Foodhall, the gourmet food store in Palladium mall, will host a festival of Persian food this month with a special range of ingredients, dishes and beverages. Here’s what’s on offer:
Spices
Two spices under the brand name ARQA will be available: Persian advieh (cinnamon, cardamom, rose petals, cumin) and Saudi baharat (nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, sweet paprika, chilli powder).
Cheese
Cream cheese flavoured with mint and dukkah, an Egyptian mix of roasted seeds, nuts and spices.
Greek yogurt
Mast-o-khiar, a savoury yogurt with toasted walnuts, cranberries, rose petals, mint, dill and toasted cumin.
Beverages
Doogh, an Iranian-style chhaas.
Dips
Persian eggplant and onion dip and Iranian yogurt and spinach dip.
Bakery items
Komaj, a sweet bun stuffed with banana and dates; nan-e-barbari, a classic Persian flatbread; and sheermal, a saffron-flavoured flatbread.
Patisserie
Persian Love Cake, a cardamom and rose-infused cake with almonds and pistachio; and shole zard, a rose water and saffron-flavoured rice pudding.
Middle Eastern sweets
Chocolate drop and fig cookies, caramelised almond shortbread, hazelnut meringue vanilla biscuits and caramel date fingers.
Non-vegetarian food items
Jujeh kebabs, chunks of chicken cooked with saffron and orange zest; and kebab koobideh, which are made with minced meat, onion and parsely.
Dishes at the demo counter
Visitors can learn how to prepare these typical Iranian items: Persian berry and rice pilaf (a sweet and tart rice dish); eggplant and tomato stew; dill and fava bean rice; and ghormeh sabzi (a lemony stew of spinach, beans, parsley and other greens).
The festival is on until Tuesday, April 5 at Foodhall, Palladium Mall, Level 3, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel. Tel: 022 3026 4581. Open daily, from 10.30am to 10pm. Get directions here.