Shirini | Persian Sweets

Shirini | Persian Sweets

This episode is all about Persian sweets and desserts, called Shirini. Co-hosts Bita and Beata share insights on Persian cold desserts, creamy custards, extra sweet fried delights, light and aromatic pastries, common Persian candies, and what’s in them and how they are often enjoyed.

Cold desserts:

• Persian ice cream (bastani) is a favorite and includes saffron, rose water, and chunks of frozen cream (khameh)
• Falloodeh is another frozen treat made with rice noodles and fresh lime juice
• Makhlood is a mixed dessert consisting of half bastani and half falloodeh

Persian puddings or custards:

• Yakh-dar-behesht translated as “Ice In Heaven or Paradise” - made with wheat or corn starch, milk, sugar and rose water
• Fereni - a Persian custard made with rice flour, milk, sugar, rose water, and cardamom
• Saffron rice pudding (sholeh-zard) - made with Basmati rice, saffron, rose water, cinnamon or cardamom, sugar and water
• Milk rice pudding (sheer-berenj)  - made with Basmati rice, milk, sugar, and water

Fried desserts:

• Persian Donuts: Zoolbia - swirly and crunchy, a deep fried pastry flavored with saffron, rose water and simple syrup 
• Bamieh - a round shaped deep fried pastry flavored with saffron, rose water and simple syrup

• Halva - a dessert paste made with flour, butter or oil, sugar, saffron, rose water, and cardamom;  served in ceremonial occasions 

Pastries:

• Cream puffs - a large puff pastry filled with rose flavored cream and Napoleon - a layered custard filled pastry

Candies:

• Saffron brittle (sohan asali) - a soft oily brittle made with wheat, flour, egg yolk, sugar, saffron, and topped with almond slivers and chopped pistachio nuts
• Gaz - white Persain taffy/nougat with pistachio nuts dusted in flour
• Persian baklava and “Cake”-lava - specialty pastries often made with phyllo dough, nuts (walnuts and pistachios), honey and/or sugar syrup, butter, cinnamon, and cardamom

Ask the Beats!  From Sabrina from Brooklyn: “Are there gluten free Persian desserts?” Answer: Yes! Most persian puddings and custards are gluten free including cakes and cookies made with almond flour

Recipe links from this episode:

Bita’s Baklava Cupcakes

Bita’s Flourless Almond Cake with Rose Frosting

Bita’s Dairy-free Rice Pudding

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio