Zereshk Polo
Zereshk polo is one of the most iconic rice dishes in Persian cuisine, prized for the contrast between the sweetness of the buttery rice and the vivid tartness of the barberries. Barberries, a small red fruit that grows wild in the mountainous regions of northern Iran, are sun-dried and used almost exclusively in Persian cuisine and a few neighboring cuisines it has influenced. The recipe has become a mandatory dish at Iranian weddings and celebrations, often cooked in large quantities to feed dozens of guests. The combination of colors — the golden saffron rice, the vivid red of the barberries, and the yellow of the chicken — makes zereshk polo one of the most photogenic dishes of the Persian festive table, just as important visually as it is in taste.
Tart red berries
Dried red barberries, with a distinctly tart flavor.
Fluffy rice
Basmati rice cooked using the Persian technique, with separate grains.
Saffron chicken
Chicken pieces marinated with saffron and lemon.
Caramelized sugar
Barberries are briefly sautéed with a little sugar for balance.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 400g basmati rice
- 4 boneless chicken thighs
- 50g dried barberries
- 1 tsp ground saffron
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 onion
- 3 tbsp butter
- Salt, pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon
How to make it
- 1MARINATE CHICKEN: Mix the chicken with half the saffron infused in warm water, lemon juice, salt and pepper, marinate for 30 minutes.
- 2BOIL RICE: Boil the basmati rice in salted water until three-quarters cooked, then drain.
- 3COOK CHICKEN: Sauté the chopped onion, add the marinated chicken and cook until browned and done.
- 4RINSE BARBERRIES: Rinse the barberries in cold water to remove sand, drain well.
- 5SAUTÉ BARBERRIES: Sauté the barberries in butter with the sugar, over low heat, for just 2-3 minutes so they don't burn.
- 6STEAM RICE: Return the rice to steam with melted butter for 20 minutes, until fluffy.
- 7SERVE: Serve the rice on a platter, with the chicken on top and the barberries generously sprinkled all over.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
