Soup · Herb & Noodle

Ash Reshteh

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'Reshteh' means noodle, but it also sounds like the Persian word for destiny — which is why the soup is eaten before starting a journey.

This hearty green soup simmers beans, lentils, chickpeas, and a generous mix of fresh herbs together with reshteh — Persian noodles — into a thick, fragrant stew. It's ladled into bowls and topped with kashk (a tangy fermented whey), crisped fried onions, and dried mint sizzled in oil.

Why it's made this way: Reshteh's wordplay with the Persian word for 'destiny' gave rise to a beloved custom: eating the soup before a long trip or a new venture is said to help you find your way, which is why it's also a fixture of the Nowruz new year table.