Gheimeh Recipe (Persian Split Pea Stew)
Make khoresh gheimeh: tender lamb and yellow split peas in a tangy tomato and dried lime sauce, topped with crisp fries. Fixes for mushy or hard peas.
Saffron rice with a golden tahdig, slow walnut and herb stews, juicy kebabs and rosewater sweets: Persian home cooking written for ordinary kitchens. Every recipe has clear timings, a visual doneness gauge and fixes for the mistakes cooks make most often.
Recipes developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan
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Saffron rice dishesStews and soupsFrom the grill and the panDips, salads and breakfastDesserts and Nowruz treats
Rice and polo
Saffron rice dishes
- 9TahdigThe crispy rice crust
- 9Zereshk PoloBarberry rice and chicken
- 9TahchinBaked saffron rice cake
- 9Baghali Polo ba MahichehDill rice with lamb shank
- 9Lubia PoloGreen bean and beef rice
- 9Albaloo PoloSour cherry party rice
Khoresh and ash
Stews and soups
Ghormeh SabziThe national herb stew- 9FesenjanPomegranate walnut chicken
- 9GheimehSplit pea and dried lime
- 9Khoresh BademjanEggplant and lamb
- 9Ash ReshtehHerb and noodle soup
- 9AbgooshtLamb and chickpea dizi
Kebabs and meat
From the grill and the pan
- 9Kabab KoobidehJuicy minced kebab
- 9Jujeh KababSaffron lemon chicken
- 9Kufteh TabriziGiant stuffed meatballs
- 9KotletMeat and potato patties
- 9BeryaniIsfahan lamb on bread
- 9DolmehStuffed grape leaves
Starters and sides
Dips, salads and breakfast
- 9Kashke BademjanEggplant and kashk dip
- Mirza GhasemiSmoky eggplant dip
- 9Salad Shirazi10-minute cucumber salad
- 9Kuku SabziHerb frittata
- 9Salad OliviehChicken potato salad
- 9HalimWheat and lamb breakfast
Sweets
Desserts and Nowruz treats
- 9Sholeh ZardSaffron rice pudding
- 9Bastani SonnatiSaffron rose ice cream
- 9Faloodeh ShiraziFrozen rose noodles
- 9QottabAlmond pastries
- 9ZoolbiaSyrup fritters
- 9Goosh-e FilElephant ear pastries
Learn the technique
Guides behind these recipes
Quick answers
Persian Recipes FAQ
What is the national dish of Iran?
Chelow kabab, saffron rice with koobideh kebab, and ghormeh sabzi are both considered national dishes.
What is tahdig?
The crispy golden crust at the bottom of a pot of Persian rice.
What spices are used in Persian cooking?
Saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, dried lime, advieh, dried mint and rosewater.
Is Persian food spicy?
No, it is fragrant and sour rather than hot.
What is the difference between khoresh and ash?
Khoresh is a stew served with rice; ash is a thick soup eaten on its own.
Every recipe
All Persian recipes
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Kabab Koobideh Recipe (Persian Minced Meat Kebab)
Make kabab koobideh that stays on the skewer: grated onion squeezed dry, well kneaded mince and the right fat. Grill, oven or pan methods with chelo rice.
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Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh Recipe (Dill Rice with Lamb Shank)
Make baghali polo ba mahicheh: dill and broad bean rice with fall-apart saffron lamb shanks. Step by step layering, plus fixes for tough lamb and mushy rice.
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Zereshk Polo Recipe (Persian Barberry Rice with Chicken)
Make zereshk polo ba morgh: fluffy saffron rice topped with sweet sour barberries, plus tender saffron chicken. Tips so barberries never burn or turn bitter.
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Fesenjan Recipe (Persian Pomegranate Walnut Stew)
Make fesenjan at home: chicken slow cooked in toasted walnuts and pomegranate molasses until dark, glossy and sweet sour. Fixes for bitter or oily sauce.
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Ghalieh Mahi Recipe (Persian Tamarind Fish Stew)
Cook ghalieh mahi, the spicy southern Iranian fish stew with tamarind, fried coriander and fenugreek. Tangy, herby and ready in about an hour.
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Ash-e Doogh Recipe (Persian Yoghurt and Herb Soup)
Make Persian ash-e doogh, a creamy yoghurt soup with herbs, chickpeas and tiny meatballs. Learn the stirring trick that stops yoghurt from splitting.
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Mirza Ghasemi Recipe (Smoky Persian Eggplant Dip)
Make mirza ghasemi, the smoky northern Iranian dip of flame-charred eggplant, garlic, tomato and egg. How to get real smoke without a grill.
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Ghormeh Sabzi Recipe (Persian Herb Stew)
Make authentic Persian ghormeh sabzi with deeply fried herbs, tender lamb, kidney beans and dried limes. The herb-frying secret, explained step by step.
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