Episode 59: Persian Thanksgiving

In Episode #59, co-hosts Beata and Bita share ideas and inspiration to bring Persian flavors to the Thanksgiving table. The duo covers some of their favorite side dishes and desserts to enjoy along with the traditional Thanksgiving day turkey, gravy and stuffing.

Rice

Plain rice as a gluten-free and vegan side dish offering
Lubia Polo | Persian green beans and rice as a way to incorporate and blend Persian culture with an American cultural tradition (having green beans as a side dish on Thanksgiving)
Zereshk Polo | Barberry Rice
Modern cranberry zereshk polo

Side dishes

Pomegranate apple salad
Root vegetables seasoned with sumac
Lentil butternut squash soup
Roasted brussel sprouts or roasted butternut squash garnished with pomegranate seeds/arils
Loobia polo as a “khorak” – just the seasoned and saucy green beans of loobia polo served separately from the rice and meat as a side dish

Table decor

Bringing the beauty of nature and the outdoors in and onto the table
Seasonal whole and fresh fruits such as pomegranate, persimmons, and pumpkins
Succulent pumpkins as a centerpiece
Fall leaves and branches

Note: Refer back to episode 7: Fall Flavors for more great content and ideas around celebrating a Persian American Thanksgiving

Desserts

Pie – experiment with using quince and/or quince jam in a pie, perhaps mixed with apples
Cheesecake drizzled with a delicious Persian fruit jam
Sholeh zard – saffron rice pudding

Ask the Beats

Reza from Tehran wants to know, “how do you keep happy?”

Keeping a gratitude journal and a list of 3 Good Things that happened that day; finding balance in order to take care of self and others; celebrating the little things; looking for the positives

Resources and recipes from this episode:

Episode 7: Fall Flavors

Episode 58: Lubia Polo | Green Bean Rice

Episode 57: Zereshk Polo | Barberry Rice

Beata’s recipe links:

Lubia Polo Recipe

Bita’s recipe links:

Loobia Polo | Green Bean Rice

Pomegranate Kale Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing

Lentil Butternut Squash Soup

All Modern Persian Food episodes can be found at: Episodes

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