let these flavors create a nice vegetable stock that becomes nice and creamy and hearty. It has a very strong flavor for being basically just vegetable-based.” – Parvaneh

3. Zereshk Polo (Saffron & Barberry Rice Pilaf)

“The sour berries mixed into the rice really cut through that butteriness. I really like the balance of this dish and I think that’s something Persian dishes do really well, is strike a balance between sweet and savory.” – Layla

4. Khoresh Fesenjan (Chicken in Pomegranate & Walnut Sauce)

“It’s usually chicken and it is stewed in a pomegranate molasses and walnut puree and it is so delicious. It’s definitely one of my comfort foods, when I eat it I feel like I’m with my family.” – Nick

“There is something particularly interesting about Khoresh Fesenjan and it’s the fact that the more south you go, the sweeter it gets!” – Setareh

5. Ghourmeh Sabzi (Herb Stew)

“This is very much a very green, herby stew. Household to household you’ll get different herbs mixed in. It also depends on what’s available.” – Parvaneh

“It should be, in my opinion, very sour. To me it’s the most emblematic of Persian food.” – Nick

6. Jujeh Kabob (Saffron & Yogurt Chicken Kabob)

“It’s super juicy and super tender. And that saffron flavor just adds that Persian taste.” – Layla

7. Bastani (Persian Ice Cream)

“I love the soft flavor of the saffron. It’s a unique flavor and I think you’ll like it.” – Parvaneh

And that’s just scratching the surface! My subscribers had a few more delicious recommendations like: Koobideh Kabob (Grilled Lamb Kabob), Khoresh Gheymeh (Beef, Yellow Pea, & Lemon Stew), Lamb Shank, Mast Musir (Shallot Yogurt), Baklava, and Faloodeh. So if you have the opportunity to try Persian food, use this article to guide your way. No matter what you order, you can’t go wrong with this gorgeous cuisine!

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Palestine is so much more than what we’ve all been hearing about recently in the news. It is a beautiful culture with an incredibly diverse cuisine. The cultural erasure that is happening in Palestine right now can be fought in many ways, but one of them is through talking about the culture and, of course, talking about the food. With the help of my subscribers of Palestinian descent, I was able to learn more about the beauty of Palestinian culture what this vibrant cuisine is made up of.