Persian Barberry Rice Dish (Polow-e Zereshk)

Persian Barberry Rice Cooked Delicately (Zereshk polow)

Going Persian with Barberry Rice

Want to dive into the world of Iranian cuisine? Let's join the culinary journey with the renowned authority, Najmieh Batmanglij. We'll be cooking up a storm with her iconic recipe from her book "New Food of Life".

Shopping List: Up the ante on your Persian spread with a few key ingredients. Make sure to opt for saffron threads over powder and turmeric, as the former is less likely to be adulterated. And for those mini, tart berries that'll add a burst of flavor to your dish, head to your local Middle Eastern market or an online store.

Serves: 6 lucky souls

Ingredients (14)

3 cups long-grain basmati rice
1 frying chicken, about 3 pounds, or 2 Cornish game hens
2 peeled onions, 1 whole and 1 thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground saffron dissolved in 4 tablespoons hot water
2 cups dried barberries (zereshk), cleaned, washed, and drained
2/3 cup clarified butter (ghee) or oil
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons toasted cumin seeds
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 tablespoons slivered pistachios

Plunge into Flavor:

Give your rice a good work out! Clean and wash 3 cups of rice 5 times in warm water.
Want a juicy bird? Place the whole chicken in a baking dish. Stuff it with one of the whole onions, the garlic, and season with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon saffron water. Cover and bake in a 350°F oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Cleaning the barberries is a cinch! Remove their stems and place the berries in a colander. Soak them in a large container full of cold water for 20 minutes. Sift the barberries to separate the sand from the berries, run cold water over them, and drain them.
Cooking the barberries is a quick process. Sauté 1 sliced onion in 2 tablespoons butter, add barberries and cumin, and sauté for just 1 minute over low heat. Add 4 tablespoons sugar, mix well, and set aside.
Time to start the rice cooking extravaganza! Boil 8 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt in a large, non-stick pot. Gently pour in the washed, drained rice and boil it briskly for 6 to 10 minutes. Check the rice, and if it feels soft, it's ready to be drained. Discard the water and give the rice a nice rinse in a few cups of lukewarm water.
Back to the pot! Heat 4 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons water.
Now it's time for the rice pyramid building! Mix 2 spatulas of rice, yogurt, and a few drops of saffron water in a bowl. Spread this mixture over the bottom of the pot to form a tender crust (tah dig). The rest of the rice layer steps are all about repeating these 4 easy steps and creating a beautiful rice pyramid.
Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat and then add the remaining melted butter and saffron water mixed with 1/4 cup of water. Cover the pot tightly (with a dish towel or paper towel) and cook for 50 minutes longer over low heat.
The rice is all done!Allow it to cool for 5 minutes on a damp surface.美 SVExoChuttonlfour
Time to break up the pyramid and serve it up! Remove the lid, and take out 2 tablespoons of saffron-flavored rice for garnish. Gently transfer rice to a serving platter in alternating layers with the barberry mixture. Construct the rice in the shape of a cone and arrange the chicken around the platter. Finally, decorate the top with the saffron-flavored rice, some of the barberry mixture, and almonds and pistachios. Nush-e Jan!

Hot Tip: You can fold the barberries within the rice and steam them together, but steaming will diminish their rustic, ruby-red color.

The iconic Persian recipe we'll be following is from Najmieh Batmanglij's book titled "New Food of Life", which offers a deep dive into the world of Iranian cuisine.
One essential ingredient for this recipe is dried barberries, or zereshk, which can be found at local Middle Eastern markets or online stores.
The recipe suggests using a unique ingredient, 'a587b7fe288907504550c98505524107', which seems to be a specific code or reference in relation to this dish.
This Persian rice recipe is complete with nutritional benefits, as it includes long-grain basmati rice, barberries, and other flavorful ingredients such as saffron, cumin, almonds, and pistachios.