The Persian New Year is called Norooz, it marks the first day of spring.

I am born in Canada, but my parents come from Iran. We usually celebrate Iranian new year at home, especially that my grandma’s birthday is on March 21st. This year Norooz fell on the evening of March 20th and we went to an Iranian restaurant. I had family from Toronto and Calgary who flew out to visit. I had not seen my family from Calgary in a very long time and it was great being together again. We had a lot of talks and laughs. Everyone ordered their meal, I had chicken kabob. For dessert we ordered a plate full of Iranian cookies to share and Iranian ice cream. Of course, I tried to grab all the cookies 😉

There were other Iranians at the restaurant who brought their laptops to count down to Norooz and once the time hit, they all screamed, hugged and wished each other happy new year. There were Canadians and other nationalities who had come to celebrate Norooz with their friends.

There was even a belly dancer dancing with Arabic music while everyone was eating and enjoying their time. She came around our table and tried to get the men and women to get up and dance with her. One of my cousins and her father got up and started dancing. I would have done it, but my ankle is still hurting. It looked really fun and enjoyable.

These are some of the Iranian dishes I have tried: Chicken Kabob (chicken with rice, salad and tomato), Kabab Koobideh (is a Persian minced meat kabab which is made from ground lamb, beef or chicken, often mixed with chopped onions), Zereshk Polo (barberry rice with chicken), Baghali Polo (rice with broad beans and lambshank), Khoresh Fesenjan (Persian pomegranate stew with chicken and walnuts), etc.

I love love love the Iranian sweets: Shirini Keshmeshi (raisin cookies), Naan Berenji (rice cookies), Faloodeh (is an Iranian cold dessert consisting of thin vermicelli noodles made from corn starch mixed in a semi-frozen syrup made from sugar and rose water), Gaz (is a Persian nougat a traditional candy), Baklava (is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped pistachios and sweetened and held together with syrup or honey), Zoolbia Bamieh (Persian doughnuts with floral flavors of rose water and saffron), Shirini e Zaban (puff pastry), Bastani (ice cream with saffron and pistachios), and my favourite sweet is Shirini e Nokhodchi (chickpea cookies).

Also, my favourite Iranian bread is Barbari.

Shirini e Nokhodchi

Chicken Kabob

Iranian Sweets