Iranians have looked at food at 3 different ways for many
centuries; medicinal, philosophical & cultural.
Iranian Physicians & philosophers considered food &
beverages as the main factor to revive body. Consuming food
is a way of weakening or strengthening human character.
Consuming a lot of red meat and fats was thought to creat e
evil thoughts and make us selfish. However, consuming a
healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, fish, fowl, mixed petals
& blossoms of roses create unusual powers & make us
gentle & noble creatures.
From a cultural point of view, Persian food has always been
considered to be an art providing enjoyment to both body &
mind.
No accurate record of classical Persian cooking is available. The techniques have been passed down generation to
generation. Women have had a great influence in the history of cooking in Iran. The best Persian Cuisine chefs were and
still are women. Like other cultures, special foods are prepared for different occasions, i.e. wedings, funerals, birthdays,
Persian New Year, religious & historical feasts, formal & state gatherings.
Soups_____________________________________________________________________
- Aash-e Aab Leemoo: a rich soup with rice, herbs, meat, sugar, and lime juice
- Aash-e Sholeh Ghalamkar: a very rich soup made with various herbs, rice, meat, ...
- Aash-e Gandom: a rich soup made with wheat, spinach, peas, beans and lentils
- Aash-e Aaloo: a rich soup made with various herbs, rice, meat and prunes
- Aash-e Anaar: a very rich soup made with rice, various herbs, meat and pomegranate paste
- Aash-e Gojeh Farangi: made with rice, herbs, meat and tomato paste
- Aash-e Reshteh: with reshteh (similar in shape to spaghetti), kashk (thick whey), herbs, ...



Light /Side Dishes________________________________________________________
- Maast-o-Khiar: made with yogurt, cucumber, onions, mint, salt, and pepper
- Mirza Ghasemi: made with fried eggplants, eggs, tomatoes, and garlic
- Kashk-e Baadenjaan: made with eggplants, kashk (thick whey), mint, and onions
- Haleem Baadenjaan: with eggplants, kashk (thick whey), meat, mint, and onions
- Borani Esfanaaj: fried spinach with yogurt, onions, and garlic
- Nargesi Esfanaaj: fried spinach with eggs and onions
- KooKoo-yeh Sabzi: made with various herbs, eggs, and flour
- KooKoo-yeh Seeb-Zamini: made with potatoes, and eggs
- KooKoo-yeh Loobia-Sabz: made with string beans, eggs, and onions
- KooKoo-yeh Baadenjaan: with eggplants, eggs, onions, and saffron
- KooKoo-yeh Morgh: with chicken, eggs, onions, saffron, and lime juice
Iranian Foods & Recipes to savour for all occasions