Modern Persian Food

How do you bring Persian flavors to your Thanksgiving table? In this episode of Modern Persian Food, Beata and Bita explore ways to give classic Thanksgiving ingredients a Persian twist. From lubia polo with green beans to cranberry polo and fall roasted vegetables seasoned with sumac or paired with quince, we're sharing ideas for blending the best of both food traditions. We also share our Thanksgiving must-haves, creative ideas for using holiday leftovers, and favorite family dishes that bring our cultures and traditions together. Plus, we read a listener review and celebrate the community that makes this podcast special. Recipes and links: Roast Root Vegetables with Balsamic and Sumac Jeweled Persian rice (Javaher Polo) Thanksgiving pomegranate sauce recipe Cassava flour gravy - gluten-free Persian Salad Olivieh Lubia polo | green bean layered rice Beata's easy oat porridge - haleem   All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes   Sign up for the email newsletter here!   Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube   Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.   Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com Podcast production by Alvarez Audio. 

Fall is here, and Beata and Bita are getting into the flavors, ingredients, and cozy dishes that are inspiring them this season. They chat about what's catching their eye at the market—from seasonal produce to Persian pantry staples—and the comforting Persian foods they're looking forward to making as the weather cools down. They also catch up on what's happening with their projects. Bita shares an update on her book release and what's next, while Beata talks about recipe testing for an upcoming weeknight Persian food cooking class and the challenge of making Persian cooking approachable for busy weeknights. A cozy fall food conversation filled with seasonal inspiration, Persian flavors, and what's happening in their kitchens right now. In this episode: Fall ingredients and market finds Cozy Persian dishes we're craving Making Persian food work for weeknights Bita's book release and what's next Beata's recipe testing and upcoming cooking class Episodes and recipes referenced: Persian Khorak Morgh | Persian Chicken & Vegetable Stew – BeatsEats Air Fryer Khoresht Bademjan / Bademjoon (Easy Persian Eggplant Stew) – BeatsEats Koobideh Pan Kabab (Kabab Tabei) – BeatsEats   Beata's YouTube Page: Link All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes   Sign up for the email newsletter here!   Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube   Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.   Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com   Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Beata and Bita are back together to catch up on their summer food adventures, projects, and kitchen experiments. They chat about some of Beata's recent recipe testing, what she's been working on with BeatsEats cooking classes, and her growing YouTube channel. Then the conversation turns to breakfast and how creating a few practical systems can make mornings easier, more organized, and more enjoyable. Rather than reinventing breakfast every day, they explore simple ways to build routines around flavorful, nourishing foods. The big news of the episode is Bita's new functional cookbook, Power & Glow: Vibrant Persian Breakfasts to Prep & Go—inspired by bringing heritage flavors into breakfast recipes with plenty of nutritional value alongside each recipe. Beata interviews Bita about what sparked the idea for a breakfast cookbook, how her Persian heritage influenced the recipes, and why breakfast felt like the perfect place to explore these flavors as a health and wellness coach. Bita also shares what the self-publishing process has really been like, including what she's learned along the way and what she's looking forward to as she continues her cookbook journey. In this episode: Summer food adventures, recipe testing, and projects What's happening on the BeatsEats YouTube channel Making breakfast more practical with simple systems The inspiration behind Bita's book, Power & Glow: Vibrant Persian Breakfasts to Prep & Go Bringing Persian and heritage flavors into breakfast Bita's new functional cookbook, Power & Glow: Vibrant Persian Breakfasts to Prep & Go What's next on Bita's cookbook journey Tune in for a fun conversation about food, culture, creativity, and finding more joy—and a little more ease—in the most important meal of the day. Link to information on Bita's new cookbook: Bita Arabian Link to Beata's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@beatseats415   All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes   Sign up for the email newsletter here!   Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube   Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.   Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

What does it take to recreate the taste of home? In this special episode of the Modern Persian Food Podcast, Beata sits down with Sahar Shomali, the passionate baker and founder of Kouzeh Bakery in Los Angeles.  They explore Sahar's inspiring journey from home baker to small business owner, driven by a mission that many Iranians know well: finding—or recreating—the perfect barbari bread from childhood memories. Sahar shares how nostalgia became inspiration as she worked to capture the authentic flavors and textures of Persian baked goods while adapting recipes for today's ingredients, equipment, and customers. Her bakery celebrates the incredible diversity of Iran's regional baking traditions, introducing both the Persian community and newcomers to specialty breads, pastries, and sweets that are often difficult to find outside of Iran. In this episode, we discuss: Sahar's journey to becoming the founder of Kouzeh Bakery The childhood memories that inspired her pursuit of authentic barbari bread How she recreates traditional Persian flavors while adapting recipes for a modern bakery Regional Persian breads and baked specialties that deserve more recognition The challenges and rewards of owning a small food business Preserving Persian culinary traditions through baking Sharing Persian culture with customers from all backgrounds Whether you grew up enjoying fresh Persian bread or you're discovering these flavors for the first time, this conversation offers a heartfelt look at the connection between food, memory, and cultural identity. Connect with Kouzeh Bakery Follow Sahar and learn more about Kouzeh Bakery: https://www.kouzehbakery.com/  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a five-star review, and share it with a friend who loves Persian food, baking, and discovering the stories behind the recipes. All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes   Sign up for the email newsletter here!   Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Follow us on Instagram: @modernpersianfood   Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.   Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com Podcast production by Alvarez Audio

Summer is picnic season, and we're sharing how to bring Persian flavors, traditions, and hospitality to your next outdoor gathering. Whether you're planning a casual afternoon at the park, a beach day with friends, or a family get-together, this episode is packed with ideas to help you create a memorable Persian-inspired picnic experience.   We discuss everything from choosing the perfect picnic setup and packing essentials to incorporating meaningful cultural touches that celebrate Persian food and identity. Along the way, we share our favorite picnic-friendly dishes, including herb-packed kuku wraps, crispy kotlet, salad olivieh sandwiches, fresh fruit kebabs, and other easy-to-pack favorites that travel well and taste even better outdoors. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to plan a beautiful and functional picnic setup • Essential items to pack for a stress-free outdoor gathering • Persian foods that are perfect for picnics and summer entertaining • Refreshing Persian drinks to enjoy outdoors • Ways to incorporate Persian culture and traditions into your gatherings • Why outdoor meals create meaningful connections and lasting memories So grab your picnic blanket, pack your favorite Persian snacks, and don't forget the backgammon set! If you enjoy the Modern Persian Food podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who loves Persian food, outdoor entertaining, and summer adventures. Recipes referenced: All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes   Sign up for the email newsletter here!   Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube   Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.   Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com Podcast production by Alvarez Audio