How to Stock a Persian Pantry

Serious Eats

The history of Persian cuisine is more than 2,500 years old: The culinary practices are deeply rooted in the culture associated with not just modern day Iran but also the Persian empire from which it evolved. In 550 BCE, the borders of the Persian empire expanded when Cyrus the Great triumphed over the Greeks and Egyptians, and Persian food culture was carried into conquered lands. Centuries later, the Persians were defeated by Alexander the Great, the Mongols, and the Arabs. These conquerors, in turn, carried Persian culinary practices to other lands, including the rest of the Middle East, the Arab world, and India. Despite Persian cuisine’s impact on the cultures of these lands, this ancient cooking culture is still not well known to many in the West.

Persian cuisine offers a delicate balance of contrasting flavors that have evolved over centuries, and is seasonally focused, nutritionally balanced, and remarkably varied. To build these flavors, Persian home cooks use techniques such as blending nuts and fruit into meat braises and rice dishes. They also utilize a unique cooking method where rice is parboiled, drained, and then steamed, incorporating a wide array of fresh and dried herbs as well as the use of delicate souring agents and unripe fruit.

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