Today’s recipe was intended for a Persian “Balleh”, called “burrito” for the sake of convenience in communication, which may look like a burrito or a Persian-Mexican fusion, but it has an identity of its own in Iran.

Sushi burrito, a curious mix of the Japanese and Mexican cuisines that blends Japan’s most treasured food in massive burritos, a wildly divergent concept from both the classic concept of sushi and burrito, is fusion food. But balleh isn’t a fusion.

Sure, both burrito and balleh are on par with certain features, both are versatile, portable, and made with one or two primary ingredients wrapped in a wheat tortilla or “naan” in Farsi, but they play different roles in their native land.

Burritos are a staple menu item in Mexico, and now in America, they are heavier, larger in size, and are served as the main entree for lunch or dinner. “Balleh”, on the other hand, is an auxiliary dish meant for a quick snack for the kids on the go or maybe a light late-night dinner. In Iran, lunch is the main meal of the day, dinners are light, served much later at night, and can include leftovers from lunch wrapped in a naan. Whatever doesn’t get consumed at dinner gets tossed out in the yard for the stray cats. Iranians don’t do leftovers.

Today’s balleh/”burrito” recipe utilizes the Kabab Tabei we just cooked with paneer as shown in the background. The foreground is Mountain Man Radd’s creation which must be labeled a burrito. Known for his extravagant food combos, and an inherent penchant for digression from tradition, Radd adapted a tortilla from balleh using kabab, Kuku Sabzi (sabzi frittata), and extra condiments – a sacrilege that would have your beloved, and sorely missed, grandma Parvin come back from the dead to teach you the “proper” Persian do’s and don’ts.

Out of respect for my roots and earliest tradition, I feel compelled to root for the simpler balleh, but objectively they both are delicious, with Mountain Man Radd’s version being quite lavish, wild, and a loud party in your mouth. Enjoy.

Serve and enjoy نوش جان