Episode 52: The Sours in Persian Cuisine

In Episode #52, co-hosts Beata and Bita explore the sour and acidic elements that elevate and balance Persian dishes.

List of sour and/or acidic ingredients in Persian cuisine include:

• Dried lime (in Farsi, Limoo Omani)
• Citrus 
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Oranges
  • Plums
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Vinegar
• Ghoreh

Dried limes, Limoo Omani in Farsi

• Small, wrinkly, brown, hard, sometimes referred to as black limes
• Soaked and simmered directly into stews, then broken up when soft – can be either removed or consumed according to preference
• Also available in dried, ground form

Dishes the Beats prepare with lemon or lime juice

• Salad shirazi
• Loobia polo
• Fish and kababs

Dishes the Beats prepare with vinegar

• Garnish on top of aash
• With vegetables or on salad
• Dolmeh

Dishes the Beats prepare with ghoreh (tart, unripe grapes)

• Khoresh bademjoon/bademjan – eggplant stew
• Dolmeh

Dishes the Beats prepare with onions

• Most Persian dishes!
• Raw onions in sabzi khordan and as an accoutrement to meals

Dishes the Beats prepare with yogurt (See also: Episode 5: Yogurt)

• Plain
• Mast o khiar
• Mast o musir

Dishes the Beats prepare with sour plums

• Some Persian regional stews
• Lavashak (see episode Episode 38: Lavashak)

Dishes the Beats prepare with Seville oranges

• Some regional Persian stews

Ask the Beats

This week’s question comes from Farhad of Seattle:

Beats, what is your go-to spice?

• Saffron
• Turmeric
• Salt
• Garlic powder/onion powder
• EBTB – Everything But the Bagel Seasoning mix

Contact us at hello@modernpersianfood.com or Instagram

Resources and recipes from this episode:

All Modern Persian Food episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug – Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Samin Nosrat, Salt Fat Acid Heat

Persian Vegetarian Eggplant Stew – Khoreshteh Bademjan 

Persian Salads: Maast-o-Khiar with Shallot and Salad Shirazi

Khoreshteh Karafs Celery and Herb Beef Stew

Lubia Polo for the Persian New Year Sezdeh be Dar Picnic

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio