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Nowruz Recipes (Persian New Year Recipes)

Published 02/03/2017, updated 26/02/2021

On this page, you'll find a delicious collection of Nowruz recipes from all over the world, and not just Iran.

Click here to go straight to the Nowruz Recipes

What is Nowruz?

Nowruz or Norooz, pronounced no-rooz, is a combination of two Persian words, “now” for new and “ruz” for day and is the festival that heralds the spiritual new year for Persian and some Central Asian communities, celebrating the start of spring and all that it entails: renewal, rebirth and new beginnings.

Nowruz, which falls on the first day of spring (vernal equinox), is a secular holiday, observed across the faiths and goes back some three thousand years with practices that are partly rooted in the rituals and traditions of Zoroastrianism, the religion of ancient Persia, before the advent of Islam in 7th century A.D.

Where is Nowruz Celebrated?

Nowruz is celebrated not just in Iran but also in other countries in Central Asia, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey. The Indian Parsis also observe this holiday.

The New Year is celebrated with friends and family; at the exact moment of the vernal equinox, wishes of Sal-e No Mobarak (Happy New Year) are exchanged, then sweet treats are distributed by the oldest in the family, with the children receiving gifts or money. The immediate days that follow are spent visiting friends and family, a practice very similar to Eid.

A big part of the Nowruz recipes and celebrations is the setting of the Haft-Seen table, or the Table of the 7 S’s. a table bedecked with symbolic items representing spring, new beginnings, hope and a lot more.

In Farsi,

  • Haft = number 7 (in this instance, representing the seven days of Creation)
  • Seen = the letter S

So, the Haft-Seen table is a table set specifically for the New Year celebrations with 7 items beginning with the letter S. 

Haft-Seen Table for Nowruz

Haft-Seen Table for Nowruz

In ancient times, reflecting Persia’s Zoroastrian roots, these items would have represented the seven days of creation (rest being the seventh day). They also represented the seven holy immortals protecting them, the Amesha-Spenta.

These seven individuals would have also included the Supreme Creator, Ahura Mazda, the primus inter pares (first amongst equals).

In Zoroastrian tradition, the Holy Beings are the first six emanations of Ahura Mazda, and were responsible for protecting his creations as well as being the source of all future life.

Haft-Seen Table

Today, these items retain the spiritual representation of Creation and new beginnings and here is a typical example of what the table would display and what the items represent:

  • Sabzeh (sprouted wheat grass) – rebirth and renewal
  • Serkeh (vinegar) – age and patience
  • Sumac (Middle Eastern spice) – sunrise, ie. light vs dark, good over evil
  • Senjed (dried fruit of the lotus tree) – love and affection
  • Seeb (apples) – health and beauty
  • Seer (garlic) – medicine, ie. good health
  • Samanu (wheat pudding) – fertility and affluence

Besides the 7 S’s, you will also find other symbolic items on the table, such as:

  • a mirror to encourage one to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the next
  • painted eggs to represent fertility
  • real goldfish to represent life
  • a special book like the Quran or a compilation of ancient Persian stories, poems etc
  • an orange in a bowl of water for the earth, and so on.

Nowruz Recipes from around the World

You'll find a wonderful collection of Nowruz recipes on this page. From the traditional to the not so traditional. Everything you need for a delicious Nowruz, with recipes from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

Baklava, the favourite Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Dessert Pastry
Doogh (Afghan and Persian Yoghurt Drink, aka Ayran)
Eggless Mango Cheesecake (super easy Cheesecake Recipe!)
Eshkeneh, Persian Onion Soup with Egg and Fenugreek
Falooda Recipe (a South Asian Dessert Drink)
How to cook Tahdeeg with the Perfect Persian Rice
How to Make Mahalabia – an easy, chilled Middle Eastern Dessert
Kabab Koobideh (Lightly Flavoured Persian Kebabs)
Khoresh Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Stew, خورش بادمجان)
Khoresh Rivas (Persian Rhubarb Stew with Meat, خورش ریواس)
Kunafeh, a Middle Eastern Pastry and Cheese Dessert
Layali Lubnan (Lebanese Nights, a Semolina Pudding)
Mango Mahalabia (Muhalabia) with a touch of Sumac
Maqluba Recipe (Makloubeh), Palestinian Upside Down Rice
Morasa Polo (Persian Jewelled Rice)
Moroccan Almond Cookies (Ghriba | Gluten Free Cookies)
Persian Rice Cookies (Naan-e Berenji) for Nowruz
Persian Roast Lamb Recipe and Video (with Pomegranate Molasses)
Persian Saffron Rice Pudding (Sholeh Zard | شله زرد)
Persian Walnut Cookies (Naan-e Gerdooi), Gluten Free
Persian Yoghurt with Cucumber Recipe (Mast-o-Khiar | ماست و خیار)
Reshteh Polo | رشته پل (Persian Rice with Noodles, a Nowruz Recipe)
Sabzi Polo Mahi (Persian Herbed Rice with Fish) for Nowruz, the Persian New Year
Salad Shirazi – Persian Cucumber, Tomato and Red Onion Salad
Semolina Cake with Rose Water and Pistachios, drenched in Rose Syrup
Sooji Halwa (Semolina Halwa)
Tabbouleh Recipe (it’s all about the PARSLEY!)
Zabadee el Mishmish (Egyptian Apricot Pudding)
Zereshk Polo Morgh (Persian Barberry Rice with Chicken)
nowruz recipes

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