Persian food words and dishes

Food is the warmest doorway into Persian, because Iranian hospitality runs through the kitchen.

The word for food is ghaza غذا. Bread is nan نان, rice is berenj (and cooked rice is polo), and tea, the national drink, is chai چای.

Dishes worth knowing by name

Kabab کباب needs no introduction. Ghormeh sabzi قورمه سبزی is the beloved herb-and-bean stew, and fesenjan فسنجان is a rich walnut and pomegranate stew. Many Iranians consider ghormeh sabzi the national dish.

The famous crispy rice

Tahdig ته‌دیگ, literally "bottom of the pot," is the golden crust of rice prized at every table. Knowing the word, and fighting for a piece, instantly marks you as someone who gets Persian food.

At the table

Nooshe jan نوش جان is the Persian "enjoy your meal," said warmly to anyone eating. Doogh دوغ is the salty yogurt drink that often accompanies a meal.

A few dish names and nooshe jan will earn you real smiles, because in Iranian culture, food is care made visible.