Food for Nowruz, the Persian and Zoroastrian New Year celebration

A selection of herbs and other ingredients, including a Persian spice blend and saffron, will go into making dishes for the Persian New Year.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

It’s traditional to have sweets such as baklava for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Barberry fruit will go into the herb-heavy dish kuku-ye-sabzi.

It’s traditional to have sweets such as marzipan for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

A Persian spice blend goes into the dishes for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Decorated eggs are a Persian New Year tradition.

Walnuts go into the dish called kuku-ye-sabzi, popular during Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Dates go into a toasted noodle and rice dish with lamb and raisins called reshteh polow.

Fresh Herbs Kuku aka Kuku-ye-sabzi, cooked by Chef Tony Esnault, of Spring, his wife Yassmin Sarmadi and mother-in-law Shamsi Katebi for Nowruz.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

Chef Tony Esnault, his wife and business partner Yassmin Sarmadi and her mother Shamsi Katebi share a kitchen while preparing dishes for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Dates and raisins go into a toasted noodle and rice dish called reshteh polow.

A chalice of wild rue, (esfand) is meant to keep unquiet spirits at bay.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Chef Tony Esnault, of Spring, Ct, and his mother-in-law Shamsi Katebi cooking for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A dish of Rice with toasted noodles and lamb or Reshteh Polow.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Shamsi Katebi makes her own yogurt a Persian spice blend on top. She also makes her own pickled garlic and vegetables, also known as torshi.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The dish sabzi polow ba mahi features fried and smoked white fish with crispy rice layered with herbs.

A salad of herbs and feta cheese will accompany a traditional Nowruz feast.

Shamsi Katebi makes her own pickled garlic and other vegetables.

Shamsi Katebi’s homemade pickled vegetables will accompany a traditional Nowruz Iranian New Year meal.