PERSIA ON YOUR PLATE
Bring zest and vivacity to you culinary creations with our premium Persian delicacies
Once Upon a Field
Hi, I’m Parya Zaghand.
While I think of myself as an Aussie, I’m also proud as punch of my Iranian heritage. So much so, in 2013, I created a business built around the mouth-watering delicacies of Persia; bringing you flavours of the real Iran. I wanted to create a space at the table for the golden-petaled spice: Persian Saffron.
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Strengthen, support and share
Food is the pivot point of Persian culture; essential to everything we do, say or think. We keep stories alive to connect you to the cultural and culinary history of the cuisine and illustrate how these magnificent ingredients are used in different parts of Persia. From how cumin seeds are picked, and pomegranates are de-seeded to the Samovar-specific way of brewing Black Persian Tea. Then it’s your turn to weave these colours, flavours, crunch and munch into your food creations.
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In Persia, food is life
Food is the feather in the cap of Persian hospitality; sharing your bounty is an essential Iranian belief. During breakfast, we debate what’s for lunch, and at lunch, we make plans for dinner. Food in Iran is anything but ordinary; every ingredient combines to create something spectacular. Spicy, but never hot, fragrant, flavourful, complex and textural.
Read moreAmplify your culinary concept, garnish up a storm, add some intense colour, elevate your senses and experiment with our exotic ingredients. Enhance complexity and balance, and tell stories through your food creations. Whether you’re buying bulk, you’re a chef or a serious home cook – browse our Persian products to top up on your favourite staple or try something new.
Choose your flavour adventure
Our rainbow range of ingredients will colour your creations and make aromas and textures shine. Add dimension to your dishes by using saffron, barberries, rose products, dates or pistachios. Elevate your offerings and give your guests Persia on a plate with these extraordinary ingredients.
Nourish your body and soul with delicious dishes, a bounty of sides and a bowl of fresh fruits or nuts piled impossibly high like Persians do it. Rich in history, stories, contrasting landscapes and diverse climates, customs and culture, Persia is a melting pot of ingredients, flavours and cooking methods. Create a sweet Faloudeh (frozen noodles immersed in Rose Water syrup, topped with lime juice and sour cherry jam) or Tahchin(Saffron layered rice cake) from scratch, and invite your favourites to share a real Persian feast.
Method Take a few strands of saffron and add to a cup of gin. Use a classic gin like Plymouth or Beefeater. Let sit for about an hour or to taste. Since the strands will still be red, you could reuse in another batch. Strain and put in a bottle. Make a gin and tonic. […]
Ingredients ⅓ cup raw whole almonds 3 tbsp. melon seeds (from ½ cantaloupe) 3 tbsp. poppy seeds 2 tbsp. raw cashew halves 1½ tbsp. raw shelled pistachios 4 cups whole milk 1½ cups sugar 1 tsp. fennel seeds 10 black peppercorns 10 green cardamom pods 1 1″ stick cinnamon, broken into pieces few strands of […]
by Shadi at Unicorns in the Kitchen Learn how to bloom saffron once and forever. This technique is a no-fail and has been in Persian families for the longest time! There is so much you can do with bloomed saffron! This beautiful mystic spice is the star of many Persian dishes, and I’m going to […]
Ingredients 6 cups water, + extra for saffron 3-1/2 cups superfine sugar 2 cups lemon juice 2 quarts ice cubes 1 teaspoon saffron threads *8 oz. Vodka may be added to make this an alcoholic drink Method In small stock pot, bring the water to a full boil. Set aside. In a sauce pan, melt […]
Ingredients Persian Herb Omelette : 4 eggs¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped 1 bunch coriander, finely chopped 1 bunch dill, finely chopped ½ bunch English spinach leaves roughly chopped 1 teaspoon turmeric 1/3 cup dried barberry 2 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts 1 tablespoon oil (e.g. canola, grapeseed, soy) […]
Ingredients Greek or plain yogurt Saffron threads, crushed 1 garlic clove, minced 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves Method Preheat broiler. Combine 1 1/2 cups yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, a pinch of saffron, and garlic in a large bowl. Add chicken, tossing to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. […]
Ingredients 1 pinch of saffron 3 cups basmati rice 1 tsp salt Method In the morning of the day of making the rice, wash it GENTLY (it’s easily damaged) and soak it in heavily salted water for the entire day until evening. Note: after soaking, it’s even more fragile. Take a good pinch of Saffron. […]
Ingredients 1kg boneless skinless chicken thighs 1 teaspoon salt Black ground pepper to taste 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 small white onion, small diced 1 large green bell pepper, small diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups parboiled rice 1/2 cup white wine 3-1/2 cups chicken broth […]
Ingredients 1 cup whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads 4 whole large egg yolks 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/2 cup shelled pistachios Method Combine milk, cream, and saffron in a small saucepan. Bring to mixture just to a rolling boil. Remove from the heat […]
Ingredients 1 cup caster sugar pinch (generous) of saffron 1 tbsp lemon juice 3 pears (preferably beurre bosc), peeled, halved, cored 200 ml thickened cream 10 star anise 350 g milk chocolate, broken into small pieces 2 tbsp brandy icing sugar, to dust Pastry: 230 g plain flour 2 tbsp caster sugar 110 g unsalted […]
Ingredients 3 tsp rosewater pinch of saffron threads 125 g unsalted butter ¼ cup pouring cream 1 cup caster sugar 115 g liquid glucose 2 tbsp slivered almonds Chopped pistachios and dried barberries* to decorate Method For this recipe, you’ll need a sugar thermometer. Combine rosewater and saffron in a small bowl. Grease and line […]
Ingredients 70 g finely chopped walnuts 70 g finely chopped almonds ½ tsp ground cinnamon 80 g caster sugar 60 ml(¼ cup) water 1 pinch salt 3 tsp grated lemon rind 1 medium egg, separated 16 filo or warka pastry sheets (12 cm x 18 cm) 500 ml(2 cups) sunflower oil (approximately), for frying Icing: […]
Wherever you look, Persia is a mix of past, present and future. Experience the bustling bazaars and see the changing colours of the folded ochre mountains, the purple pop of saffron fields and minaret-silhouetted skylines. Everywhere you go, you’ll encounter warm, welcoming faces; feasting in a restaurant, walking the dynamic streets or admiring the ornate ceilings in a mosque. Smells of spices and baking bread lie thick in the air, while girls giggle, sing and weave. Iran is safe, friendly and warm; sharing tea in a Persian home is “Hospitality” defined. It’s an all-sensory experience set to a soundscape of awakening prayer calls, rattling teacups and bubbling water-pipes. Go where life is alive!
By Franz Scheurer The first time I went to Iran was to photograph the saffron and barberry harvests and I loved the place so much I went back… and I will be going back, again. Iran, portrayed as the baddie by western propaganda is nothing like it’s painted by malice and jealousy. What the west […]
By Jessica Stewart Persian Architecture Bursting with rich history, Iran’s architecture helps weave a tale of the country’s long, Persian culture. Decorative tile work and ingenious feats of engineering are hallmarks of Persian architecture throughout the centuries. And with twenty UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there is no shortage of monuments to visit. From elaborate mosques to […]
By Neil from Commisceo-Global First – How do we pronounce Ta’rof? Before getting into the cultural nitty gritty, lets first get the pronunciation right. If you’re British say “ta” (as in thanks) followed by “roff”. If you’re American, say “tar” as in the black gooey stuff, followed by “off” as in ‘get off’. If you’re […]
by Shadi at Unicorns in the Kitchen Learn how to bloom saffron once and forever. This technique is a no-fail and has been in Persian families for the longest time! There is so much you can do with bloomed saffron! This beautiful mystic spice is the star of many Persian dishes, and I’m going to […]
Tahchin is cultural astounding looking delicious traditional Persian rice dish full of saffron, nuts, barberries and great flavors. It is usually served with chicken in tomato sauce; simple and perfect for a family meal. This tahchin recipe is simple and perfect for a family meal brought to you by by Shadi at The Unicorns in […]
By Franz Scheurer The first time I went to Iran was to photograph the saffron and barberry harvests and I loved the place so much I went back… and I will be going back, again. Iran, portrayed as the baddie by western propaganda is nothing like it’s painted by malice and jealousy. What the west […]
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