Last night, we partied like it was 1393. Maryam and Keith hosted a traditional Persian New Year’s dinner. Nowruz starts on the first day of Spring. Maryam and her sister Sarah, both of Iranian descent, cooked a Persian meal of their favorite dishes. A chilled yogurt soup was served for a palate refresher between the flavorful dishes. The tomato and cucumber salad tasted like Spring. And the pureed eggplant and mint was zesty. I like it better than its Mediterranean cousin, baba ganoush.
Several dishes were rice based including this large, round cake. Maryam had cooked it on the stove with mushrooms, turmeric, currants and egg yolks to help it bind together. It was tasty and visually impressive. Sarah made this beef, rice, tomato paste and cinnamon dish. I loved the cinnamon in it. Another dish was green rice. It was cooked on top of slices of potatoes. The expendable potatoes are used to ensure the rice doesn’t burn. A delicious light halibut was also served. I even tried a pickled garlic clove.
Dessert was a slice of currant, spice cake. I just enjoyed a second helping with my coffee. I like a dinner party that transitions into the next day.
Maryam set her Half Sin or the seven ‘S’s table setting for the spring celebration. The items originally represented seven of the Zoroastrian yazatas or divinities including ātar and asmān.
The Haft Sīn items are:
- samanu – a sweet pudding made from germinated wheat – symbolizing affluence
- senjed – the dried fruit of the oleaster tree – symbolizing love
- sīr – garlic – symbolizing medicine
- sīb – apples – symbolizing beauty and health.
- Sonbol – Hyacinth (plant)
- Sekeh – Coins – representative of wealth
Maryam and Keith are wonderful hosts. Keith even made my favorite lemon grass tea. It’s wonderful being able to learn about other people’s ancestral traditions. Maryam’s Persian New Year’s certainly made mine and Bill’s St. Patrick Day outing look lame in comparison.
Happy 1393! I hope this new year brings a rebirth of affluence, love, beauty, health and wealth. Welcome Spring…wherever you are!