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Iranian state telly bins foreign cuisine

Local recipes only for Persian Jamie Olivers

Iran has banned cookery programmes featuring foreign fare in an attempt to combat the threat of alien nosh to the nation's gastronomic identity.

According to the Washington Post, the deputy head of Iran's state broadcaster Ali Darabi, announced the clampdown during a visit to one of the country's 30 state-run TV channels.

He concisely declared: "From now on teaching how to cook non-Iranian dishes is banned."

The Post explains that some cookery programmes have until state intervention punted French and Italian cuisine to Persian palates which have already acquired an unpatriotic taste for pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs.

Homegrown Iranian classics under threat from this culinary subversion include Dolme-ye Barg-e Mo (stuffed vine leaves), Khoresht-e Gheimeh (split pea and lamb stew) and Sheer Berenj (rice pudding).

Any Reg reader interested in exploring this rich food heritage is best advised to play it safe and try a Kabab-e Barg, although you'll have to supply your own pitta bread and chilli sauce to create a proper post-pub delicacy. ®

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