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Modern Persian Food

Modern Persian Food

March 10, 2021 · 1 Comment

Episode 23: Norooz Part 2, Persian New Year Haft-Seen and Food

Episodes 1-100· Uncategorized

In Episode #23, co-hosts Bita and Beata continue exploring Norooz (the Persian New Year) including what traditionally goes on the symbolic Haft-Seen table setting, and foods that are served traditionally as well as modern-day.

Haft-Seen translation – ‘haft’ means 7 in Farsi, ‘seen’ stands for the letter that represents words that start with the ‘s’ sound

Items traditionally on the ‘haft-seen’ table that start with the ‘s’ sound and what they might symbolize or represent – choose 7 from the list

  • Seeb – Farsi for apple – for beauty and health
  • Sonbol – Farsi for Hyacinth flowers for beauty 
  • Seer – garlic – for health
  • Serkeh – vinegar for aging and patience
  • Senjed – dried wild olives – for love
  • Samanou – what sprout pudding – for patience, power, and bravery 
  • Sabzeh – green grass (grown from lentils, bung beans, or wheat) – for growth and newness
  • Sekeh – coins – for wealth and prosperity

Other items often on the New Year spread along with their meanings

  • Goldfish – for movement and life
  • Decorated eggs – for fertility
  • Mirror – for reflection, light, and wisdom
  • Candles – for enlightenment
  • Rose water or orange blossom water – for fragrance and sweetness
  • Shirini – sweets, pastries and cookies – for a sweet life!

What is the meaning behind Persian New Year?

  • Renewal, cleansing, growth, healthy, spreading love, hope
  • Family – paying respects to older family and friends

Rituals

  • Aid Deedanee – translation:  younger generations visit older relatives
  • Aidee – farsi for gifts;  traditionally cash (crisp, clean, new bills) for new year
  • 13 days of eating and celebrating

Traditional Foods

  • Herb Rice with Fish | Sabzi Polo Mahi
  • Koo koo sabzi | Persian Herb Frittata
  • Ash Reshteh | Persian Herb Bean and Noodle Soup

Beata and Bita close out this episode with encouragement to try setting a Haft-Seen table this year, and inspiration to prepare a couple of the traditional foods served for Norooz.

Ask the Beats!

Question from survey results: How to order Persian food from a restaurant?

  • Order a variety of kebabs
  • Try the doogh drink
  • Order a variety of the Persian appetizers
  • Try Persian tea and desserts

Resource links and recipes from this episode:

Ash Reshteh:

  • Bita’s recipe for: Ash Reshteh | Persian Noodle Soup
  • Beata’s recipe (short cut version): Ash Reshteh | Persian Noodle Soup – BeatsEats
  • Beata’s recipe (long version): Asheh Reshteh – Persian Noodle Soup – Original Recipe Post

Koo Koo Sabzi:

  • Bita’s recipe for: Koo Koo Sabzi | Quiche Muffins
  • Beata’s recipe for: Persian Frittata Koo Koo Sabzi – BeatsEats

Herb Rice and/or Fish

Bita’s recipe for Easy Marinated Salmon 

Decorated Eggs:

  • Bita’s instructions for How to Make Marbelized Swirly Colored Eggs

Bita’s recipe for Easy Marinated Salmon 

Haftseen for Norooz

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Don’t miss out!

Previous Post: « Episode 22: Norooz part 1: Prelude to Persian New Year and Charshambeh Souri
Next Post: Episode 24: Norooz Part 3: Persian New Year Sizdah Bedar »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Episode 43: Sofreh says:
    July 28, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    […] Place setting or table cloth for a regular meal or a special occasion meal – can be as simple as a table cloth spread for kids to sit and eat around, or as ornate as those set for weddings (refer to episode #20 Sofreh Aghd) or the Persian new year (refer to episode #23, part 2 Sofreh Haft-seen) […]

    Reply

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