Here's how to make a traditional Persian Breakfast which I've been eating since childhood. It’s typically served as a sharing style with dishes placed in the middle of the table for everyone to enjoy. This includes Persian barbari bread with different combinations and tea...yum!
If you've never tried a Persian Breakfast before then you're in for a treat! As you all know I have a Persian background, so this breakfast is a staple in my home. Whilst I'm an overnight oats girly for my daily brekkie, on weekends I love to switch it up and this is one of my go-to favorites that even my Italian husband loves! Now there are many variations and different foods that Iranians will typically eat for breakfast, so here I've shared what my family enjoys. The best thing about a Persian breakfast is that its served as a sharing mezze style.
A delicious spread served in the middle of the table for everyone to enjoy the way they like it, very similar to Turkish breakfast and other Middle Eastern cultures. The common things that are served are Persian barbari flat-bread or sangak. We then have different condiments including feta cheese, fresh herbs, walnuts, fresh veggies along with jams and butter, oh and you cant forget the Persian tea! There are also hot dishes including different egg dishes and soups that some Iranians love to eat too, so I've made sure to cover it all for you.
Table of Contents
Recipe Highlights
- Quick & Easy: Without any cooking, all the components are served in the middle to assemble yourselves
- Customizable: There’s a range of different breads, herbs and ingredients to customise to your liking
- Delicious: With a balanced mix of savory, sweet and crunchy textures
Ingredients and Substitutions
The below are a list of ingredients served where you can mix and match and make different combinations together as you wish:
- Bread (Noon) is always served, traditionally Persian fresh bread such as Noon barbari - a flatbread and a classic for breakfast. Sangak bread is also very popular and baked on tiny hot stones, or other breads such as taftoon or lavash bread
- Cheese (Panir), Persian lighvan is the most traditional, however isn't very easy to find, so the closest substitute is feta cheese made from sheeps milk. Try and opt for Persian feta or Bulgarian feta which are a lot more creamier than Greek feta
- Fresh herbs (Sabzi) are a staple in Persian cuisine which we call sabzi khordan. A platter is always served with a mix of mint, parsley, basil, tarragon and even radishes. Personally I love only eating fresh mint and tarragon when it comes to breakfast
- Cucumbers and tomatoes are sliced, adding more freshness to balance the elements
- Walnuts (Gherdooh) add crunch and pair perfectly with the feta cheese and herbs, honey or even with butter and jam
- Jam (Morabah) is a sweet element for those preferring a sweet breakfast. The most common flavors are sour cherry and fig jam but any fruity jam works
- Honey (Asal) is another sweet element, delicious with butter or with clotted cream
- Butter (Kare) adds richness and is great on warm bread with honey or jam
- Black Tea (Chai) cannot be missed when it comes to Persian breakfast, and usually served sweet, called chai shirin. Traditionally, tea leaves are brewed and served black without any milk and can be flavored with saffron, cardamom, mint or rose petals. Typically enjoyed with ghand (sugar cubes), nabot (rock candy) or simply with sugar
Other Popular Persian Breakfast Additions
- Eggs (Tokhme morgh) can be served in different ways such as a Persian omelette which is my personal favorite. This is made with tomatoes and turmeric, similar to shakshuka. There’s also a sausage omelette, especially popular in Tehran where my family is from or Nimroo – sunny-side-up fried eggs with a runny yolk
- Persian clotted cream (Sarshir) is a very rich thick cream often served on the breakfast platter. It's delicious with bread along with a drizzle of honey or jam.
- Ash reshteh soup is a herb soup filled with different legumes and noodles. It's typically enjoyed around the Persian new year in March and in the cooler months. Whilst not a typical breakfast, its very common as breakfast in some cities in Iran
- Halva is a tahini based sweet, similar to a very dense fudge you could call it. Filled with nuts, usually pistachios and sweetened with sugar or honey. Its absolutely delicious with bread and tea
- Adasi a simple Persian lentil stew is common for breakfast
- Dates are very popular in our culture. Commonly enjoyed with Persian tea instead of adding any sugar
How to make Persian Breakfast
This is what I've been eating since childhood! A sharing style Persian breakfast for everyone to enjoy. Follow my simple steps below (note quantities are listed in the recipe card below)
Step 1: Prepare bread if baking at home - make my Persian barbari bread (it freezes well if prepped ahead)
Step 2: Wash and slice the cucumber and tomato and plate them with fresh herbs. Drain and add the feta to the platter, then arrange walnuts, jam, butter, and any other additions
Step 3: Brew the black tea and serve with sugar or medjool dates. If making eggs, cook them now (like my Persian omelette)
Step 4: Reheat or toast the bread and set it on the table with the platter. Mix and match ingredients to create your favorite combinations - my favorite is pictured above. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- If baking your own barbari bread, prep this in advance either first thing in the morning or even the night before so its ready for breakfast
- I love prepping extra bread loafs (either homemade or store-bought) by slicing and freezing them so we always have some ready to go. Simply thaw and toast!
- Brew the Persian tea leaves strongly so it stands up well with the sweet and savory flavors. If you don't like it too strong, you can always add some boiling water. You can also use tea bags for a quick method
- Get creative with the combinations! I love the cheese, herbs and walnuts together. I also love the bread, cheese and jam in the same bite too...yum!
Storage Instructions
- Leftover bread can be frozen in freezer bags then reheated or toasted briefly to bring back its softness
- Store leftover vegetables and herbs separately in airtight containers in the fridge
- Store leftover cheese separately in an air tight container in the fridge with some fresh cold water to keep it creamy
FAQs
Typically its served as a mezze style with different dishes arranged in the middle of the table for everyone to enjoy. This includes bread, feta cheese, fresh herbs, walnuts, honey, black tea and sometimes egg dishes
For a traditional breakfast, Persian bread is served such as a Noon Barbari - a typical flatbread, or lavash, sangak or toftoon
Its a mix of both actually with savory and sweet options served depending on your preference
More Breakfast Recipes
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Persian Breakfast (Childhood Staple)
Video
Ingredients
- 4-6 slices fresh bread - Persian barbari bread or sangak bread are commonly used
- 3.5oz / 100g feta cheese - preferably Persian or Bulgarian feta
- 2-3 handfuls fresh mint leaves and/or other herbs such as tarragon, basil, parsley
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 1 medium Persian or Lebanese cucumber
- 1-2 Roma tomatoes
- 2-3 tablespoons honey and/or fruit jam
- 1 pot brewed black tea - served with sugar or dates on the side
- Softened butter (*optional)
*Other popular additions: clotted cream, Persian omelette, fried eggs, halvah, ash reshteh soup
Instructions
- If you are baking homemade bread, try my Persian barbari bread recipe (you can also make this in advance and store in the freezer ready to enjoy anytime)
- Wash and slice the cucumber and tomato and arrange on a serving plate with the fresh herbs
- Drain the feta cheese and serve on the platter. Also add and arrange the walnuts, honey, jam, butter and any other preferred additions
- Brew the black tea leaves or tea bags, serve with sugar or medjool dates on the side. If making any of the egg dishes, make these now too - such as my Persian omelette recipe
- Reheat or toast the bread as to your liking and serve on the table alongside the platter and other dishes and enjoy your traditional Persian Breakfast!Get creative with how you enjoy the different combinations. Some personal favorites are combing the feta, herbs and walnuts together. I also love feta cheese with a drizzle of honey or jam yum!!
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