tahdig
nounUK /ˈtaː.diɡ/ · /ˈtɑ.diɡ/
Etymology From Iranian Persian تهدیگ (tah-dig), from Classical Persian تهدیگ (tah-dēg).
1
The crispy layer of rice (and sometimes lavash bread, thinly sliced potatoes, egg or another ingredient) taken from the bottom of the pot in which the rice (chelow or pilaf) is cooked in cuisine of Western Asia.
- The importance of Nowruz is reflected in an elaborate sabzi polo, the herbed rice capped with a crunchy tahdig, the crust formed from lettuce, rice mixed with yogurt or lavash or another thin flatbread. On Wednesday night, I opted for sheveed polo, a simpler and quicker dill rice, but I can’t wait to nail that crunchy tahdig tonight.2026 March 15, Genevieve Ko, “‘This Is the Best Dish I Have Ever Made From NYT Cooking’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2026: