Monastery Lemon Creamed Honey 8oz jar (#2281)

In Athenaeus’ The Diepnosophists, one of the earliest Greek fine living texts, the author remarks about “Persian luxury and extravagance.” Persian cuisine is not something we think about much in this country, but there is a great deal of tradition and exchange throughout the eastern Mediterranean that owes a lot to this ancient cuisine. Persia is the historical name for what we now call Iran.

An Iranian couple living in Sacramento, Sima and Deen Rashidy, produce traditional pickles, relishes, and jams–really spoon fruits–from local produce. All are extremely good and unusual. Under Sima's label, there are both sweet and sour products and also three rice mixtures. The pickled vegetables are called Torshi, meaning “pickled or sour,” very much like Italian giardinera. Litteh, meaning “chopped up” as in “relish” is a pickled, finely chopped vegetable relish. Both torshi and litteh are served with cooked meats or as appetizers. These make excellent accompaniments to grilled meats of every kind. A new product is pickled garlic made from high sugar forming garlic which increases garlic flavor.

The jams, all made with local fruit have as their first ingredient the fruit from which it is made, not sugar as most jams are confected. The only jam not made from local fruit is the Tabriz rose petal jam, made from dried Tabriz rose petals from Iran. These jams can be used in various ways like normal jams, but are wonderful on plain yoghurt, cottage cheese, fromage blanc, and cream cheese. They really should be eaten with a spoon, hence, spoon fruit. They all sell for $5.99 12 oz jar.

Sima also developed three rice dishes made with Basmati rice and Iranian saffron. These come in 10 oz bags, yielding 4 servings each; all one does is follow the simple directions on how to prepare. Two are completely vegetarian, one is not. Called “polo,” these are the Persian answer to cup o’ noodles. This is again simple cooking, but still cooking. You have to prepare the dish. They sell for $4.39 per 10 oz bag

Sima's Litteh (Eggplant, carrot, celery, parsley, mint, garlic) 16oz jar (#2282)

Sima's Torshi (Cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, celery, parsley, green beans, mint, peppers, garlic) 16oz jar (#2283)

Sima's Pickled Garlic 9oz jar (#2284)

Sima's Lentil Rice (Basmati rice with saffron and lentils--vegetarian) 10oz bag (#2285)

Sima's Dillweed Rice (Basmati rice with saffron and dillweed–vegetarian) 10oz bag (#2286)