Persian Food

Standard 24 February 15

10 Best Restaurants in Yazd | Foodies Ultimate Guide

Yazd is renowned as the oldest living city on earth and the world's first mud-brick city.

Read more
Standard 23 December 13

Iran: A Vegetarian Paradise Awaits

Iran, with its rich history and vibrant culture, offers a unique and unforgettable experience for travelers. And contrary to popular belief, it's actually a haven for vegetarians!

Read more
Standard 23 December 05

Iranian Caviar | Iran's Black Pearl

For millennia, people have cherished the luxurious delicacy known as Caviar, which refers to the salt-cured eggs from the enigmatic sturgeon fish.

Read more
Standard 23 November 14

Abgoosht & Dizi | Traditional Persian Stew Recipe

For every avid foodie, there's an unparalleled thrill in exploring the flavors of different cultures. And when it comes to Persian food, Abgoosht takes center stage as a must-try dish.

Read more
Standard 23 November 10

Top 20 Persian Snacks: Taste the Best

Iran offers a mix of beautiful landscapes, cultures, and mouthwatering food. It's a place where you can enjoy all four seasons, each with its own unique charm and tasty dishes.

Read more
Standard 23 November 04

Best Restaurants in Tabriz | Tabriz's Finest Eateries

Tabriz, the capital city of East Azerbaijan province in Iran, is a hidden gem that awaits eager travelers with its rich history, vibrant culture, and mouthwatering cuisine.

Read more
Standard 23 September 11

Best Restaurants in Mashhad | Top 7 Restaurants

Mashhad, the vibrant city nestled in northeastern Iran, has long been revered as a significant religious destination due to its magnificent shrine of Imam Reza.

Read more
Standard 23 September 11

Best Restaurants in Kashan | Culinary Kaleidoscope

Kashan, a city nestled in the heart of Iran, is not only renowned for its stunning architecture and historical sites but also for its rich culinary scene.

Read more
Standard 22 December 24

Famous Iranian Desserts You Must Try

Are you looking for delicious desserts to serve at your next dinner party?

Read more
Standard 23 July 20

Best Restaurants in Tehran

Tehran, the bustling capital city of Iran, is renowned for its vibrant culinary scene, offering a delightful array of flavors and dining experiences.

Read more
Standard 23 July 20

Best Restaurants in Shiraz You Shouldn't Miss!

Steeped in history and culture, Shiraz is a vibrant city where succulent kebabs, aromatic saffron rice, and fragrant spices fill the air and beckon you to indulge in the ultimate Persian dining experience.

Read more
Standard 18 June 14

Kufteh & Dolma: Delicious Persian Food

When you travel to Iran, you will be amazed by the variety of dishes and cuisines we have all over the country. 

Read more
Standard 18 June 13

Iranian food: Top 5 Chelow (Polow)

Having rice for lunch is very common and popular in Iranian food. To have a tasty and various type of foods with rice there are two ways of cooking the rice. The first one is to cook it plain with salt and oil which names Chellow.

Read more
Standard 18 September 13

Top 9 delicious Persian food in Iran

Iran is well-known for its wide range of delicious food. While Kebab may be considered one of the most popular Persian food, there are other types of foods in the country which in this article we are going to introduce the most delicious cuisines in Iran.

Read more
Standard 18 July 12

Persian Bread: Different Types of Bread in Iran

In addition to a number of historical monuments in Iran, when you travel to Iran you will understand the diversity of cuisine in the country.

Read more
Standard 18 June 03

Top 23 Iranian Kebab | A Delicious Culinary Exploration

Iranian pay a lot of attention to their food and that is the reason why you can find the different types of sole food in the menus of their restaurants.

Read more
Standard 22 December 26

Popular Persian Sweets You Must Try

A handful of Persian Sweets hold a special place in the hearts of many foodies worldwide.

Read more
Standard 22 October 24

All About Persian Saffron | The Best in the Whole World

Saffron-producing plant is known by its scientific name, Crocus Sativus.

Read more
Standard 22 October 24

Traditional Persian Breakfast You Should Try

The first meal of the day is breakfast. It is the most important meal since it gives you the nutrition and energy you need to start the day.

Read more
Standard 22 August 23

Best Restaurants in Isfahan

One of the most crucial aspects is where and what you eat on your trip.

Read more
Standard 22 August 23

Best Dishes in Isfahan You Must Try!

In every Iranian city, visitors will encounter various cultures and customs, all of which will appeal to and please them.

Read more
Standard 19 January 31

Iranian Caviar: All You Need to Know about the Black Pearl

There are a few popular items on the list of exports from Iran, including oil, carpets, pistachios, and caviar. Iranian caviar has a fantastic reputation all around the world, with the finest sturgeon coming from the waters of the Caspian Sea. In addition, since 2015, dozens of Iranian producers are raising sturgeon on fish farms. 

Read more
Standard 18 July 07

Rasht Travel Guide: The Best City to Enjoy Local Cuisine

For most travelers, one of the interesting parts of each travel especially when they go around in a new destination is trying the local cuisines. By traveling to Iran you will definitely notice and become surprised by the number of local dishes you can find in every four corners of the country. While there is a different type of dishes served in the country, in each city or village there are also some local dishes. 

Read more
Standard 18 November 29

Best Dishes in Iran for Vegetarians

With a variety of culture, and therefore, numerous cuisines in different parts of the country, Iran is one of the greatest places for food lovers! In every corner of the country, you can find some of the most delicious dishes.

Read more
Standard 19 January 20

Saffron Ice Cream | Among 50 of the World's Best Desserts

Iranian is well-known for being the best cook and when you travel to Iran you will definitely be amazed by the variety of dishes, desserts, and confectioneries all across the country.

Read more
Standard 18 September 16

Persian Saffron; The Red-Gold Ingredient

Saffron is one of Iran’s non-oil exports. Although it’s grown in only a few provinces throughout the country, it’s easy to find it in the various spice markets. Persian Saffron; the Red-Gold ingredient grows from late October to mid-November, early in the morning before the sunlight women harvest the flowers before they bloom, so the stigma (which is the actual Saffron) is out of any dust. Once the flowers picked, they start the process of separating the purple stigma from the purple crocus flower. 

Read more
Standard 18 September 12

Top 8 Iranian Beverages and Drinks

Iran is a well-known country for the variety of cuisine served in every corner of the country.

Read more
Standard 18 July 10

Top 10 Persian Desserts and Sweets You Will LOVE

When you travel to Iran, you will understand that Iranian people make some of the best desserts out there, they flavored their desserts with saffron, rosewater, pistachio, and some more delicious flavors you will love. 

Read more
Standard 18 July 15

Rice: The Basic Ingredient of Iranian Ethnic & Traditional Cuisines

When you travel to Iran and visit different cities in every corner of Iran, you will understand that the national and local cuisine has a great diversity. 

Read more
Standard 18 June 26

Abgoosht & Dizi | The Most Traditional Persian Foods in Iran

Abgoosht (Ab stands for water and goosht for meat) is one of the most traditional stew in Iran. 

Read more
Standard 18 June 24

Top 7 Stews in Iran; Persian Cuisines

When checking a menu of an Iranian restaurant you will definitely witness some foods called Khoresh (some say Khoresht).

Read more
Standard 18 June 23

Top 17 Iranian Seafood Cuisine

When you travel to Iran, you will understand that seafood is the main cuisine in the coastal cities of Iran in the both north and the south area.

Read more
Standard 18 June 23

Koloocheh; The Iranian Local Cookie

Koloocheh, the Iranian cookie cooked with different ingredients and recipes in various parts of Iran. 

Read more
Standard 18 May 24

Iranian Soup & Ash

If you are planning to travel to Iran, you must taste Iranian delicious foods. Persian Cuisine is influenced by the great diversity Iranians have in their ethnicity and culture. 

Read more

eavar banner private tours

Top Persian Food You Should Try!

Many people enjoy trying traditional dishes, or local foods when traveling to a new destination. If you are among this group, Iran will be an amazing choice for your next vacation. Iranian are popular for being great cooks. Moreover, what you will notice when traveling in Iran is the variety of dishes they have. 

In addition to traditional Iranian dishes that are cooked in all parts of the country, most cities and villages have their own type of local foods and Persian food recipes too. Persian foods are divided into different types, including Abgoosht and Dizi, Chellow, Stew, and Kebab. 

Here is the list of the best Persian food that you should try when traveling around Iran.

  

What are the National Dishes of Iran?

What is the national dish of Iran?

When checking a menu of an Iranian restaurant you will definitely witness some foods called Khoresh (some say Khoresht). This term is a generic word for stew dishes in Iranian cuisine

You will find a wide range of khoresh in Iran, there are some of those like Ghormeh Sabzi, Gheimeh, and Fesenjan that are cooked in all cities and also some like Khoresht Mast which is only cooked in Isfahan.

In this article we are going to introduce some types of Khoresh to make you familiar with those, so, don’t forget to take note or memorize the names of the ones you liked most to order when you are at a restaurant in different cities in Iran!

 

Khoresht-e Ghormeh Sabzi (Herb Stew)

Khoresht-e Ghormeh Sabzi (Herb Stew)

Ghormeh Sabzi is the most beloved Persian stew among Iranian and international tourists and you can find it in almost any menu of the restaurants. 

The main ingredients of the stew are meat (lamb or veal), fresh herbs (parsley, coriander, and spinach), and kidney beans. To cook the stew, onion and some spices are used.

| Read more: Things to know before Travel to Iran

 

Khoresht-e Karafs (Celery Stew)

Khoresht-e Karafs (Celery Stew)

The main ingredient of Khoresht-e Karafs is celery, therefore, the stew is very healthy. In addition to celery, other herbs are mint and parsley. It is cooked with lamb or veal. Some people also add kidney beans and pomegranate paste which is not that much popular. Usually, the taste of Khoresht-e Karafs is a little bit sour.

 

Khoresht-Bademjan (Eggplant Stew)

Khoresht-Bademjan (Eggplant Stew)

Badenjan (Eggplant) is used in many different dishes in Iranian dishes, however, the one which is most popular is Khoresht-e Bademjan. The main ingredient of the stew is meat and eggplant with onion and spice. Tomato sauce is also added to the stew.

  

Khoresht-e Fesenjan (Walnut Stew)

Khoresht-e Fesenjan (Walnut Stew)

Fesenjan is the kind of stew that has different recipes among Iranian. Some people cook Fesenjan with chicken and some with meatballs. Some cook it sweet and some sour. Whatever you choose as meat the major ingredient is crushed walnut with pomegranate taste.

  

Khoresht-e Gheimeh (Yellow split peas Stew)

Khoresht-e Gheimeh (Yellow split peas Stew)

Meat and yellow split peas are the basic ingredients of the stew. Tomato paste, onion and spices are also added while cooking. The stew is served with French fries in small and thin slices. If you ever heard the word “Nazri” you may know that Iranian distribute food for free on some religious occasions. Khoresht-e Gheimeh is the most popular stew for Nazri.

  

Khoresht-e Mast (Beef yogurt stew)

Khoresht-e Mast (Beef yogurt stew)

This stew is mostly cooked in Isfahan, it is a little bit strange by the name, but, very delicious. People eat it as a main dish or even as dessert because of its sweet taste.

Beef, plain yogurt, and saffron are the main ingredients in addition to onion, turmeric egg, and sugar. The stew is a mixture of all the ingredients and it’s not possible to identify the components.

  

Boz Ghormeh (Beef Stew)

Boz Ghormeh (Beef Stew)

The same as Khoresht-e Mast this stew is not that popular in Iran and only cooked in Kerman province. 

The mixture contains beef, beans, whey kashk and onion. Garlic, saffron, turmeric, salt, and pepper are also added to the stew as spices. 

 

What is the most traditional food in Iran?

most traditional food in Iran

Abgoosht (Ab stands for water and goosht for meat) is one of the most traditional foods in Iran

When Abgoosht is cooked and served in stone crock pots it’s called Dizi. Whether the name is Abgoosht or Dizi, you should absolutely try this local cuisine when you travel to Iran. The food has been cooked for so many years and therefore, the ingredients and recipe of it have been changed in different parts of Iran. 

It used to be cooked with lamb, onion, and chickpeas only, but nowadays tomatoes and potatoes are also added to the stew. However, the way it’s served still remained the same all over the country. When cooked, serving as a special custom, people eat both Abgoosht and Dizi in two-part. 

First, they split the soup or broth from the remaining ingredients and poured it into a bowl, then put small pieces of bread (usually Sangak) into the soup and eat the mixture with a spoon. 

The process of adding bread to the soup is called “Tilit”. Then they mash the rest of the ingredients and eat it with onion, pickles, basil, and radish. In Kerman, they cook Abgoosht with meat, lots of caraways, and some garlic, there don’t add any potatoes or beans to the stew.

  

Abgoosht Bozbash 

Abgoosht Bozbash 

Abgoosht Bozbash is another type of Abgoosht which is mostly cooked in Tabriz. Instead of chickpeas, they use cowpea and also add chives, parsley, and fenugreek. This Abgoosht is mostly green rather than the red color of the traditional one.

  

Abgoosht Baghi

Abgoosht Baghi

Another type of Abgoosht is called Abgoosht Baghi (Bagh stands for the garden). In addition to all traditional ingredients, different types of fruits such as peach, apple, cherry, and apricot are added to the ingredient. 

You may find some other types of Abgoosht & Dizi while traveling in Iran, here we mentioned the most popular ones in the country. All we can suggest is to try traditional cuisine!

| Read more: Different types of bread in Iran (Persian bread)

  

What is the difference between Chellow and Polow?

What is the difference between Chellow and Polow?

Having rice for lunch is very common and popular in Iran. To have tasty and various types of foods with rice there are two ways of cooking Iranian rice. The first one to cook it plain with salt and oil which names Chellow. In this way, the cooked rice is served with a type of Kebab, Stew, or chicken. 

The second type of cooking rice is with a mixture of vegetables, fresh herbs, meatballs, etc. When the rice is cooked as a mixture it is called Polow. You can find this type of rice dish in buffet restaurants and traditional ones.

  

Adas Polow (Lentil Rice)

Adas Polow (Lentil Rice)

Adas Polow is a very delicious mixture of rice and lentils. If you are a vegetarian this cuisine would be suitable for you. However, some people serve it with chicken, meatballs, or fried eggs. 

 

Reshteh Polow (Rice with Noodles)

Reshteh Polow (Rice with Noodles)

Reshteh is almost the same as Chinese noodles but thinner and flat. To cook this dish what you need is rice, reshteh, chicken, and onion. This cuisine is very popular to eat on Persian New Year’s Eve because it’s believed that you will have a better clue of your destiny in the following year.

  

Loobia Polow (Rice with Green Beans)

Loobia Polow (Rice with Green Beans)

Loobia Polow is cooked with rice, green beans, layers of chopped meats, and fried onions. Tomato paste and lots of spices like cinnamon are added to the mixture to make the dish tastier. It is very common to eat Loobia Polow with Shirazi Salad or pickles.

  

Estamboli Polow (Tomato Rice)

Estamboli Polow (Tomato Rice)

This type of Polow is cooked with different ingredients and instructions over the country. The main components are rice and tomato, some also add cubed potatoes, and others in addition to potatoes add meatballs.

  

Tahchin (Layered Saffron Rice & Chicken)

Tahchin (Layered Saffron Rice & Chicken)

Tahchin is cooked in different layers. Rice is mixed with saffron, yogurt, and egg. The other layer is usually cooked chicken, however, you can find some with meat or eggplant.

Read more: Top 5 Iranian Chellow or Polow (plain or mixture of cooked rice)

  

What are the Best Dishes in Iran for Vegetarians?

What are the Best dishes in Iran for vegetarians?

With a variety of Iranian food culture, and therefore, numerous cuisines in different parts of the country, Iran is one of the greatest places for food lovers! 

If you are a vegetarian and have some concerns about what to eat when you travel to Iran, you don’t need to worry about that at all. There are several dishes in Iran, which prepare and serve without any type of meat.

  

1. Dishes with eggplant as the main ingredient

1.Dishes with eggplant as the main ingredient

Borani Bademjan, a mixture of cooked and chopped eggplant, and dried yogurt

Naz Khatoon, a mixture of cooked and chopped eggplants, basil, parsley, mint, angelica powder, walnuts, olive oil, and pomegranate juice

Yatimcheh, a mixture of cooked and chopped in cube forms of eggplant, tomato, and onion

Kashk-e Bademjan, a mixture of cooked and chopped eggplant, kashk (whey sauce), fried onion, and fried mint

  

2. Dishes with egg as the main ingredient

2.Dishes with egg as the main ingredient

One of the common dishes in Iran calls Kookoo, which is a mixture of egg with another type of vegetable, cooked in round shapes, like fried cookies, here is a list of the most popular ones:

Kookoo Sibzamini, cooked with potato

Kuku Sabzi, cooked with mixed herbs, some people add walnuts and berries also

Kookoo Kadoo sabz, cooked with zucchini

Eshkeneh, cooked fried hers, and potato

Nargesi, cooked with spinach and onion

  

3. Dishes with rice as the main ingredient

3.Dishes with rice as the main ingredient

Dampokhtak, cooked rice with beans, and turmeric is the main spice of this dish, so it is colored in yellow!

Dami gojeh, cooked rice with tomato, some people also add potato

Loobia polo, cooked rice with green beans, is cooked with meat and without meat, so as a suggestion check before you order

Adas polo, cooked rice with lentils and fried raisins, is also common to cook with meatballs or chicken, so as a suggestion check before you order

Havij polo, cooked rice with carrots and walnut

The Persian dishes, we named above, are the ones that could be found all over the country. 

It may be not that easy to find them all in big, fancy restaurants, but in smaller ones, especially the old, traditional ones, you can find those. 

However, the provinces in the northern part of Iran; Gilan and Mazandaran, are popular for some of the best vegetarian foods in Iran, they are specialized in cooking some of the most delicious foods in the country. 

One thing that you should keep in mind, and will notice when you are at these places, is that to add lots of garlic to food is very popular in these provinces. 

  

The following list is the most popular dishes in Gilan and Mazandaran:

Mirza Ghasemi, a mixture of barbequed eggplant with tomatoes, and egg 

Baghala Ghatogh, a mixture of cooked Rashti fava beans, egg, and dill

Torshi Tareh, cooked herbs with different types of beans, in some places, they also add egg

Paneer Boroshteh, is the same as an omelet, cheese with egg

  

What are the different types of Iranian Kebab?

What are the different types of Iranian Kebab?

Iranian pay a lot of attention to their food and that is the reason why you can find a different type of one kind of food in the menus of their restaurants. 

As an example, you can find at least five to six different types of Iranian Kebab or as Iranian pronounce Kabab in the menus of most restaurants.

Usually with all type of Kabab one or two grilled tomatoes is served. You can ask for your dish with or without rice.

  

Kebab Koobideh

Kebab Koobideh

Koobideh is the signature of Iranian Kabab and the most famous one between local and international tourists. It is cooked from ground lamb or beef with chopped onions. Sometimes you can find it with chicken but it is not very common and popular.

  

Joojeh Kebab

Joojeh Kebab

Joojeh Kabab is barbecued chicken marinated in olive oil and saffron. Different parts of the chicken are used, such as tenders, wings, and thighs. 

In the menus, you can find Joojeh Kabab with bone or boneless. The boneless one is usually with chicken breast.

  

Kabab Barg

Kabab Barg

The main ingredient of Kabab-e Barg is fillets of beef tenderloin or lamb shank. The mast is marinated in onions, saffron, olive oil, and mild spices.

  

Shishlik or Shish Kebab

Shishlik or Shish Kebab

Shishlik with the same name is very popular in different countries of central Asia, eastern and southern Europe. However, the one you will find in Iranian restaurants is different from the ones that are cooked in other countries. 

In Iran, it is cooked of large parts of lamb, served in five (and sometimes six) pieces per dish.

  

Kabab Torsh

Kabab Torsh

Kabab torsh is a traditional kebab from Mazandaran and Gilan provinces in the northern part of Iran. 

It is somehow the same as Kabab Barg which is cooked from beef but marinated in a mixture of crushed walnuts and garlic, pomegranate juice, and chopped parsley. Because of the pomegranate juice, it has a sour taste.

  

Kabab Soltani

Kabab Soltani

Kabab Soltani (Soltani stands for Royal) is served with a combination of one skewer of Kabab Barg and one Kabab Koobideh.

  

Kabab Vaziri

Kabab Vaziri

Kabab Vaziri literally means minister and compared to Soltani it is a combination of one skewer of Joojeh and one Koobideh. So if you like to taste both chicken and meat this is a good choice for you.

  

Kabab Bakhtiari

Kabab Bakhtiari

Kabab Bakhtiari sometimes called Kabab Bolghari: is a combination of one skewer Joojeh kabab and one Kabab Barg.

  

Kabab Chenjeh

Kabab Chenjeh

If you are a meat lover and prefer the real taste of the meat this is what you most enjoy. Chenjeh is cooked from the meat of newly slaughtered sheep in small rocky-shaped pieces.

| Read more: Top 5 Iranian Seafood Cuisines

  

What are the most popular Soups and Ashs in Iran?

What are the most popular Soups and Ash in Iran?

Different types of Ash and Soups are one of the most popular and traditional bowls in Iran. Some of those are cooked with the same recipes almost all over the country, while the others are unique and specially made in only one or two cities.

Generally speaking, ash is a type of soup with more ingredients. It is also heavier than soup and can be considered as a lunch or dinner itself. 

Soup-e Morgh o Sabzijat (Chicken and Vegetable Soup) and Soup-e Jo (Barley Soup) are the most common soups in the country and could be found in most of the restaurants. 

The main ingredients of the Chicken and vegetable soup are chicken, onion, carrot, celery, tomato, parsley, and noodles. 

Barley soup has a variety of recipes and ingredients in different parts of the country. Some add chicken and carrots, while others only cook it with barley and milk. 

  

Ash-e Reshteh (Reshteh is similar to noodles)

Ash-e Reshteh (Reshteh is similar to noodle)

Iranian’s favorite ash is Ash-e Reshteh (Reshteh is similar to noodle), the ingredient is reshteh, brown lentils, chickpeas, pinto beans, and whey (Kashk). 

  

Ash-e Jo (Barley Ash)

Ash-e Jo (Barley Ash)

The other popular ash in Iran is Ash-e Jo (Barley Ash). As it is obvious from the name of it the major ingredient is barley, in addition to onion, carrots, and chicken stock. Some people also add sour cream.

If you travel around Iran, you will find so many different types of ash in each province. As an example, Ash-e Dough (Dough is a sour drink from milk) is very common in West Azerbaijan and Ardabil, 

Ash-e Shole Ghalamkar (the main ingredient is meat and beans) in Tehran, 

Ash-e Miveh (Fruit) in Ardabil, 

Ash-e Tarkhineh (Dried mixture of wheat and barley) in Lorsetan and Kermanshah, 

Ash-e Torsh (Sour ash with local vegetables) in Mazandaran and 

Ash-e Abghoreh (Sour juice from unripe grapes) in Fars. 

| Read more: Top Iranian Beverages and Drinks