Sabzi Polo Semnani (Sozi Pela) - Semnani Herb Rice with Meat and Vegetables
Sabzi Polo Semnani is a cherished dish from the Semnan province of Iran, known for its rich, earthy flavours that capture the essence of desert life and local traditions. With a history spanning over 150 years, this dish holds a special place in Semnani households. The core ingredients—rice, meat, fresh local herbs, and black-eyed peas—have remained unchanged over time, but the vegetables used vary with the seasons, making it a reflection of the region’s agricultural cycles. What truly distinguishes Sabzi Polo Semnani is the way these ingredients are layered with the rice, creating a mouth-watering medley of textures and tastes, enriched by local clarified butter and the region’s fresh, organic produce.
Gheymeh Nesar - Persian Jewelled Rice with Meat
Gheymeh Nesar is a divinely luscious dish from Qazvin, Iran. This luxurious rice dish is a celebration of color with a heavenly taste. Gheymeh refers to the small pieces of meat and Nesar means something like ‘offering’, highlighting how precious this dish is, which is why it is often prepared on special occasions.
Khoresh-e Rivas – Lamb Rhubarb Stew
It’s rhubarb season, which means it's time for Khoresh-e Rivas! This exquisite lamb and rhubarb stew is one of my favourite Persian dishes. The savoury richness of the lamb and herbs, combined with the fresh tang of rhubarb, creates a delightful harmony of flavours!
When I was a child, every summer my family and I would journey to Mahalat, my dad's hometown. One of our favourite activities was rhubarb picking. It was a joyful tradition, with my dad, uncles, aunts, and cousins spreading out to find nice young rhubarb. Although it was hot and dry, we loved it so much.
Kadoo Polo Sistani - Persian Lamb and Zucchini (Courgette) Rice
Kadoo Polo Sistani as the name suggests, is from the Sistan and Baluchestan Province - the second largest of the 31 provinces of Iran. A mix of rice, courgettes (zucchini), lamb, and spices creates a wonderfully delicious and flavorful dish that is comforting and satisfying. Each component brings its unique qualities to the dish.
Khoresh-e Kadoo Halvaei - Lamb and Pumkin Stew
Khoresh-e Kadoo Halva stands as a cherished Persian stew celebrated for its comforting blend of tender meat, vibrant spices, and the subtle sweetness of pumpkin. This rich dish embodies the essence of Persian cuisine, offering a symphony of flavours that delight the senses.
You can use any variety of pumpkin to prepare this dish, yet those with a nutty taste, such as Uchiki Kuri or Butternut Squash give the stew a delightful depth.
Chelo Khoresh-e Gardan - Slow Cooked Persian Lamb Neck Stew
Savouring a slow-cooked lamb neck stew is like a cosy hug for your taste buds!
The magic happens as the lamb becomes incredibly tender, soaking up a symphony of aromatic spices. With each bite, you're treated to a burst of rich flavours, creating a delightful and comforting experience. This stew is a surefire way to turn any meal into a warm and unforgettable culinary adventure!
Abgoosht aka Dizi – Persian Lamb Beans and Potato Stew
A while back my Maman sent me these beautiful Dizi stone pots. I finally used them for the very first time to cook delicious Aabgoosht over charcoal on my BBQ. But don’t worry, if you don’t have a garden, a BBQ or Dizi pots. You can prepare Aabgoosht in a regular pan on your stove.
Aabgoosht is a traditional Persian potato bean and lamb stew. The name Aabgoosht translates to ‘water meat’, perhaps because the original recipe, which is hundreds of years old, consisted only of meat, legumes and water. This made it a nutritious, high-energy dish.
Tas Kabab - Persian Lamb and Vegetable Stew
Khoresh-e Kadoo Sabz is a delicious Persian lamb stew with courgette/zucchini, sour grapes, and tomatoes. This tasty red stew is very popular with European and American friends.
Khoresh-e Pesteh - Persian Pistachio Stew
Khoresh-e Pesteh is originally from Rafsanjan - a city in the Central District of Rafsanjan County, Kerman Province, Iran. It’s prepared with the best native pistachios. Pistachio stew is considered a kind of royal food and is cooked for special gatherings and ceremonies.
Kabuli Pulao – The Afghan National Dish
Kabuli Pulao is an incredibly delicious dish from Afghanistan, as the name suggests. This light and aromatic rice dish with lamb, other meat or poultry, that’s jewelled with carrots and raisins is the Afghan national dish. It is also popular in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Other forms of spelling include Qabuli Pulao, Qabeli Palaw and Qabuli Palau. In Persian, we call it Qabeli Polo.
Qabuli, Qabeli, Kabuli, … whatever you may call it, it’s absolutely drool-worthy and I dare you to give it a try! The first time I had it in an Afghan restaurant a few years back it became one of my wife’s and my favourite dishes. I’m sure you’ll love it too, so I just had to borrow this yummy dish from our neighbours and come up with a recipe for it.
Khoresh-e Khalal - Persian Lamb Stew with Dried Limes, Black Barberries, and Slivered Almonds
Khoresh-e Khalal is a flavourful lamb stew from the Kermanshah province in western Iran. The black barberries give the dish a pleasant hint of sourness. The sun-soaked limes add further tartness and irresistible fragrance, while the slivered almonds add texture, making each spoon full a multi-sensory adventure.
Khoresh-e Kadoo Sabz - Persian Lamb Stew With Zucchini (Courgette)
Khoresh-e Kadoo Sabz is a delicious Persian lamb stew with courgette/zucchini, sour grapes, and tomatoes. This tasty red stew is very popular with European and American friends.
Chelo Mahicheh Pesaran-e Karim - Karim’s Sons’ Lamb Shanks And Rice
‘Pesarane Karim restaurant’ is a very famous name that (if you’re a foodie) can make you hungry just by hearing it. The history behind this restaurant begins in 1921 with Karim Qasemzadeh Hatami, also known as Karim Shishliki. He became successful and helped the Mashhad food and restaurant industry a lot through the influence that came with his success. In 1980 his sons decided to grow the business and focus on their signature dish ‘Chelo Mahicheh’, that carries their name ever since. It’s a very famous recipe that’s not only served in their own chain restaurants but also elsewhere and in many households in Iran.
Khoresh-e Beh – Persian Quince Lamb Stew
Quince season is in full swing here in the UK and so I’m bringing you the perfect Persian recipe to showcase this delicious autumn fruit: Khoresh-e Beh, a Persian quince lamb stew! It’s very easy to make! The prep time is short and sweet and it basically takes care of itself in the pot.
Khoresh-e Karafs – Lamb Celery And Herb Stew
Khoresh-e Karafs is a hearty lamb and herb stew with celery. Fresh lemon juice allows you to add sourness to your liking. It’s one of those dishes, that I didn’t like as a kid and I cannot tell you how much I regret that! If you love Ghormeh Sabzi, you'll likely love Khoresh-e Karafs as well.
Baghali Polo Ba Mahicheh - Persian Dill And Broad Bean Rice With Lamb Shanks
Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh is an aromatic Persian rice dish with fava beans aka broad beans and dill, served with flavourful, tender lamb shanks.
Ghormeh Sabzi – Persian Lamb Stew with Herbs
Ghormeh Sabzi is a Persian classic! This hearty lamb stew is packed with herbs, giving it a multifaceted flavour. When you ask Iranians about their favourite food most of them will say it’s Ghormeh Sabzi.
Khoresh-e Gheymeh - Persian lamb stew with yellow split peas and dried limes
Gheymeh Stew is one of the classic Persian dishes! This lamb stew with yellow split peas, topped up with crispy homemade potato fries is high up on most Iranians’ list of favourite foods. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend you do. I’m sure you’ll love it!
I’m certain that I’m not the only one who has memories of family dinners revolving around Khoreshe Gheymeh. Usually we would all storm the kitchen as soon as the enticing smell of homemade fries hitting the hot oil would reach our bedrooms. Needless to say, few of the fries lasted until it was time to serve. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Khoresh-e Goje Sabz (Aloocheh) – Persian Green Plum and Herb Stew
Khoresh-e Goje Sabz is a flavourful lamb and herb stew with mouthwatering Persian green plums. As you may know, us Iranians love all things sour and so one thing many of us are obsessed with are Goje Sabz, Persian green plums. These are plums that are harvested unripe and therefore they are wonderfully crunchy and sour. In the stew they become soft but they give it a refreshing sour taste. You can find them in Middle Eastern and Turkish grocery stores and they are in season now.
Khoresh-e Bamieh – Persian Lamb and Okra Stew
Khoresh-e Bamieh is a tasty lamb and okra stew from southern Iran. If you’re familiar with Persian food, you know, that we love a hint of sourness in our stews. In this dish the sourness comes from tamarind paste. This is an ingredient, that is used quite a lot in southern Iran.