Traditional Persian Kitchen

[ Ashpaz khaneh-yeh Sonnati ]

No one was supposed to interact with the cook or the servants in the kitchen, but for me the traditional Persian kitchen in our home was the favorite hangout. The intoxicating smell of the scores of Persian dishes being prepared round the clock was very tempting. Also, sitting with the cook in front of the ojagh (wood stove) was very pleasant.

The cook, talented and energetic, always had exciting tales to tell and she taught me how to bake and cook. But my parents didn’t want us to hang out with the servants so that we would “stay in our class.”

It was easy to become arrogant and feel superior toward all those hardworking and decent people of our society.

آشپزخانه سنّتی

[  تِرَدیشِنال کیچن ]

در آن زمان افراد منزل كاري با پخت و پز در آشپزخانه نداشتند. فقط آشپز بود كه در آشپزخانه بهمراه ساير خدمه مشغول بكار بود با اينحال مطبخ براي من محيط جالب و مطبوعي بود. غذاهاي خوش عطر و طعمي كه در اين مكان روي اجاقهاي هيزمي طبخ می شدند دررأس ساعت مقرّر آماده بودند.

من ساعتها در آشپزخانه كنار آشپز ميگذراندم و به داستانهاي بي پايان آنان گوش  میدادم. همچنين با طرز پخت و پز بسياری از خوراکی ها و نانها آشنا ميشدم. با اين وجود پدر و مادرم  دوست نه داشتند كه ما با كارگران منزل زياد ارتباط بر قرار كنيم.

ارتباط صاحبخانه ها با زير دستان در آن زمان بسيار جدّي و خشك بود و این رفتارشان وسیله ای برای نشاندادن برتری طبقاتی آنهابود.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Iranians could be the most talented makers of rice. The processes involved soaking, boiling, sifting, steaming, mixing with saffron and ghee. The bottom part of a rice-cake is the best part when it is crispy. Cooking rice the Persian way requires experience and talent.

به احتمال قوی ایرانیان بهترین شیوه پختن برنج را دارند. این روش شامل خیساندن، جوشاندن، آبکش کردن، دم کردن و مخلوط کردن برنج با زغفران وکره یاروغن حیوانی میباشد. قسمت تحتانی برنج که بصورت تُرد و خشک در می آید بهترین قسمت برنج بشمار می رود. پخت برنج به شیوه ایرانی به تجربه و استعداد کافی نیاز دارد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

The cook tries to make the rice white, long, and individual (not sticky).

آشپز تلاش می کند دانه های برنج مغزپخت شده، قد کشیده و به هم نچسبند.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Making different syrups (mixing fruit juices with sugar, water and essences to boil for a particular amount of time) is a traditional drink in Iran. The most popular syrups are: Sharbat Sekanjebin (vinegar, mint essence), Sharbat Albaloo (sour cherry, vanilla) Sharbat Narenj (sour orange juice), Sharbat Behlimoo (lemon juice, quince juice) and many others such as Sharbat rose water, Sharbat lemon juice.

شربت های مختلف (مخلوطی از آب میوه ،شکر، آب و اسانس و قوام آمدن آنها در مدّت زمان معیّن) از آشامیدنی های سنتی ایران بشمار می روند. محبوبترین این شربتها: شربت سکنجبین، سرکه ،شکر و اسانس نعنا)، شربت آلبالو (آب آلبالو، شکرو وانیل)، شربت نارنج (آب نارنج، شکر)، شربت به لیمو (آب لیمو همراه با عصاره به) و بسیاری انواع دیگر شربت ها از جمله شربت گلاب و شربت آب لیمو هستند.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Since perhaps 5,000 years ago, clay was used for making containers in Iran that stored pickles, marmalade or preserves.

ترشی ها و مربّاها در ایران در ظرفهای سفالی نگهداری می شوند. این شیوه ای است که حدود پنجهزار سال سابقه دارد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Today, preserves are available at the market, but home made food is still appreciated. All preserves were in need of specific containers and each should be stored in a specific way.

امروزه انواع مربّاها در بازارهای ایران عرضه و به فروش میرسد. با وجود این مربّاها و خوراکیهائی که در خانه ها تهیّه می شود محبوبیّت بیشتری دارند.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Pickled eggplant (baby eggplant, vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper, mint) is most popular pickle in Iran. Of course, it is prepared differently based on the housewife’s talent.

ترشی بادمجان (مخلوط بادمجانهای کوچک، سرکه، سیر، نمک، فلفل قرمزو نعنا) محبوبترین ترشی در ایران است. البتّه طعم و مزه آن در همه جامانند یکدیگر نیست و بستگی به استعداد وتجربهُ کد بانوی خانه دارد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Sour grape juice was stored in special containers and reserved for stews and soups.

آب غوره در ظرفهای مخصوص نگهداری می شود و برای چاشنی خورش ها و سوپ ها مورد استفاده قرار می گیرد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

The cook had help to clean up and grind all grains and store them for winter.

Sitting with the helpers, nannies, or servants was a vocational classroom to learn, taste the food. I enjoyed them so much.

آشپز مشغول پاک کردن وخورد کردن حبوبات برای استفاده در زمستان است،

نشستن و صرف وقت با خدمتکاران، دایه ها، آشپزها، در واقع یک دوره آموزشی برای یاد گرفتن پخت و پز غذاها، چشیدن طعم و مزه آنها بود. من از مصاحبت با آنها لذّت می بردم.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Cats and kittens were everywhere, especially in the kitchen, looking for a little meat or other foods.

همه جا پر از گربه و بچّه گربه است. مخصوصأ در آشپزخانه که منتظر دریافت تکّه های گوشت و غذا هستند،

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Glass containers were common and used for many kinds of spices.

استفاده از جعبه های شیشه ای برای نگهداری انواع ادویه رواج دارد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Copper was very popular for making kitchen utensils and cookware in Iran.

استفاده از مس برای ساختن وسائل آشپزخانه و دیگ های مخصوص برای پختن غذا در ایران رواج دارد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

While Persian cats were popular, they were trouble-makers as well. Specific foods were stored in closets, away from greedy cats.

گربه های ایرانی در عین اینکه مورد علاقه بودند، گرفتاریهائی هم درست می کردند. بسیاری از غذاها را برای محفوظ بودن از دست گربه های طمّاع در گنجه های مخصوص نگهداری می شدند.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Iran was the third largest country with oil. But at that time, oil was exported to Europe and Iranians didn’t have a chance to use it as a source of energy. Wood and char coal were used for cooking. There was a room for each.

ایران سوّمین کشور تولید کننده نفت بود، امّا در آن روزها نفت به غرب صادر می شد و ایرانیها امکان استفاده از آن را بعنوان یک منبع برای تأمین انرژی نداشتند. برای پختن غذا اغلب از چوب و زغال چوب استفاده می شد. در هر خانه ای انبار (زغالدانی و هیزم دانی) برای نگهداری هیزم و زغال وجود داشت.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

There was no electricity in most of kitchens of Shiraz at that time. The source for making light was oil in a simple metal container with a wick. In the other rooms, oil lamps were used. Some were made in Iran, and some imported from Russia.

در اکثر آشپزخانه ها در شیراز در آن روزها برق وجود نداشت. برای ایجاد روشنائی از قوطی فلّزی با یک فتیله استفاده می شد. در اتاقهای دیگر چراغ های نفتی وجود داشت. بخشی از این چراغ ها در ایران ساخته و بخش دیگر از روسیّه وارد می شد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Yellow bean (chickpea) powder was used for making several meals (shami, koofteh holoo, and koofteh Tabrizi) and also cookies (nan-e nokhodchi).

از پودر نخودچی برای پختن غذاهای مختلف (شامی و کوفته هلو) و یک نوع شیرینی (نان نخودچی) استفاده می شد.

Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.
Diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, depicting the kitchen in her childhood Iran, growing up in Shiraz, Persia, RememberingPersia.com.

Since labor was cheap, the children of some families were mostly raised by the servants and spent a lot of time in the kitchen.

با توجّه به ارزانی نیروی کار در ایران، کودکان در بسیاری از خانواده ها توسّط مستخدمین نگهداری و مراقبت می شدند و در نتیجه این کودکان اوقات زیادی را در آشپزخانه می گذراندند.

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