Spring Green Almonds in Iran

Everyone knows that spring is the most beautiful season for travelling to Iran. Aside from its heavenly weather and awesome nature, appetizing spring street foods are quite a great reason for traveling to Iran. Sour, fresh and natural, Choghale Badoom (green almonds) arrives on the scene in early spring in Iran for a mere few weeks. They’re unripe almonds, picked before the shell has a chance to harden, and before the almond has had a chance to become crisp and mature. It is one of the most delicious street foods which you can try these days in Iran, but don’t wait too long; the season is short and they’ll only be around another few weeks. Don’t forget to taste it with a little salt which makes it taste more mouthwatering.

Choghale Badam (green almonds)

Indulge Yourself with Iranian Yummy Street Foods

Iran is a country much renowned for its rich history and culture ride. The country has some magnificent monuments, top notch restaurants, old bazaars and some amazing lip smacking street food to offer! Iran is awash with fantastic street foods stalls selling everything from Laboo to Lavashak, so we've rounded-up our pick of the best available.

Laboo 

Peeled, steaming-hot, boiled beets, neatly stacked according to size, never fail to allure the travelers. This root vegetable is a favorite winter snack for Iranians. Choose your desired beet and ask the vendor to dice it up before your eyes. Serve the beets piping hot.

 

Cooked beets in Persian Laboo

Baghali

The fava beans are usually sprinkled with vinegar and seasoned with golpar, angelica powder. Are you skillful enough to peel the beans?  Use your teeth to peel back the black line, squeeze the bottom to pop the soft center out, and discard the thick skin. You see lots of people in winter that huddle together for warmth and share a bowl of fava beans. Join them and enjoy chatting with hospitable locals.

 

The fava beans in Persian Baghali

Balal

Maybe you’ve tried some of creative serving suggestions for corn. Once you try corn the Iranian way, you won’t want it any other way. Balal is grilled over a fire and then soaked in a bucket of salty water for a few seconds. The lukewarm salty water and hot corn cause the water to evaporate quickly, leaving behind salty goodness around the blackened corn. This appetizing snack is served during four seasons commonly in winter. 

 

Grilled corn in Persian Balal

Lavashak 

Which Iranian kid and of course adult have not lusted over Lavashak over the year in Iran? Sour plums and fruit roll-up or in Persian Lavashak, is a thin, flat large piece of fruit puree dried on large trays in the summer sun and eaten as a winter snack.  Surprisingly, summer fruit turns very sour when cooked into a paste. No sugar and sweet fruit such as bananas are added to sweeten them and these are as pure as fruit.  If you have a penchant for sharp flavors, offer yourself this mouthwatering goody.

 

Sour plums and fruit roll-up in Persian Lavashak

Every year, a throng of exited travelers, explore unknown Persia. Mostly travelers do not know much about Iranian street foods and the eating option on streets. As tucking into street food is one of the joys of traveling in Iran, Uppersia suggests you to glance through this piece that helps you not to miss yummy and unequaled street foods.

Winter street food In Iran.

Walking through the streets of Iran in the afternoon is a popular activity for many travelers. In the night, monuments and museums are closed and the streets are crowded by the locals who are shopping and having fun especially in cities like Tehran and Shiraz with an alive nightlife.

Besides having a long walk and meeting the locals you can offer yourself a warm and delicious light snack usually found on downtown streets. Many kinds of street food are served on streets of Iran in different seasons of the year. Winter brings its own street food as well:

Ash:

No, of course it doesn’t mean dust and cinder! Ash is Iranian vegetable soup and is made in many diverse ways. I can count more than 20 types of Ash, cooked in different cities of Iran. “Ash Reshteh”, made with vegetables, beans and a kind of noodle and served while it is hot and steaming is the queen of winter street foods in Iran! If you were in Shiraz, trust me and taste “Ash Kardeh”, which is made with a sour wild plant called Kardeh.

Ash Reshteh.

Laboo:

Laboo is the beet roots which is boiled and then smoked on fire. The smoky taste of Laboo makes this sweet snack more exclusive and unforgettable. The vendors serve the fragrant purple Laboo while it is steamy and warm.

Laboo on the streets of Iran.

Shalgham:

For Iranian moms, Shalgham (boiled turnip) is a precious gift during winter! They believe that Shalgham magically cures any kind of tough flue. Shalgham almost tastes like cabbage and is a great snack after a long walk in a cold winter night. By the way, don’t forget to add black pepper to your Shalgham!

Chai (tea):

Oh, dear tea! Chai is absolutely the most popular Iranian drink, welcomed at any time of day and night and found in every corner of the city from the offices to family gatherings and of course on the streets. If you are so lucky you will have a cup of tea brewed on fire known as “Chai Doodi” (smoky tea).

So, what is more fun than spending an hour among the warm hearted Iranians in a cold winter night and having some Iranian winter street food?