Awesome Persian Lunch at the In-Laws

I had an awesome Persian lunch at my in-laws that I've been dying to share with you. They recently had friends visiting from Vancouver, and prepared a lovely lunch for their guests.

I either will be learning or have learned the dishes that were served, and will post up the recipes as soon as I get a chance. In the meantime, here are some photos of what we had:

A Persian meal is never complete without rice. My mom-in-law decided to make baghali polow. This is a fragrant basmati rice dish with dill weed and fava beans. It was topped with saffron rice for garnish.

Served along side the rice was crunchy potato tah-deeg infused with dill. Potato tah-deeg is made by placing raw potatoes slices at the bottom of the rice pot, and then cooking the rice with the potatoes. This produces chip like potato crisps at the bottom of the pot. Persians actually have special rice cookers that makes tah-deeg.

The main dish was tender trout fillet stuffed with a prune and raisin filling (trout recipe here). I know it might sound gross to some people, but you really can't knock it until you've tried it. I am not one for fruits in my food (unless it is dessert), and I love this dish. The fish was cooked perfectly. On the side was baked asparagus and mast-o-khiar (Persian Cucumber Yogurt Dip).

Next came a very healthy dessert. My mother-in-law has really perfected the art of making good desserts that are insanely healthy.

She made a carrot and almond cake. This tasted great, and was practically fat-free.

As always, she served tons of fruit with her cake.

I was incredibly stuffed by the end of the meal. I had multiple servings of everything and caught myself going back for thirds, and fourths (ack!). My stomach hated and loved me at the same time.