Nowruz Recipes (Persian New Year Recipes)

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. 

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    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. It is also a huge celebration in many parts of India, as the Parsis have a strong Persian heritage.

    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 Nowruz 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.

    Nowruz Celebrations

    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.

    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 for Nowruz

    Haft-Seen Table, a apecially decorated table for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with symbolic items like sprouting grass, eggs, a mirror and garlic

    One final thing before we get down to our Nowruz recipes, the Haft-Seen Table and its items.


    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 Recipe Ideas

    And of course, no celebration is complete without a feast! In the gallery below, you’ll find a wide range of recipes for celebrating Nowruz.
    These Nowruz recipes are from all over the world, from Persian recipes to Indian recipes, to Central Asian ones. Because as mentioned above, Nowruz is more than just an Iranian celebration.

    Like Persian Rice Cookies and Kashmiri Lamb Rogan Josh.

    If you have any questions, drop me a comment, an email or you’ll find me on Instagram @azlinbloor.

    Nowruz Recipes

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    4 thoughts on “Nowruz Recipes (Persian New Year Recipes)”

    1. Such an informative post. Yes Nowruz is huge in India too with loads of celebration and food. Parsi food is very common in Mumbai and especially the bun maska and the kadak pao. Loving all the recipes shared in the post. I would love to try the rice cookies and Semolina cake.

    2. I am coming back for the tadhig recipe later when my kids are here. They want me to make some for them. The nawruz spread looks amazing.

    3. What a fabulous write up on Nowruz, Lin! Loved reading about Haft Seen. And then such a decadent and delicious collection of recipes – I’m spoiled for choice! I’m thinking of trying so many for Ramadan and Eid, starting with Ashta and working my way up to Kabab Koobideh and Lamb leg roast.

    4. Wow, look at all of those recipes! I appreciate the history information you shared at the beginning of your post.

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