Could We Travel to Iran?

As a continuation of our cultural exploration, we decided to learn about a country which represents one of the oldest civilizations in the world. The history, food, and landscape of Iran left all of us asking – could we visit there? It looked so tremendous!

We started off by watching a pretty cool video that quickly reviewed the history of the country. We were all in awe of how old the country is and how large its empire was. To think that it stretched all the way from Greece to India!

As we watched the video, we enjoyed one of Iran’s famous stews. This Aash-e Gandom recipe, which happens to be vegan, involved soaking the wheat and beans ahead of time, but otherwise is was super easy and ended up being full of flavor despite the simplicity of its ingredients. The wheat ends up acting like a barley, so the stew was a fun texture and was loved by all – surprisingly!

Then, we watched an amazing travel video that had all of us dropping our jaws at the sight of such intricate architecture and beautiful scenes. Beforehand, we did not spend too much time on the current politics/history so it was pretty cool to see the kids’ perspectives while watching the video. Then, we shared some info about political tensions and possible risks if we were to visit now. Apparently, their Visa process can be tricky but it can be done. Despite the risks, they were still enamoured by the country.

Finally, for dinner we had the pies de resistance – Chicken Tachin. Now, one of the things we had learned about Irani/Persian food was that is can be very elaborate. Well, I had noticed the recipe said it would take 4 hours. Guess what? It took a solid four hours because you actually soak your rice, then you boil it and strain it, and finally you bake it for 80 minutes! It was totally worth the time, though. It is amazing how chicken and rice can taste so different depending on the preparation!

While we waited for it to bake, we had a rousing game of Backgammon, which happens to be one of the oldest board games in the world. It originated in Persia with pieces being found dating back to 3000 BC. Now, if only I didn’t have to take the instructions out every time to remember how to set it up and which direction to go!

We finished our day with Halva. I found a recipe that was lower in sugar, using maple syrup. The boys were just OK with it. I think the sesame paste/tahini is such a strong flavor.

Overall, it was a great country to study and learn. Its rich culture and history left us wanting more. The boys want me to make some kebabs, lavash, and so many more items from this amazing culinary world. This one might end up being more than a one day “excursion”!