Persian food relies on a variety of herbs, or sabzi, for flavor. Many of these are familiar in western cooking, including basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, and tarragon. However, others are more distinctive and unique to Persian food, taking on unfamiliar uses. If you love this type of cuisine and want to learn more about the herbs that Persian chefs use, below are several different types.

What Are the Distinctive Herbs in Persian Food?

1. Fenugreek

Persian cooking uses a different part of this plant than western cooking. While western chefs may be familiar with the spice made from the seed, Persian recipes more often call for fresh leaves. Commonly called mehti, these leaves have a grassy taste and are milder than the bitter seeds. This offers an excellent complement to heavy meat, such as beef.

2. Persian Leek

This plant is also called garlic chive, as it shares a close relation with the chives that are common in western dishes. However, Persian cooking only uses the leaf and stem of this herb, rather than the bulb at the base. You will typically find them in sabzi khordan, a fresh herb platter, or as part of a stew.

3. Mint

While many chefs use mint when creating desserts, it’s also popular in savory Persian dishes, especially stews. The fresh leaves can cook with the stew to add deep, rich flavoring, or as a garnish on the side of the plate. There are many mint varieties which may make an appearance, but spearmint is a favorite because of the distinct flavor.

4. Persian Shallot

While you may confuse this herb with ordinary shallots, the Persian variety has a distinctive flavor. Often, they are dried, rather than sauteed, and chefs may combine them with yogurt to create a sauce called mast mousier. Then, they will serve the sauce with sabzi khordan to provide a complementing flavor.

5. Saffron

Chefs use thin, dried tendrils from the center of saffron flowers to create this flavoring. This results in a bold yellow color that is the signature aspect of many Persian dishes, especially rice. A chef will steep the dried herb in water, before pouring it over cooked rice to create contrasting yellow and white areas.

If you want to taste these herbs in authentic Persian food, visit Sufi's Kitchen in Atlanta, GA. This Fulton County restaurant offers delivery, takeout, and event catering options to suit your needs. Their fine dining establishment is conveniently located between Midtown and Buckhead on Peachtree Street. Visit the website to see their full menu. Call (404) 888-9699 to schedule a reservation.