IRANIAN FOODS

When you go to a restaurant or an Iranian family,

you can see many varieties of traditional dishes as well as modern ones on their tables.

Many kinds of foods which made of grains, vegetables, nuts and meat.In the menu you can see:

• Chelow Kebab: It is the most famous and delicious cuisine in Iran.
  It is made of rice(Chelow) and grind meat, lamb or beef (Kabab).
• Kabab has different kind with different taste. Like: Barg, Koobideh, Soltani, Chenjeh.

The other major food in Iran is "Pollo" or "Pollow"

which has different taste and made of different nuts and vegetables for example:

• Albalu Pollow: rice with black cherry and chickenand additional nuts which depend on your taste
• Loobia Pollow: rice with meat and beans( kidney beans or wax beans).
• Sabzi Pollow: rice with meat usually fish and especial vegetables (leek, tarragon, sweet basil and dill).

And many different other kinds which you can see them in the restaurants.

if you see them in the menu and want to know about the recipes

please ask the waiter or waitress without any hesitation.

Next dish is "Khorosht" or stew which is served with rice or "Berenj".

it also has different kinds like:

• Khorosht-e Ghorme Sabzi: cooked vegetables with chopped meat, kidney beans and additional spices like turmeric, pepper and salt.
• Khorosht-e Gheimeh: split pea ,meat ,potatoes and spices like turmeric, pepper and salt and ketchup and a little lemon.
• Khorosht-e Bademjan: fried eggplants, meat, tomato and spices like salt, pepper, turmeric and ketchup.

The other one is "Kookoo" and "Kotlet"

• Kookoo: is a mixture of some vegetables like parsleys and leek and any one that you like and chopped onion with an egg which are fried in oil.
• Kotlet: is a mixture of grind meat with an egg and chopped onions and spices which like kookoo it is shaped whatever you like usually oval-shaped.

Remember that the oil used to fry Kotlet and Kookoo is not very much.

Iran has also different kinds of salads and non-alcoholic drinks such as:
potato salad, Shirazi salad (mixture of cucumbers, tomatoes and onions with virulence ,salt and pepper),

Fasl salad or vegetable salad.

Iran has an special drink called "Doogh".

Doogh is a carbonated yoghurt drink and most of the time it has acerb taste.

Iran has many kinds of bread (that called Nan) but four of them are very famous:

• Nan-e Barbari: thick and oval-shape bread
• Nan-e Sangak: triangle-shape bread
• Nan-e lavash: thin, crispy and round or oval-shape bread.
• Nan-e taftun: thin, but thicker than lavash.

"Aash" and "Abgusht" or "Dizi" are other foods.

• Aash: is mixture of grains, meat and some vegetables like: Aash-e reshte, Aash-e doogh…
• Abgusht or Dizi: is a kind of Aash but it has lamp in it with potato and pea and some times beans and tomato sauce.

Nowrouz: The Iranian New Year

Nourouz or the Spring Equinox is not the mythology or superstitious practices that the wayward have tried to turn it into. It might have been punctually observed in Iran and definitely Persianized ever since Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and borrowed this and other traditions from the astronomically advanced Mesopotamians, but there is no denying of the fact that it is as old as creation itself. You can discover the truth if you delve deeply into the Holy Qur'an, where God speaks of the yearly revival of nature as a sign to humanity of the eventual rising of the dead on the Day of Resurrection. The sayings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) and the infallible Imams of his Household help unravel the mysteries of the Spring Equinox.

Apart from certain ahadith that refer to the resting of Prophet Noah's ('a) Ark on Mount Joudi after the great flood and the parting of the sea-waters for Prophet Moses ('a) on the Spring Equinox there is a narration that says it will be the Spring Equinox when the Savior of mankind, Imam Mahdi (as) will reappear to rid the earth of all vestiges of vices and oppression and to fill it with the global government of peace and justice.

So the Day of Nourouz, on which fasting has also been recommended, is a day to strengthen spiritual values, a day of self and social reform, a day to stand firm against the pressures of the unjust and oppressive powers, and a day to renew allegiance to the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (as).

In addition to the Iranians, with whom Nourouz is a national symbol, the day is reverently observed by Afghans, Central Asians, Turks, people of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as people in parts of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. In several Arab lands of West Asia and North Africa, the Spring Equinox is celebrated as Eid al-Umm (Mother Nature's Day).

The Japanese also celebrate the spring festival in March and until the 18th century the Russian calendar used to start on March 24. In view of these facts, the Spring Equinox has been declared as a UN holiday.

Iranians prepare for Nourouz well in advance and start with a thorough cleaning of their houses since a famous hadith from the Prophet says:

Cleanliness is part of faith.

The spring is also a pleasant occasion to celebrate after the cold and dreary days of winter. Upon the arrival of spring one of the common traditions in Iran is cleaning the houses thoroughly and washing carpets and draperies and brushing furniture, In all towns and cities, cleanliness is well observed even on streets and public sites. In some localities, people by dividing works among themselves prepare for the New Year. The old and young, men and women work in a general voluntary mobilization for cleaning the locality and the place of work.

As people clean their clothes and homes they make their chests the refuge of affection and sincerity. Thus, wishing well for everybody and showing fraternal feelings is a special feature of Nourouz.

Every year on the threshold of the New Year, public efforts to look into the needs of the poor and helping them are seen all over Iran. Every one vies to help the deprived sections and extend financial aid to them in order to gladden their hearts and provide a pleasant atmosphere. Actually on the last days of the year, people with the cooperation of the government engage in public mobilization of charity work for sharing happiness with the have-nots.

Another common tradition in Nowrouz at the moment the earth completes its revolution around the sun, is the Haftseen tablecloth that is spread and adorned with fruits, dry nuts, cookies, flowers, and of course, a copy of the Holy Qur'an. In addition, seven items that begin with the letter Seen or S of Persian like Seer (garlic), Senjed (kind of a plant), Serkeh (vinegar), Seeb (apple), Somaq (sumac), Sabzeh (grass), and Samanou (a typical Iranian sweet prepared from wheat pods) are spread on the Haftseen.

Nourouz and the beginning of Spring is among the right occasions to put into practice one of the major recommendations of Islam that is renewal of friendship and strengthening of affection. Thus at the turn of the New Year, greetings are exchanged and affection replaces strained ties. Usually youngsters visit the elders with visits to one's parents a top priority. Gifts are also exchanged. People also visit hospitals to sympathize with patients and share with them the freshness of spring. Hospitals and rehabilitation centers witness the most beautiful scenes of sincerity and affection during these days.

Most Iranians take the opportunity of Nourouz holidays to visit other cities and towns or plan trips abroad for change of atmosphere, Historical sites and places with good climate are the favourite spots. The 13th of Farvardin is usually spent outdoors to provide a fitting end to the spring holidays, before start of school and return to normal working life.

Iran Cultural , Natural and Historical Attractions

Due to its historical background and sustainable social and cultural evolution, has a lot of diverse worth seeing sites that satisfy tourists with different tastes. Every tourist, whatever his/her incentive, may find many spectacular places depending on his taste. It should not be forgotten that the best way for the recognition of every country

is direct contact with its people.

Iranians are famous for their hospitality, compassion, and generosity. It is easily possible to visit Iranians' homes, being slightly acquainted with them and become familiar with their life style, attitudes, livelihood, and many of their characteristics.
Historical monuments, which belong to different periods of human settlement in the plateau of Iran, along with diverse natural, coastal, mountainous, and nomadic landscapes, make a coordinated and attractive combination for every tourist.
The ancient Iranian culture, which is reflected in historical and architectural heritage, has brought about many sites worth seeing. The culture of today's Iran is a perfect aggregate of near and far past of this territory and everybody can satisfy intellectual and aesthetic needs according to his/her taste through visiting this wide and rich country. The existing historical monuments in Persepolis, Passargadae, Susa (Shoosh), Hamadan, Kermanshah, Firooz Abad, Syraf and many other ancient centers of Iranian civilization are incentives enough for visiting this country.

The natural environment of Iran, with more than 2,800 kilometers of coastline and water borders as well as the high mountains of Alborz and Zagross, supplies high recreational and tourism potentials. The shores of the Caspian Sea in the north and the coasts of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman in the south are suitable places as recreational resort in summer and winter. The islands of the Persian Gulf, Kish, Qeshm, and Hormoz with suitable shores and beaches as well as pleasant sunshine may be used for vacations even in winters. There are daily and regular flights to this region from several parts of the country as well as suitable accommodation facilities. Moreover, these islands are easily accessible through waterways by different types of ships and boats as well as by airplane.
The mountains and mountain slopes in Iran, along with economic value for nomads for grazing of their sheep, serves as summer residence of urban dwellers as well as suitable places for winter and mountain sports.