_About This Site_
The Urgent Mission
What is happening to Iranians inside the country and affecting those outside of it is heart-wrenching. This is especially true for women, the very people who are the historical chefs of the home kitchen and the creators of this incredible culinary legacy.
While I am actively seeking a publishing partner for my cookbook, I am releasing this work-in-progress digital format now to share a small subset of these recipes immediately. My primary motivation is to show support and solidarity with the fierce, tireless, amazing women who built this cuisine. Iran is in the news daily, and I would love to start a parallel conversation focused on an often overlooked aspect of its culture.
The Botanical Soul
It’s a common misconception in the West that the Persian diet revolves entirely around kebabs. In truth, Iran holds a deep, historically rich tradition of vegetable-centric cooking that predates modern plant-based trends by thousands of years.
This is an ancient botanical language shaped by early agriculture, the Silk Road spice trade, and the philosophies of the revered Persian polymath Avicenna. Traditional Persian cooking requires a careful harmony of "hot" and "cold" ingredients—referring not to their physical temperature, but to how they affect the body. Because fresh herbs, slow-simmered legumes, and vibrant vegetables naturally span both categories, they have always been the essential building blocks for achieving this balance. By removing meat, we aren't losing the heart of the dish; this project is a celebration of the botanical abundance that has always anchored the Persian table.
The Ethos
Equally driving this project is a deep commitment to the ethics of eating. The escalating impacts of climate change make sustainable, plant-based choices more critical than ever. There is rapidly growing global interest in healthier, more ethical food, but many people simply don't know how to adapt traditional meals. Even my own Persian friends and extended family ask for my recipes because they want to cook less meat for their households but don't know how to achieve the correct flavor profile without it. My goal is to prove that you can transition to a plant-based table without sacrificing flavor, nutrition, history, or culture.
The Catalyst & Process
I have never eaten meat. My ability to remain vegetarian without feeling like I am missing out is a function of being surrounded by delicious food. Furthermore, my professional background in game development and UI design taught me to remove friction and make complex systems intuitive. I applied that exact mindset to this project, deconstructing these multi-step heritage methods to ensure absolute usability. I calibrate every dish with Morton Kosher Salt to keep measurements precise and remove the guesswork. I test every recipe on vegans and carnivores, Persians and non-Persians alike. The goal is that if you follow the steps, the recipes work. This website is a "beta test" to ensure these recipes are both authentic and bulletproof for the home cook. As such, please share your thoughts and questions on a given recipe in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
The Photography
Every food photo was taken by me in my own kitchen, often on my cell phone, exactly as the food was ready to be served. What you see is the unvarnished reality of our family table.
Please comment on a given recipe, comment on the Ask the Chef page, or connect on Instagram and share thoughts and photos documenting your own exploration.