Food Pr0n: Flavors Of Iran At Masouleh

Fresh herbs with cheese and radishes.

For a recommended starter, there is borani badamjan. This cup of smoked eggplant in yogurt is chilled and the warmth of the complimentary pita balances out the appetizer nicely.

A favorite is the lentil soup. This soup comes with a dollop of yogurt. And while Middle Eastern lentil soup recipes are addictive, the addition of olive oil and herbs in the soup at Masouleh make it uncommonly delicious.

Another delicious appetizer to consider is olivieh. This salad of eggs and chicken with a few English peas added is light, considering the portions. With a very faint hint of smokiness, the seasoning in the chicken and mayonnaise make olivieh a must-have.

A nice segue entrée into the meat dishes would be chenjeh, joujeh, and rice. The chenjeh, which is beef marinated in lemon juice, onions, and saffron, is extremely tender and juicy. The same may be said of the joujeh, which is spiced chicken seasoned in the same manner as chenjeh served with basmati rice accented with saffron.

Whenever Middle Eastern desserts come to mind, baklava is usually first on the list. For those who prefer to have something different, there is Persian ice cream. Flavored with rose water and saffron and topped with crushed pistachios, Persian ice cream can become a dessert lover’s constant craving.

After letting all of the food settle, a cup of Persian tea accented with cinnamon and cloves is a perfect finale.