Modern Persian Food

Upgrade your party dip with creamy and nutritious Persian Borani (also spelled Boorani). It's a cooked vegetable and yogurt dish that can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or light meal. Beata and Bita share the most common versions of Borani, plus their go-to recipes so you can make some tonight!

This week's "Ask the Beats" covers favorite ingredients to cook with.

Episodes referenced:

Episode 5: Yogurt

Episode 4: Onions

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

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Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

It's almost fall and the Beats have apples top of mind! Bita & Beata explore the role of apples in Persian culture, some of the symbolic meanings behind the representation of apples in traditional sofrehs (table settings) and occasions, and of course how apples are used in Persian cuisine.

This week's "Ask the Beats" takes a peek into what Bita & Beata make for dinner that's not actually Persian!

Episodes referenced:

Episode 51: Mehregan

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Sign up for the email newsletter here!

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Special guest actor/comedian Payam Banifaz joins Beata and Bita on the podcast to talk about Persian food, favorite LA restaurants, and building community within the Iranian-American community. Payam confides he was a picky eater growing up, and shares the dish he dislikes the most!

Find Payam on Instagram at: Payam Banifaz (@pbani)

Restaurants Referenced:

Sadaf in Encino

Raffi's in Glendale

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Beata and Bita have fun talking about beets in this week's podcast episode. They uncover their favorite beet recipes, cooking techniques, and nostalgia with beet street food in Iran.

The "Ask the Beats" dives into the question: "When did you first start cooking Persian Food?"

Episodes referenced:

Episode 55: Persian Nuts

Episode 32: Maz Jobrani on Persian Food

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Bita and Beata celebrate the 100th episode of the Modern Persian Food podcast by sharing their top most memorable moments since first launching the show in 2020. The co-hosts give a sneak peek of a stellar guest line up, modern recipes to come, as well as offer new ways to listen and learn including YouTube and live broadcast shows for more listener engagement. Stay tuned for 100 more!

Episodes referenced:

Episode 71: Medicinal Properties of Persian Spices with Dr. Mahtab Jafari

Episode 66: Persian Food with Stand Up Dan

Episode 64: Aash Reshteh - Modern Persian Food

Episode 63: Yalda - Modern Persian Food

Episode 4: Onions - Modern Persian Food

Episode 1: What Is Persian Food?

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Bita and Beata get energized drinking and talking about coffee, coffee houses, and types of coffee in Persian culture and cuisine. Learn how to make strong Turkish coffee or easy stir in instant "nescafe" coffee and get your boost for the day! The duo reminisce about getting their "faal" read from coffee grounds and what their daily coffee rituals are.

The "Ask the Beats" is from Elika from Organizing with Elika asking about easy go-to Persian dinner recipes.

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Bita and Beata are chatting about suitcases full of soghati! Giving and receiving soghati souvenir gifts are part of Persian culture and often include golden saffron, savory nuts, delicate sweets, and other Persian specialties and extravagances! Hear about their stories growing up and what this cultural gift giving tradition looks like.

The "Ask the Beats" this week is about popular Persian dishes and was asked by Beata's daughter.

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Get ready to get hungry! Beata and Bita are covering what and how to order in a Persian restaurant. From delicious appetizers, savory kababs, and khoresh stews to mixed rice dishes and addictive desserts, the Beats help you navigate the extensive menu at your local Persian eatery.

This week's Ask the Beats is from a listener in Iran about trying new ingredients.

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Learn more in these podcasts episodes:

Episode 8: Persian Stews | Khoresh

Episode 36: Persian Drinks | Nooshidani

Episode 86: Persian Kababs

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

The Beats are breaking down a simple, classic Persian salad recipe, Salad Shirazi!

Bright, light, crispy, crunchy! The salad staples include tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions in a simple citrus dressing. Play with the ratios to suit your taste!

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Bita's recipe for Salad Shirazi | Persian Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Beata's recipe for Maast-o-Khiar with Shallot and Salad Shirazi

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend.

Oh anar, Persian for pomegranate, how we love you! A classic, iconic Persian fruit that is both beautiful and sensual, prevalent in dishes both sweet and savory. We hope you enjoy listening to the last of our summer Re-Beats series!

Original episode: Episode 53: Pomegranates | Anar

Additional episodes referenced:

Episode 16: Khoresh Fesenjoon | Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Stew

Episode 31: Cultural Spotlight: Caspian Sea Regional Foods with Special Guest The Caspian Chef

Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and tell a friend or write a review!

All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Recipes:

Walnut and Pomegranate Stew – Khoreshteh Fessenjoon

Pomegranate Glazed Chicken Wings

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio