20 Persian Foods To Blow Your Taste Buds Away

For those who haven't experienced the amazing flavors of Iran, you've been missing out. And no, hummus is not Persian food.

1. Doogh

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Ditch the water and start your meal off with a classic Iranian beverage. Mint, yogurt, and club soda all in one refreshing drink.

2. Ash Reshte

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You don't know soup 'til you've tried it Persian style. Fried onions, noodles, beans, and a milky topping of kashk.

3. Salad Olivieh

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Chicken, eggs, potatoes, and pickles mixed with mayo for a Persian version of potato salad.

4. Dolmeh

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Grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice for a sweet and savory appetizer.

5. Mast o Khiar

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Change out the spinach and artichoke dip for a Persian spinach and yogurt dip. Yogurt, cucumber, and spinach combined in the ultimate dip.

6. Kashke Bademjan

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At an Iranian meal, you don't look for the bread and butter. You look for the bread and eggplant. With fried onions, eggplant, and herbs, this creamy spread beats butter any day.

7. Tadig

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Rice fried to a golden perfection, this is often served not only as part of an entree, but as an appetizer itself.

8. Adas Polo

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No Persian meal is complete without rice, or "polo". Raisins, lentil, and rice, topped with tadig to add that extra crunch.

9. Chelo Kabab

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This is the most popular dish in every Persian restaurant. Beef kabob, roasted tomatoes, and rice — simple and delicious.

10. Zereshk Polo

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If you're a "dessert before dinner" kind of person, you'll love this dish. A sweet mix of rose water, barberries, and rice, with savory chicken to balance everything out.

11. Albaloo Polo

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Sweet not your thing? This dish packs a punch with its sour cherries, pistachios, and cherry juice-soaked rice.

12. Fesenjan

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This chicken stew has a unique flavor, with pomegranate syrup, chicken, and walnuts poured over and eaten with rice.

13. Ghormeh Sabzi

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The ultimate Persian comfort food. A beef stew with kidney beans, turmeric, a mix of herbs, and a serving of rice.

14. Kotlet

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Kotlet, cutlet — see what Iranians did there? This is basically an American beef cutlet with a Persian twist, adding potatoes and turmeric in the mix, and serving it in a lavosh bread sandwich with pickles and tomatoes.

15. Zoolbia and Bamieh

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The two most commonly paired and widely popular Persian desserts! Rosewater flavored, flour based, and deliciously sweet.

16. Nazook

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A flaky pastry with a sweet walnut and vanilla filling. Great for an afternoon treat.

17. Gaz

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A different kind of candy than lollipops, this chewy mixture of rose water, pistachios, and a special plant's sap is a candy traditionally served with tea.

18. Shole Zard

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Almonds, pistachios, saffron, rosewater, and cinnamon — not what you normally expect in rice pudding. But you can't have Persian rice pudding without a few extra ingredients!

19. Saffron Ice Cream

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Iranians give a whole new meaning to the term "ice cream sandwich". Taking saffron to a new level, this common dessert is a creamy, custard-based saffron ice cream. Served between thin wafers and sprinkled with pistachios, it's the perfect ice cream treat.

20. Chai

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No Persian meal is complete without Iran's golden tea and a few sugar cubes.