Episode 72: Tahdig Art with Varta

Do you like carbs?  How about Fried carbs?? Today’s guest on the podcast, Varta Ariaban, describes tahdig as the ultimate fried carb. Varta is a talented food artist specializing in both sweet and savory. On the sweet side she makes beautiful bite-sized modern persian treats. On the savory side Varta loves preparing tahdig with fun designs.

Tahdig tips

• It’s all in trial and error, learning and knowing your cookware and your stove/burner. 
• Go low and slow
• Use a small, sauce pan pot
• Dark, non-stick pots give good results
• Find a perfect size platter, plate or cake stand for the flipping out of the crispy rice tahdig – Varta likes using a cake stand from Crate and Barrel that fits perfectly over her sauce pan/pot
• Tortilla tahdig is fool-proof, easy method
• Use enough oil – about a quarter of an inch
• Press the rice in tightly for the tahdig part
• Making a version with the yogurt mixture can be easier than going for some of the more complex, easier to burn versions, but may not be as crunchy
• For tahdig art use a kitchen designated Exacto knife and a pattern (cut out shapes and patterns from parchment paper); for side tahdig butter the sides

Type of tortilla for “bread” tahdig art

• White, flour tortilla, most basic and inexpensive – Varta likes the white Aldi brand

Varta’s shop: Vartamelon.com 

• Varta’s why – got tired of picking up same old fruit tart/fruit cake and same old Persian cookies for her parents parties over the years and was inspired to make something different, fun and modern
• Modern, Americanized, more relatable desserts like baklava poptarts, saffron rice krispies, yazdi cake pops and fun thematic candies like the golden fish “nabat” for Norooz, Persian New Year

Do you have a question for our Ask the Beats segment?

Contact us at hello@modernpersianfood.com or Instagram

Resources and recipes from this podcast episode:

Varta’s IG handle is @vartamelon

Vartamelon.com

Tahdig Art template can be found at: https://modernpersianfood.com/episode-72-Tahdig-Art-with-Varta/

All Modern Persian Food podcast 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

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio