bread

Iranian dishes are usually served with either rice or bread. Naan goes especially well with stews, kebabs and kukus. As a child, whenever it was my turn to pick up the bread from the bakery, my grandmother would hand me a red and white cloth to wrap it in. When the baker handed it to me, I would stow it away, swaddling it tightly in the cloth - but not before tearing off a share to munch on my way home. I’ve always been so fascinated by kneading the dough, dusting the surface and often myself with bread and watching the bubbles form once the dough hit the hot surface. If baked in the oven, I would sit in front of the oven staring at the dough scrutinizing every little and gentle rising.