Zereshk Polo

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  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Cook Time

    1 hr 15 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 45 mins

  • Servings

    6 people

  • Calories

    581 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Persian, Iranian

Zereshk Polo

Zereshk polo is one of the most emblematic dishes of Persian cuisine, meaning “rice with barberry”.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 tablespoons salt , more to taste
  • cups basmati rice
  • 1 tablespoon salt coarse
  • 1 cup barberry dried
  • ½ teaspoon saffron threads
  • ½ cup ghee or vegetable oil, melted
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 onion sliced, small
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 3 tablespoons pistachios roasted (optional, slivered
  • 1 tablespoon dried rose petals (optional)

Equipment

  • Mortar and pestle

Instructions

  1. In a medium skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat and sauté the onion until golden. Set aside.
  2. Rinse the rice thoroughly in cold water, rubbing it between both hands, drain and repeat the operation twice.
  3. Fill a large pot with a large quantity of water and add the coarse salt.
  4. Bring to a boil, add the rice and cook until al dente, about 5 minutes.
  5. Pour the rice and its water into a large container filled with cold water, then drain it completely and set it aside.
  6. Soak the barberry in cold water in a colander placed inside a bowl until the berries are rehydrated, about 10 minutes.
  7. Drain and rinse them thoroughly under cold water. Set aside.
  8. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the saffron threads into a fine powder.
  9. In a small bowl, mix the ground saffron with 3 tablespoons (50 ml) of very hot water.
  10. In a sauté pan, over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of ghee (or oil).
  11. Add barberry and sugar, stirring until berries puff up.
  12. Taste and add more sugar to sweeten the sour taste (to taste).
  13. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the saffron and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 1 minute.
  14. Add the fried onions and stir over high heat for a few seconds.
  15. Remove from the heat. Set aside.
  16. In a bowl, add about 6 oz. (150 g) of drained rice.
  17. Add the barberry mixture, lemon juice and remaining saffron water to the remaining rice and mix well. Add pistachios and rose petals (optional).
  18. Heat the remaining ghee (or oil) in a Dutch oven over medium to high heat.
  19. Add the plain rice.
  20. Pile the barberry rice on the plain rice in a pyramid shape. Using the handle of a wooden spoon.
  21. Drill 5 to 6 holes in the surface of the rice pyramid.
  22. Cover and steam rice for about 45 minutes or until tender.
  23. To help develop an evenly browned tahdig (rice crust), rotate the Dutch oven a quarter turn every 5 to 10 minutes.
  24. To serve, run a spatula around the edge of the rice, lifting gently to check that the tahdig is golden brown.
  25. Then, unmold the rice in a large serving dish.
  26. Remove any remaining rice from the bottom of the pot.
  27. This dish is usually served with fried chicken, giving rise to the dish named zereshk polo ba morgh (morgh means chicken).
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