Persian Cuisines
If you have not experienced the amazing flavors of Persian food, you have been missing out a lot on Iran. As you go on a journey around Iran, make sure you complete your journey and Iranian experience by trying Persian food. Persian food is a “don’t miss” of your journey.
Iranians usually eat three main meals a day, including breakfast (Sobhaneh or Nashtayi), lunch (Naahaar) and dinner (Shaam). Make sure you try fresh Persian breakfast. A combination of feta cheese, butter, walnuts, and flat bread served with Persian tea (chai) is the most simplistic traditional Iranian breakfast. Wrap the cheese (Tabriz cheese is highly recommended) and your choice of fresh herb in a loaf of Iranian Sangak bread to wake your taste buds to a fresh bite. Tease your tongue buds with a sip of tea sweetened with sugar of hard candy.
White tea is not very popular in Iran but feel free to ask for some cream or milk when you order your tea at a coffee house or a restaurant. Iranians prefer to drink their hot black tea with sugar in their breakfast. There are many other delicious Persian breakfast consist of whipped heavy cream (Sarshir, often sweetened with honey (Asal), or a variety of fruit jams (Morabba).
If you like full and cooked breakfast, Omelettes (eggs cooked in tomato sauce) and fried eggs are common, and breakfast may be accompanied with fresh tomato slices and cucumber slices. Adasi (Lentil Dip), Halim and Kale Pacheh are considered as the most traditional of Iranian breakfast dishes. If you like to become very Iranian , try Kalepacheh too. It is the Iranian and watery version of Italy’s Capuzzelle. A potage of sheep's head (including brain, eyes and tongues) as well as hooves which is almost always served from three in the morning until sometime after dawn. It is not a meal that all restaurants serve. There are specialty restaurants (serving only Kalepacheh) are only open during those hours. Halim is also the Iranian and savory version of porridge. It is an oatmeal-like dish with shredded chicken, lamb or turkey served with cinnamon, sugar, and sesame seeds.
You will always have some sort of sides to your dish in Iran. It can range from pickles to salad. In Iran, people do not have yogurt as a snack. It is always served as a side to the main dish and is eaten while having the main food. There are variety of salads and yogurts. Yogurt with diced cucumber and shallot is the most common mixed yogurt served with food.
Rice is the staple food in Iran and is mainly served at lunch. For dinner you can have bread with your kebab or stew. Stew and Kebab over rice is by far the most popular dish.
After dinner, Chai (tea) is commonly accompanies fresh fruit for dessert, although more elaborate meals or special occasions will include pastries such as baklava or halva.