All posts tagged: Main Dish

Piyaz – Giant White Bean Salad | سالاد لوبیا سفید

If you’re looking for a fresh, healthy, and protein-packed salad, you have to try Piyaz. This traditional Turkish white bean salad is also a beloved dish in many Persian homes, where it’s known as Salad-e Loobia Sefid (سالاد لوبیا سفید). Although many people associate Piyaz with Turkey, this simple yet flavorful bean salad has been enjoyed across the region for generations. One of the most famous versions is Antalya Usulü Piyaz, a specialty from the Turkish city of Antalya. What makes it so special is its rich, tangy dressing that coats every single bean with incredible flavor. Traditionally, the beans are almost completely covered in the dressing. In my version, I use a little less dressing to let the fresh vegetables and creamy white beans shine while still keeping the authentic taste. Piyaz is everything you want in a salad—fresh, satisfying, nutritious, and incredibly easy to make. It works perfectly as a mezze, a side dish for köfte, grilled meats, or kebabs, or as a light vegetarian lunch or dinner. Thanks to the white beans, …

Cake Morgh – Sandwich Cake with Chicken Spread for Your World Cup Party

Looking for a unique and delicious recipe for your World Cup party, game day gathering, birthday celebration, or summer picnic? This Persian Chicken Sandwich Cake, known as Cake Morgh, is a beautiful make-ahead party dish that is guaranteed to impress your guests. Popular throughout Iran, Cake Morgh is a savory sandwich cake made with layers of soft bread, creamy chicken filling, fresh vegetables, and a decorative topping. It is traditionally served at family celebrations, birthdays, garden parties, and special occasions, where it often becomes the centerpiece of the table.

Easy Falafel Wrap with Creamy Homemade Tahini Sauce

Imagine biting into a warm, freshly toasted flatbread. Inside, golden falafel—crispy on the outside, tender and fragrant on the inside—meets a rich, creamy homemade tahini sauce. Add a refreshing tomato-cucumber salad, a bright pop of red sumac, and aromatic Middle Eastern spices. This isn’t just a quick lunch or dinner. It is a journey for your senses, bringing the vibrant flavors of street food markets straight to your kitchen. Best of all? This healthy falafel wrap recipe is 100% vegan, naturally dairy-free, and easily gluten-free. It is budget-friendly, incredibly simple to make, and tastes a million times better than anything store-bought because you control exactly what goes into it.

Meygoo Polo Bandari – Shrimp Rice with Fresh Herbs میگو پلو

Meygoo Polo Bandari – Shrimp Rice with Fresh Herbs میگو پلو brings together all the flavors of Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Khuzestan in the south of Persia. In Farsi, Meygoo means shrimp and Polo means rice – so quite simply, it’s shrimp with rice. The cuisine of southern Iran, along the Persian Gulf, is colorful, diverse, and influenced by many cultures. Traders and travelers from India, Africa, and Arabia all came to this region and left their unique cultural footprints behind. Meygoo Polo, also known as Havari Polo, is a true classic of southern Persian cooking and, for me, one of the most delicious rice dishes in Iran. Firm, juicy shrimp, fresh herbs, and warm oriental spices are layered between fragrant basmati rice – creating a dish that is both comforting and full of exotic flavors.

Tender Persian Lamb Gigot – Easy Laura Ashley Slow Cooker Recipe

*In collaboration with MyVQ* Imagine waking up to a kitchen filled with the scent of an exotic bazaar. Warm cinnamon, earthy cumin, and the unmistakable aroma of Tender Persian Lamb Gigot – Easy Laura Ashley Slow Cooker Recipe. You didn’t spend all morning over a hot stove, instead, you prepared everything the night before in your Laura Ashley slow cooker*, and the magic happened while you slept. This isn’t your average Sunday roast. This is a Persian-style Lamb Gigot, slow-cooked for 12 hours until it is so tender it practically melts off the bone. It’s the perfect centerpiece for Easter or any special family gathering where you want maximum flavor with minimum effort. Watch my preparation video on Instagram

Tahchin-e Morgh – Persian Saffron Rice Cake with a Golden Tahdig Crust

Imagine cutting into a golden, crispy rice cake and discovering layers of tender, saffron-marinated chicken hidden inside. That’s Tahchin-e Morgh – Persian Saffron Rice Cake with a Golden Tahdig Crust, one of the most iconic dishes of Persian cuisine. It is more than just a meal, it’s a showstopper. This aromatic Persian saffron rice cake is famous for its beautiful golden look and hidden layers of tender, marinated chicken. The name itself tells a story: “Tah” means bottom, and “Chin” means to arrange. Together, Tahchin describes how the ingredients are carefully layered or “arranged on the bottom” of the pot to create a masterpiece. When flipped onto a plate, the rice cake reveals its crispy, golden exterior and soft, aromatic interior. It’s sliced like a cake, and every guest gets a piece of that irresistible crust. No wonder Tahchin-e Morgh is often served at weddings, celebrations, and festive gatherings. Watch my preparation video on Instagram

15 popular Norooz recipes

Norooz, the Persian New Year, marks the Spring Equinox and feels like a deep, collective exhale for the soul. It is a season of shedding the old and welcoming the new with open hearts. A sentiment that resonates more deeply than ever for Iranians this year. Even when the world feels heavy, we hold onto our traditions. They are our anchor. Through my 15 favorite Norooz recipes, I’m inviting you into our home to experience the flavors and hope of the Persian New Year.

The Viral Turkish Pasta Recipe aka Yalancı Mantı

What if you could enjoy all the flavors of The Viral Turkish Pasta Recipe aka Yalancı Mantı, without spending hours folding tiny dumplings? This viral Turkish pasta with ground beef, garlic yogurt, and paprika butter delivers exactly that. It’s rich, creamy, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make. No complicated techniques. No special skills. Just bold, authentic flavor in under 30 minutes. It’s easy to see why Lazy Manti (Yalancı Mantı), also known as Turkish pasta with yogurt and paprika butter, has taken social media by storm. This shortcut version keeps everything we love about classic manti — the savory meat, the creamy yogurt, and the aromatic butter — but swaps handmade dumplings for pasta. The result? Pure comfort food made for real life. Watch my prep video on Instagram

Khoresht-e Gheymeh – Persian Lamb Stew with Dried Limes and Split Peas

There are dishes that simply feed you, and then there are dishes that tell a story. Khoresht-e Gheymeh – Persian Lamb Stew with Dried Limes and Split Peas is one of those stories. This deeply aromatic Persian stew is made with tender lamb (or beef/veal), yellow split peas (called lapeh), tangy dried Persian limes (limoo amani), tomatoes, and warm spices in a silky sauce. And in Iran, there’s one non-negotiable rule: it must be topped with crispy French fries. Khoresht-e Gheymeh is more than a Persian lamb stew. It’s comfort food with history and hospitality served on a platter. If you’ve never cooked Persian food before, this is a beautiful place to begin. Slow down. Let it simmer. And when you take that first bite, you’ll understand why this stew has been cherished for generations. A Dish that warms the soul.

Easy Kuymak Recipe – Turkish Cheese Fondue for Breakfast

There are mornings when I deeply miss sitting somewhere along the Black Sea coast of Türkiye, watching the waves, breathing in the salty air, and enjoying a warm, comforting breakfast. When traveling isn’t possible, food becomes my way back. And Kuymak, also known as Mıhlama or Muhlama, brings that feeling straight into my kitchen. This traditional Easy Kuymak Recipe – Turkish Cheese Fondue for Breakfast is rich, simple, and deeply comforting. Melted butter, cornmeal, water, and stretchy Turkish cheese come together to create something that feels like a warm hug on a plate. So put the kettle on, slice some good bread, and let’s get started.

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