Nan o Panir o Sabzi (Persian Bread, Cheese and Herb Breakfast)

About This Recipe

Nan o panir o sabzi is the everyday Persian breakfast, requiring no cooking at all, just good bread, a mild salty cheese, fresh herbs and walnuts arranged together and torn apart by hand throughout the meal. The bread — often nan-e barbari or nan-e sangak — anchors the meal, torn into pieces and used to scoop or wrap the cheese and herbs, a simple but satisfying combination that starts the day across Iranian households. Alongside honey or a bit of jam for those who want something sweet, and always a pot of hot black tea, this breakfast reflects the same appreciation for fresh, simple ingredients found throughout Persian cuisine.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 4pieces of Persian flatbread (barbari or sangak)(or any good flatbread)
• 200 gfeta or panir cheese
• 1/4 cupwalnuts
• 1 bunchfresh mint
• 1 bunchfresh basil
• 6radishes
• 1/4 cuphoney(for serving)
• 2 tbspbutter(for serving)

Instructions

1. 1

   Warm the bread

   Warm the flatbread briefly, if desired, in a low oven or dry skillet.

2. 2

   Arrange the cheese

   Slice or crumble the feta and arrange on a serving plate.

3. 3

   Arrange the herbs

   Wash and arrange the fresh mint, basil and radishes alongside the cheese.

4. 4

   Set out the honey and butter

   Spoon honey into a small dish and set butter alongside for spreading on the bread.

   Tear the bread by hand rather than cutting it — this is the traditional way to eat nan o panir, and it also keeps the bread's texture better.

5. 5

   Serve

   Serve everything together, torn and scooped by hand, alongside hot tea.

Variations

• •

  Adding a soft-boiled egg turns this into a more substantial breakfast.

• •

  Some households add a bit of tahini or a savory jam alongside the honey.

• •

  Cucumber slices are a common addition alongside the radishes.

Storage

Best assembled fresh; store any leftover bread wrapped at room temperature and cheese refrigerated for a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions