Cultural Spotlight Iranian Jewish Food with Tannaz Sassooni

In Episode #47, co-hosts Bita and Beata learn about Iranian Jewish food and some of the traditional foods and customs shared on Rosh Hashanah by special guest, Tannaz Sassooni. Tannaz works in animation technology by day while writing, teaching, and sharing about Iranian Jewish foods as her passion project.

An example of a classic Friday night Jewish Iranian meal might consist of “Chelo Abgoosht eh Ghondi” (also spelled gondi) - a chicken broth based soup with poultry and chickpea flour meatball dumplings.

Another example of a one pot Jewish Iranian recipe is “Ghondi/Gondi Kashi” - rice dish cooked with ground meat, herbs, beets, and fava beans - takes on a pinkish hue in some areas and sometimes forms a beautiful tahdig!

Rosh Hashanah traditions - as contrasting to simple apples and honey, in the Iranian Jewish custom, a whole seder is served for Rosh Hashana

• Beef tongue
• Black eyed peas
• Squash, fried zucchini or pumpkin
• Dates
• Apples and honey

Two main holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

• Custom of the start of the fast/ the eve of the fast include eating a Quince, Pomegranate Stew | Khoresht eh Beh, super sweet and sour
• Custom of breaking the fast - break the fast with the following 3 things:
• • Chai | hot tea
  • Soft boiled egg
  • Grated apple with rose water and sugar served over ice | Faloodeh Seeb - gives a boost of energy and an uplifting aroma. Bita’s daughters refer to it as “apple Randy”.

A tip, also known as “Beats Cheats” - Tannaz’s favorite thing:

• Sharbat eh Golab which is simply water, sugar, & rose water over ice

Ask the Beats!

Tannaz asks the Beats - what are some regional specialties in the areas your families are from Bita and Beata?

• Bita’s folks and extended family come from Tabriz and the Azerbaijan region of Iran.
• • Ab-ghosht and Dizi
  • Kofteh Tabrizi
  • Dolmeh
• Beata’s family is from Kermanshah
• • Roghan eh Kermanshahee - a rich, delicious animal butter from the region
  • Khormah Maloos - fried eggs with caramelized dates

Resources and recipes from this episode:

All Modern Persian Food 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

Beata’s Khormah Maloos Recipe: Khormah Maloos | Persian Dates and Eggs

Special guest: Tannaz Sassooni

• Instagram: tannaz (@tannazsassooni) • Instagram photos and videos
• Cooking class with The Nosher: The Nosher Presents Our High Holiday Cooking Classes 2021 | The Nosher

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio