No experience is quite like walking through a food market in Iran. The smell of the juicy Kabobs, the sound of the crackling stones baking the bread, the sight of the lavashak tables, holding what seems to be hundreds of the sour, fruity, and juicy treats. While Iranian restaurants in America could never compete with the experience. The food is always very delicious still. So why is it that whenever I enter an Iranian restaurant in America, it is always near empty? There are so many delicious Iranian restaurants that so often go unnoticed by Americans.
I imagine the cause of this is the great unknown of trying new foods. But ladies and gentlemen and everyone else, these fearful days have come to the end because now you have....(drumroll please).....
TBHBaking's Totally Unbiased Top 10 Iranian Food Recommendations!!!
Fesenjoon- My all time favorite Iranian dish of all time. This pomogranite chicken stew is a little sour, a bit sweet, and absolutely delicious!
Khoresh Gheymeh- This beef and split pea stew is topped with crunchy potato thin potato wedges. With its comforting and simple flavors, it is a great introduction to Iranian Cuisine.
Ghormeh Sabzi- With many considering it the national dish of Iran, it of course had to make it in the top three. With its herbs, red kidney beans, and lamb chunks, it is a delicious tangy stew.
Kabob Koobideh- A classic. Kabob Koobideh is a ground lamb or beef kabob with onions, peppers, and spices. It is often eaten with rice or bread.
Kabob Barg-Anouther popular Iranian kabob. This one doesn't use ground meat, instead it is made of thin marinated meat. It can also be referred to in America as "Filet Minion Kabob".
Mast-o-khair- Sure it's a side...but oh boy is it delicious. This mint cucumber yogurt is easy to make at home and a great dip for bread or sauce for rice.
Shirazi Salad- This lemony cucumber tomato salad is another popular side in Iran. It goes well as a side to any savory dish or but it is also delicious alone. With only a few simply ingredients, this is a staple side to make at home.
Lavashak- Sure its a snack/dessert but..still food, right? So I am here to tell you, that if you have never had Lavashak, you need to sprint to your local Iranian grocery store right now! This sour fruit leather is a great snack and can be found in many Iranian food markets and bazaars.
Persian Love Cake- This rose and cardamom cake is a proud pleaser! With its classic Iranian dessert flavors, it is a delicious cake.
Faloodeh- this sweet frozen noodle dessert hits the spot on a hot summer day. Commonly served with lemon juice and cherry syrup, its sweetness is perfectly balanced.
Of course there are tons of other delicious Iranian dishes that you should definitely try! But if you are looking for a few to start, I hope you will find a couple that interest you off of my list. Even if you don't have an Iranian Restaurant near you, many of these dishes are still pretty simple to make at home. A dish made with love trumps restaurant cooking any day of the week<3
First