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Best Persian Appetizers
Iranian appetizers, including Shirazi Salad, Dolmeh, and Kuku Sabzi, provide a diverse and flavorful culinary experience, complemented by traditional breads like Barbari bread and Sangak bread. Persian starters often feature Iranian finger foods like roasted nuts, olives, and stuffed grape leaves, perfect for sharing and enjoyed as a prelude to the main meal. These dishes are often served on a Persian platter alongside Persian side dishes that enhance the overall dining experience.
Shirazi Salad
Salad Shirazi is one of the most popular appetizers in the Iranian cuisine. Shirazi Salad's ingredients include contains cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, chopped onions, and flavored with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Dolmeh
Dolmeh, otherwise known as the Persian stuffed grape leaves, is prepared by stuffing vegetables with meat, rice, peas, and spices. The full name of the dish is "dolmeh barg mo", which is directly translated to stuffed grape leaves.
Kuku Sabzi
Often served with bread, Kookoo Sabzi is a Persian frittata-style eggs with Tumeric, fresh herbs, eggplants, walnuts, and barberries. The dish is commonly found during Nowruz(Persian New Year), as the herbs symbolize rebirth and the eggs symbolize fertility.
Sangak Bread and Barbari Bread
In Farsi, "sangak" means little stone. Noon Sangak is a traditional Iranian flatbread, baked on small stones in an oven, and is usually topped with poppy and sesame seeds. Another bread that is a staple of Persian cuisine is Barbari bread, which pairs its crispy exterior with its chewy interior. Sangak and Barbari bread are two of the most commonly eaten breads in Iran, often being served during breakfast with cheese. (Noon-o- Paneer)
Mast-o-Khiar
One of the most famous Persian yogurts, Mast-o-Khiar, is a popular Iranian side dish, that combines yogurt with grated cucumber, salt, and aromatic herbs, creating a refreshing and flavorful accompaniment to various dishes. This side dish is a staple in Persian cuisine, acting as a perfect Iranian dip to most meals.
Torshi
Persian Torshi is a pickled vegetable side dish, coming from the Persian word "torsh", which translates to sour. Torshi involves pickling a mix of carrots, cabbages, cucumbers, and herbs in salt, pepper, and vinegar, allowing the flavors to develop over a few weeks.
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