Short answer
Persian food is the cooking of Iran, centered on long-grain rice, slow-simmered stews called khoresh, grilled kabobs and fresh herbs. Saffron, dried limes, pomegranate and dried fruit give it a balance of sweet, sour and savory.
Persian food is the traditional cooking of Iran, built around fluffy long-grain rice, slow-cooked herb and meat stews, grilled kabobs and fresh herbs. Saffron, dried limes, pomegranate and dried fruit give the dishes a balance of sweet, sour and savory, and the flavors are aromatic rather than hot.
What is Persian food?
Persian food is the cuisine of Iran and its neighbors that share the same culinary tradition, including parts of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Central Asia. It is also called Iranian cuisine, and its dishes have Persian names such as polo, khoresh and kabab.
The cuisine grew along old trade routes, so rice, herbs, nuts, dried fruit and spices from several regions meet in one pot. Cooks tend to build a meal around contrast: something rich next to something sour, something warm next to something fresh and herbal.
What are the main flavors in Persian cooking?
The main flavors in Persian cooking are saffron, turmeric, dried lime, sumac, pomegranate, mint and other fresh herbs, cinnamon and dried fruit. Sourness is as important as salt.
- Saffron: ground, bloomed in hot water and poured over rice for color and aroma.
- Dried limes (limoo amani): whole dried limes that give stews a tart, earthy note.
- Pomegranate: juice, paste or molasses for a deep sweet-sour taste.
- Sumac: a tart red powder sprinkled over kabobs and rice.
- Fresh and dried herbs: parsley, cilantro, dill, mint and fenugreek.
- Dried fruit and nuts: barberries, prunes, apricots, walnuts, pistachios and almonds.
What is the role of rice in Persian food?
Rice is the center of a Persian meal, and it is treated as a dish in its own right rather than a side. The standard method is to soak long-grain rice, parboil it, then steam it so every grain stays separate.
Plain steamed rice is called chelo. Rice cooked together with other ingredients is called polo, as in zereshk polo with barberries or sabzi polo with herbs. The golden crust at the bottom of the pot is tahdig, and many people fight over it. A separate guide on this site covers Persian rice in depth.
What are the most common Persian dishes?
The most common Persian dishes are chelo kabab, ghormeh sabzi, fesenjan, gheimeh, tahchin and ash reshteh. Each has a clear identity, so this table gives the quick version.
| Dish | What it is | Main flavors |
|---|---|---|
| Chelo kabab | Grilled kabob served over steamed rice | Saffron, sumac, grilled meat |
| Ghormeh sabzi | Herb and meat stew with kidney beans | Fenugreek, dried lime |
| Fesenjan | Chicken or meat stew in walnut and pomegranate sauce | Sweet, tart, nutty |
| Gheimeh | Split pea and meat stew with dried lime | Tomato, turmeric, lime |
| Tahchin | Baked saffron rice cake with yogurt and chicken | Saffron, yogurt, crisp crust |
| Ash reshteh | Thick noodle, bean and herb soup | Herbs, beans, tangy whey |
| Kuku sabzi | Baked herb frittata | Herbs, eggs, walnut, barberry |
What is a Persian stew?
A Persian stew, called khoresh, is a slow-simmered sauce of meat or poultry, vegetables or herbs and a souring ingredient, spooned over rice. It is cooked for hours until the flavors are rounded, and the oil rises to the top.
Most khoresh start with sauteed onion and turmeric, and add a main ingredient such as lamb, beef or chicken. Ghormeh sabzi uses a large amount of herbs. Fesenjan uses ground walnuts and pomegranate. Gheimeh uses yellow split peas. Eggplant, quince, rhubarb and okra also have their own khoresh.
What are Persian kabobs?
Persian kabobs are skewered, charcoal-grilled meats seasoned simply with salt, onion and sometimes saffron, served on a plate of rice with grilled tomato. The skewers are broader and flatter than most western kebabs.
The two best-known styles are koobideh, made from minced meat pressed onto a flat skewer, and joojeh, which is chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and saffron. Barg is thinly sliced fillet. The standard garnish is a grilled tomato, sumac and a pat of butter melted into the rice.
What do Persians eat besides rice and meat?
Persians also eat a wide range of herb platters, yogurt dishes, pickles, soups, egg dishes and flatbreads. These small plates give a meal its freshness.
- Sabzi khordan: a plate of fresh herbs, radishes and scallions eaten with bread and cheese.
- Mast-o-khiar: yogurt with cucumber, mint and sometimes raisins.
- Salad Shirazi: diced cucumber, tomato and onion with lime or lemon juice.
- Torshi: mixed vegetable pickles in vinegar.
- Kashk-e bademjan: fried eggplant with whey and caramelized onion.
- Flatbreads: lavash, sangak, barbari and taftoon, each with a different texture.
How is Persian food different from other Middle Eastern food?
Persian food differs from Arab, Turkish and Levantine cooking in its heavy use of herbs, saffron, sour fruit and rice cooked in the polo method. The meat is usually grilled plain or stewed slowly with fruit, not spiced with cumin and coriander in the Levantine style.
| Cuisine | Typical starch | Signature flavors | Well-known dishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persian | Steamed saffron rice | Saffron, dried lime, pomegranate | Chelo kabab, ghormeh sabzi |
| Turkish | Bread, bulgur, rice pilaf | Paprika, yogurt, mint | Adana kebab, lahmacun |
| Levantine | Pita, rice, bulgur | Cumin, sumac, tahini | Falafel, shawarma, kibbeh |
The regions overlap, since all three borrowed from each other over centuries, but a Persian plate is easy to recognize by its rice and its herbs.
How do you eat a Persian meal?
A Persian meal is served family style, with rice and the main dish on platters, and everyone helps themselves. Bread, herbs, cheese, yogurt and pickles sit in the middle of the table.
Rice goes on the plate first, then the stew or kabob is spooned or placed beside it. Many people mix a little butter and sumac into the rice. A glass of strong black tea ends the meal, often with a sugar cube or a sweet such as sohan or baklava.
What does the Oskoo market guide say about Persian food?
Oskoo Persian & Mediterranean Market in Bellevue is a grocery store, not a restaurant, so this guide does not describe ready dishes there. The Atly listing describes it as selling Persian, Turkish and Mediterranean foods, including fresh bread, pastries and spices.
Yelp reviewers mention Persian groceries, cheeses, baklava and saffron pistachio ice cream. No product list or prices were found, so the guide cannot confirm what is on the shelf on a given day. Call (425) 746-3061 before a trip, and see the hours and location page and the FAQ. This guide is independent and takes no orders.
Common questions
Is Persian food spicy?
Usually not. Persian cooking is aromatic rather than hot, relying on saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, dried herbs and sour notes. Chili is rarely the main flavor, and hot sauce or pickles are added at the table if wanted.
What is the national dish of Iran?
There is no official one. Chelo kabab, rice with grilled kabob, is often named as the best known, while ghormeh sabzi and fesenjan are other frequent answers. Opinions differ by region and family.
Is Persian food the same as Arabic or Turkish food?
No. The three share ingredients such as lamb, yogurt and flatbread, but Persian cooking leans on saffron rice, herb stews and sour fruit, while Arab and Turkish kitchens have their own signature dishes and spice mixes.
What is a typical Persian meal?
A typical meal has a rice dish, one stew or kabob, a plate of fresh herbs, radishes and feta-style cheese with flatbread, plus yogurt or salad. Tea usually follows, often with sweets or dried fruit.
What do Persians eat for breakfast?
A common breakfast is flatbread with white cheese, fresh herbs, walnuts, butter and jam, served with sweet black tea. Eggs, halim and sheep-head soup are also traditional in some homes.
Looking for the basics? Oskoo Persian & Mediterranean Market address and opening hours are on the home page.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Oskoo Persian & Mediterranean Market itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.