What it means
گلکلم (gol-e kalam) is cauliflower. The name is a descriptive Persian compound: گل means flower, and کلم is the word for cabbage, which entered Persian from Middle Persian *kalamb, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek κράμβη (krámbē, cabbage). Together they produce the meaning flower-head of the cabbage family, which mirrors the French chou-fleur and English cauliflower in its logic. The white head is called a curd, and in Persian conversation گلکلم refers to that whole pale compact vegetable you see stacked in the bazaar.
How to use it
- یه گلکلم بده بهم. (ye gol-kalam bede behem.) “Give me one cauliflower.”
- گلکلم رو آبپز کردم. (gol-kalam ro âb-paz kardam.) “I boiled the cauliflower.”
- خورش گلکلم درست میکنم. (khoresh-e gol-kalam dorost mikonam.) “I am making a cauliflower stew.”
- گلکلم از بروکلی ارزونتره. (gol-kalam az brokoli arzun-tare.) “Cauliflower is cheaper than broccoli.”
Cultural note
Cauliflower has been part of Iranian cooking for generations, appearing in stews, pickles (ترشی/torshi), and simple fried dishes with turmeric. The head is typically broken into florets before cooking. Pickled cauliflower is a popular table condiment alongside the main meal, and street-side vendors in autumn sell it alongside other root vegetables.