Reading Recs: Persian New Year

Celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 19 by reading about Nowruz and trying some Persian recipes.

For more reading recommendations visit a library location, check out one of our recommendation series, or search for more Persian Cookbooks.

Maman & me: Recipes from our Iranian American Family by Roya Shariat and Gita Sadeh. Delicious home-cooked Iranian American recipes from the mother-and-daughter duo Gita Sadeh and Roya Shariat. Adult Nonfiction.

Seven Special Somethings: a Nowruz Story by Adib Khorram. After accidentally ruining his family’s haft-seen, a display of seven traditional items to bring luck in the Persian New Year, young Kian finds seven unusual items to replace them. Includes facts about Nowruz. Easy Holiday.

Sofreh: a Contemporary Approach to Classic Persian Cuisine by Nasim Alikhani. Here are the timeless, soul-satisfying foods of Persia, with its trademark bold herb and spice flavors, succulent savory stuffed meats, vast bounty of brightly pickled vegetables, and much, much more. Containing more than 120 recipes, Sofreh brings together Iranian dishes new and old. Adult Nonfiction.

Every Month is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World by Marilyn Singer. A collection of original poems about New Year celebrations throughout the year and around the world. Junior Nonfiction.

Yogurt & Whey: Recipes of an Iranian Immigrant Life by Homa Dashtaki. A collection of recipes reflecting a life affected by immigration, community, adaptation, and experimentation–and sublime, old-world, creamy yogurt. Adult Nonfiction.

Happy Nowruz: Cooking with Children to Celebrate the Persian New Year by Najmieh Batmanglij. Nowruz–the Persian New Year–is one of the world’s great festivals, a full month of activities celebrating the earth, the arrival of spring, and the rebirth of nature. Most of all, it is a festival for families. Children and adults alike can share in preparing special meals, decorating the house, and performing the many ceremonies that welcome the New Year. This book is a guide to customs thousands of years old yet as vital as ever–enjoyable for families no matter where they live or what their beliefs. Junior Nonfiction.

Salamati: Hamed’s Persian Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from Iran to the Other side of the World by Hamed Allahyari with Dani Valent. A heartwarming story of resilience, homesickness, and good Persian cooking in 70 accessible recipes. Adult Nonfiction.

The Monster in the Bathhouse by Sina Merabian. In an Iranian bathhouse on the eve of Nowruz, three boys suspect a Div–a monster–is wreaking havoc on their New Year preparations. Easy.

Parsi: from Persia to Bombay: Recipes & Tales from the Ancient Culture by Farokh Talati. In more than 150 recipes, a journey into the world of Parsi culture through food, feasts, and family favorites-featuring original four-color photography and a foreword by Parsi scholar Homi Bhabha. Adult Nonfiction.

From the Land of Nightingales & Roses: Recipes from the Persian Kitchen by Maryam Sinaiee. A collection of Iranian recipes by the author of the Persian food blog, The Persian Fusion. Adult Nonfiction.