Iran is famous for having one of the largest covered bazaars in the world. In addition to the hidden gems here, you will find people chomping down on some of the most appetizing Persian snacks. In fact, the street food and snacks in Iran constitute a big part of the local culture, and they are enjoyed all over the country.
What Is Special About Persian Snacks?
Persian snacks are an inseparable part of the Iranian food scene. They are known for their bold and complex flavors, often featuring a mix of sweet, sour, and savory notes. Many of them also take advantage of fresh, high-quality ingredients like herbs, spices, and locally-sourced produce.
One particularly interesting thing about the plethora of Persian street food is that they originate from different parts of the country. Therefore, there are huge cultural elements to these delicious treats. In addition, the convenience and availability of Iranian snacks make them an integral part of day-to-day life for locals, not to mention travelers who come to experience the flavors of the country.
Iranian street food also offers some flavors and experiences that you don’t get from restaurants. There’s just something different about the cooking on the streets, and being able to enjoy the food as the world hustles by around you. Persian street snacks are truly a delicious and unique way to explore the local cuisine and culture.
Most Famous Persian Snacks
Aush Reshteh (Persian Noodle Soup)
Aush reshteh is nothing like an ordinary soup. This noodle soup is similar to Italian minestrone, but its base is made with cooked herbs and greens rather than tomatoes.
This traditional Persian street food is prepared with different recipes in different cities. There are generally two versions, one with curd and the other one with vinegar.
Reshteh, kashk, and fried onions give this Iranian snack a distinct tangy and savory flavor. It also contains flavorful and nutritious ingredients such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, spinach, and greens. The soup gets its complex flavor and freshness from the greens like spinach and cilantro.
Falafel (Deep-Fried Fritter Balls)
Falafel is a traditional Iranian snack prepared from chickpeas that is suitable for vegetarians. It is originally from South Iran but is so popular that you can find it in each corner. You will get various levels of spiciness in different parts of the country.
These cute and savory Persian snacks are the size of a ping pong ball. Most Iranians like to eat falafel in a sandwich with different pickled vegetables and a special sauce.
There are some great places in Iran where you can get self-service falafel wrap. They will provide you with falafel balls, bread, veggies, pickles, and special sauces to make your own sandwich.
Bread And Wraps In Iranian Snacks
Taftan (Iranian Bread)
The only thing Iranians love more than bread is fresh bread. Traditional Persian bakeries selling fresh bread are all over the main cities. It is not unusual to find locals carrying sangak down the streets.
This bread is famous for its appearance and pairs perfectly with Iranian kebabs. It is a leavened flour bread made with milk, yogurt, and eggs. Like other Iranian bread, taftan is also baked in a large oven called tandoor.
Persians like to eat the bread hot and fresh. This bread is crispy on the edges and tastes salty without the use of salt. It is a hearty and fulfilling bread to enjoy with any Iranian street food.
Sibzamini Tokhm-e-Morgh (Baked Egg And Potato Wrap)
There are many vegetarian dishes in Iran, and this is one of them. Sibzamini tokhm-e-morgh is a typical Persian street food that locals enjoy. It features boiled eggs with mashed potato and butter, as well as a few spices.
Despite not containing any meat, this simple wrap tastes absolutely fantastic. The mixture is encased in a special bread to form a delicious wrap. It also has onions and cilantro, giving a crunchy and herby kick to it.
The bread used to make this sandwich is thin and has the appearance of bubble wrap. As the ingredients of this Iranian snack are so straightforward and simple, you will find it in almost every market and food street.
Persian Sandwich
A traditional Persian sandwich is nothing like a typical club or chicken sandwich. Persians eat brain, tongue, bandari, and many other versions of sandwiches filled with innards and peculiar parts.
Onions, lamb brain, beef tongue, and sausage are boiled and then stir-fried in a large pan. The meat is then placed in separate buns with tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, parsley, and some other ingredients.
Aside from the special filling, the bread used in this Iranian street food is also a show-stopper. It is fresh, soft, and tastes really good.
Fruits And Desserts In Iranian Snacks
Bastani (Saffron Ice Cream)
Widely known as Persian ice cream, bastani contains frozen flakes of clotted cream. It is different from any other ice cream in the world. The rich character and unique texture are hard to beat.
This Iranian street food has a luminous yellowish color from vanilla. It is loaded with pistachio nuts, along with the incredible flavors of saffron and aromatic notes of rose water. Overall it has an exotic taste accompanied by a super creamy texture.
The Persian ice cream is a real summertime treat for everyone. Enjoy this soft and chilled Iranian treat on a hot day and get refreshed as you explore the famous landmarks in Iran.
Lavashak (Dried Iranian Fruits)
Within a few hours of your hunt for Persian snacks, you will know how much the people here love fruits. Iran is known for their consumption of fresh, dried, and even leathered fruits.
Lavashak is a thin layer of dried fruits. It is a highly refreshing and energetic Iranian snack to grab during hiking. Walking through narrow streets, you will see shops exhibiting big bowls of these colorful snacks in Iran.
These are sold in exotic flavors, including pomegranate, plum, cherry, apricot, barbarian, and kiwi. The tremendous fruit-flavored pies have a thick and chewy texture.
These are usually dried or pickled fruits, and most of them are sour with some notes of sweetness. The real fun begins when you ask for a mixed fruit platter. Different tangy and sweet fruits are some of the best snacks to eat while you visit the historical places of Iran.
Sohan (Caramelized Candy)
Sohan is a really sweet and tasty Persian dessert. It originated in Qom and is a kind of toffee candy.
The main ingredients are egg yolk, sugar, vegetable oil, flour, and saffron. They are mixed in a machine and heated slowly. After the process of mixing and cooking, the candy starts getting thicker.
This confectionery is buttery and studded with pistachios; it is also heavily flavored with saffron. The texture of sohan is very crumbly, while the pistachios provide a crunchy texture to it. These combined elements give it an addictive kick that keeps you craving more of it.
Drinks With Iranian Snacks
Iranian Tea
While shopping in the Iranian bazaar, you will see many vendors sipping on this refreshing Iranian tea as they go about their day. The water is boiled in Russian samovars, and strong tea is mixed with it. Its sweet and hot sips are delicious to enjoy and provide a healthy energy boost.
One of the interesting cultural facts about Iran is the way locals enjoy this time-honored tea. Sugar is not added directly into the beverage as in more countries. Instead, the traditional way is to take one sugar cube and put it in your mouth. When you sip on hot tea, you will taste the sweetness of sugar along with it.
It is a whole new tea experience for those who have not tried this Persian street food before. You can also ask for cinnamon and green cardamom. It is enjoyed throughout the country, so you can easily find it everywhere.
Majoon (Persian Shake)
The literal meaning of majoon is “combination of items,” and this frozen Persian snack is prepared from a lot of ingredients. It contains saffron, ice cream, milk, egg yolk, coffee, cinnamon, banana, cocoa, figs, pistachios, and anything you can imagine.
Majoon is one of the healthiest midday Iranian snacks. It has natural sweetness from fresh and dry fruits. You will find many traditional stores in Iran serving this unique, floral, fruity, and chocolatey shake.
The coconut shavings sprinkled on the top of the shake are remarkably soft and fresh. They just melt in your mouth right away. They make for one of the best smoothies you will ever taste.
Discovering Persian Snacks And Street Food In Iran
If you want to find the best traditional food in Iran, don’t overlook the tasty Iranian snacks on offer. Persian street food delivers some of the authentic flavors of Iran that you don’t get from fancy restaurants. There are many delicious and inexpensive options that await you.
