Nowruz is the Iranian or Persian new year, which is celebrated by people of several ethnicities around the world. Based on the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar, this year the festival falls on March 21. So, if you too wish to celebrate this festival at home, then what better way to do so than by cooking some traditional Iranian food? Well, if this sounds good to you, then we’ve already made a list of dishes that you can make at home. So, here’s a list of 7 Iranian dishes to make at home to celebrate Nowruz 2023!
7 Iranian Dishes To Make At Home On Nowruz
1. Gheimeh
Gheimeh is a famous stew in Iranian cuisine. Although, its base is pretty similar to most of the other stews. Usually made with lamb or beef meat, which is diced into really small pieces, this dish is certainly a melange of flavours. This stew comprises diced meat, fried onions, and dried lemon, which is then boiled with split peas and flavourful spices. Gheimeh is often served with French fries on the top and can be relished with steamed rice.
2. Zereshk Polo
Zereshk Polo is another popular dish in the cuisine, which is often translated to Barberry Rice with Chicken. The dish stays true to its translation, and it is served on special occasions. It must be noted that Zereshk is the Persian word for barberries, which are sweet and sour in taste. Prepared together with saffron, turmeric, and barberry, this flavourful rice delicacy is often prepared with a lot of butter, which helps to soften the tartness of barberries.
3. Khoresh Bademjan
Khoresh Bademjan is an eggplant and tomato-based stew. This is a slow-cooked dish that adds an extra layer of flavour, which oozes out of tomatoes, turmeric, and lamb or beef when brought together. The tartness of this dish comes from adding grape or lemon juice during the cooking process. Not to mention, the flavourings from spices like yellow chilli powder, cinnamon powder, and black pepper make this dish a must-have. This recipe by Eva’s Kitchen certainly makes this dish look easy to prepare at home.
Also Read: 5 Best Persian Restaurants In Dubai To Bookmark This Nowruz
4. Bastani Sonnati
Bastani Sonnati is an Iranian ice cream that is made with milk, eggs, sugar, saffron, pistachios, and rose water. Widely known as Persian ice cream, this creamy treat also contains flakes of frozen clotted cream, which makes it the perfect dessert in summer. This recipe by The Ancient Touch will definitely make you want to whip up this frozen dessert at home as well! While it looks a little intimidating to make at home, whisking this dessert will be easy, if you follow all the ingredients and steps shown in the video, religiously.
5. Chelo Kebab Koobideh
Chelo Kebab Koobideh is one of the most popular Iranian dishes enjoyed globally by foodies. Koobideh is minced meat mixed with a bunch of spices, and this dish is generally served on a bed of cooked rice and accompanied by grilled tomatoes. As mentioned above, this classic Iranian dish is made by mixing ground meat with minced onion and select spices. The recipe and the step-by-step method of cooking provided by Cooking With Yousef will allow you to easily make this celebratory dish at home.
6. Gormeh Sabzi
Gormeh Sabzi is made by using green herbs, kidney beans, and lamb meat. The rich flavour of this dish makes it the perfect accompaniment to steamed rice. While it is the most common Persian dish, Gormeh Sabzi is generally served on formal occasions and family meals. Comfort food for many, make sure you have all the essential herbs that go into making this recipe at home before you decide to make it yourself.
7. Sholeh Zard
Leonor’s Sweet Creations
After all the savoury dishes from the Persian cuisine on this list, it makes sense to add one or two dessert options as well. Doesn’t it? So, this next dessert on the list is basically translated as rice pudding in English. A traditional Iranian dessert, Sholeh Zard, is made with jasmine or Iranian rice, sugar, rose water, saffron, and butter (to name some basic ingredients). This recipe on the channel of Leonor’s Sweet Creations makes it easy to whisk the dessert at home. Yes, the pretty yellow colour and the aromatic flavours of this treat will make you go for a second serving for sure!
So, go ahead and whip these mouth-watering dishes to celebrate Nowruz at home!
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
