Do you like carbs? How about Fried carbs?? Today’s guest on the podcast, Varta Ariaban, describes tahdig as the ultimate fried carb. Varta is a talented food artist specializing in both sweet and savory. On the sweet side she makes beautiful bite-sized modern persian treats. On the savory side Varta loves preparing tahdig with fun designs
Tahdig tips
- It’s all in trial and error, learning and knowing your cookware and your stove/burner.
- Go low and slow
- Use a small, sauce pan pot
- Dark, non-stick pots give good results
- Find a perfect size platter, plate or cake stand for the flipping out of the crispy rice tahdig - Varta likes using a cake stand from Crate and Barrel that fits perfectly over her sauce pan/pot
- Tortilla tahdig is fool-proof, easy method
- Use enough oil - about a quarter of an inch
- Press the rice in tightly for the tahdig part
- Making a version with the yogurt mixture can be easier than going for some of the more complex, easier to burn versions, but may not be as crunchy
- For tahdig art use a kitchen designated Exacto knife and a pattern (cut out shapes and patterns from parchment paper); for side tahdig butter the sides
Type of tortilla for “bread” tahdig art
- White, flour tortilla, most basic and inexpensive - Varta likes the white Aldi brand
Varta’s shop: Vartamelon.com
- Varta’s why - got tired of picking up same old fruit tart/fruit cake and same old Persian cookies for her parents parties over the years and was inspired to make something different, fun and modern
- Modern, Americanized, more relatable desserts like baklava poptarts, saffron rice krispies, yazdi cake pops and fun thematic candies like the golden fish “nabat” for Norooz, Persian New Year
Do you have a question for our Ask the Beats segment?
Contact us at hello@modernpersianfood.com or Instagram
Resources and recipes from this podcast episode:
Varta’s IG handle is @vartamelon
Vartamelon.com
Tahdig Art template can be found at: https://modernpersianfood.com/episode-72-Tahdig-Art-with-Varta/
All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes
Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!
Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes
Podcast production by Alvarez Audio