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    Home » Persian Recipes

    10 Items You Need In Your Persian Pantry

    Published: Mar 7, 2020 · Modified: Aug 15, 2022 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    91 shares

    Everything you need for a well-stocked Persian pantry! Here are 10 essentials to have on hand to be prepared for all your Persian food cravings!

    Now that you’re interested in Persian recipes, there are a few ingredients that you’d better keep in your pantry so you can enjoy them any time. These items might not be used in every Persian recipe, but you can keep them for a long time without worrying that they might go bad. 

    The items you need in your Persian pantry are rosewater, saffron, rice, barberries, pomegranate molasses, walnuts, dried lime, tomato paste and dried herbs.

    Stock up your Persian pantry

    With these items in your pantry, you can make any Persian dish any time you want. 

    • Saffron

    The most important spice in Persian cuisine, saffron is the one spice you should always have on hand. One thing to know about saffron is that a little bit goes a long way, meaning that you only need a few saffron strands to make aromatic golden saffron rice. My favorite saffron to use is Mehr Saffron (affiliate) as the color and aroma is just perfect and the quality is outstanding.

    Saffron is an important item in Persian cooking.
    • Barberries

    Barberries are small fruits that might look like mini-raisins or dried cranberries at first glance, but have a unique "sour but not too sour" flavor profile. It's important to know that barberries also come with a lot of health benefits. While the best barberries are of course grown in Iran, if you're lucky you can even find them in farmers markets in some parts of the United States, including Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. They can also be purchased online or in ethnic stores. It's best to keep them refrigerated. 

    Barberries are used in many Iranian recipes. They also come with a lot of health benefits.
    • Dried herbs

    The most essential dried herbs to keep on hand for Persian cooking are dried mint, dried chives, dried parsley, and fenugreek. You're likely to find most of these in the spice section of your local supermarket. Iranians also use dried herb mix to make Ash (Persian style soup) or Ghormeh sabzi (Persian herb stew). You can find the herb mixes in ethnic stores or online. 

    • Tomato paste

    We use tomato paste in stews and soups to give a nice flavor and beautiful color to the dish. Because of its dense texture, tomato paste doesn’t make a dish too watery. It dissolves in the liquid and keeps the texture of the dish as it is. 

    • Rice

    Rice is the most important grain in Persian cuisine. While Iranian rice is very aromatic and delicious, it’s not easily accessible to everyone. Basmati rice is a great choice if you don’t have access to authentic Persian rice. I use basmati rice almost all the time.  

    Basmati rice works best in Persian recipes.
    • Turmeric

    Persian food is mild and aromatic. After saffron, turmeric is a common spice to use in Persian recipes. Not only does it give a lovely color to the food, it also makes it delicious and it comes with many healthy benefits. 

    • Pomegranate molasses

    Pomegranate molasses is thick and it’s used in many Persian recipes including the famous fesenjan. It has a sweet and sour flavor that goes well with any protein.

    • Dried lime

    Also known as Amani limes, these limes are completely dry and hard. You poke a few holes in them and then add them to the stew. They will soften and release their sour flavor to brighten up the dish. 

    Dried limes are essential for a Persian pantry.
    • Rosewater

    Known for its calming and floral aroma, rosewater has many uses in Iranian cuisine. You can use rosewater both in sweet and savory recipes to add more aroma to the dish. 

    • Walnuts

    Nuts are a big part of Persian cuisine and culture. We have walnuts in the morning alongside cheese and lavash bread or grind it and use it with pomegranate molasses to make fesenjan and other dishes. Walnuts are healthy and it's always good to have some of it in your pantry. 

    Having these ingredients at hand will make cooking Persian dishes easy. You can find these items in some supermarkets as well as Middle Eastern, Mediterranean or Persian ethnic stores. Many of these items are also available online, which makes life even easier! 

    With these ingredients you can make any Iranian recipe you like.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sheila

      April 29, 2022 at 9:42 pm

      How long does Pomegranate Molasses last?

      Thanks so much for your lovely recipes.. 😊

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        May 02, 2022 at 5:35 am

        You can keep pomegranate molasses in the fridge for up to 8 months 🙂

        Reply
    2. Suzanna

      April 28, 2022 at 10:55 am

      Hello! I love your website. I am trying to duplicate a salad dressing that I have at an Iranian restaurant. They say it has pomegranate molasses but I can't get the same flavor when I make it even though I am using the molasses. Any suggestions? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        July 29, 2022 at 1:14 pm

        Hi Suzanna, try making a dressing with pomegranate molasses, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. You'll most probably get what you're looking for 🙂

        Reply
    3. Katherine

      February 28, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Thanks for that. I have enjoyed making your recipes. What can I substitute for barberries?
      Regards,
      Katherine

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 15, 2022 at 12:37 am

        Hi Katherine, there really isn't a good substitute for barberries since they have their very own distinct flavor. However, if you're in a pinch, use chopped unsweetened dried cranberries.

        Reply
    4. Queenie Joseph

      January 25, 2022 at 8:16 am

      Very helpful, sme unknown to me!! Will have to see if available in the UK 🇬🇧

      Reply
      • linda tahmasebi

        April 28, 2022 at 10:56 am

        They are we buy them in Turkish shops

        Reply
    5. Reba N Williams

      September 15, 2020 at 3:26 am

      I had rice with dill and it had a crunchy bottom. Served with chicken in a rich tomato-based broth. What is it. How do I make it?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 15, 2022 at 12:47 am

        Check out my dill rice recipe and try it with either saffron chicken or chicken that's served with zereshk polo.

        Reply
    6. Nellie Tracy

      March 10, 2020 at 9:44 am

      Great cumulative list of some amazing ingredients! Love this!

      Reply
    7. Renee Goerger

      March 10, 2020 at 9:42 am

      This is a fabulous guide and very informative. I've always wanted to use rose water for cooking and/or baking and now I have a reason to buy some. Thanks.

      Reply

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