Zereshk Polo Ba Morgh

Zereshk Polo is an Iranian rice dish made of Persian rice, saffron and barberry served with chicken.

What are the Ingredients?

Rice Ingredients

• 4cups rice
• 10cups water
• 1/4cup oil
• Salt
• brewed saffron
• 1medium size potato

Chicken Ingredients

• 500g chicken breast or thigh
• 2 stalks celery
• 2tbsp lemon juice
• 2 onions
• 1 carrot
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 pinch saffron
• salt
• pepper
• boiling water

Garnish

• 100g barberry
• 1tbsp sugar
• vegetable oil/butter
• brewed saffron

How to prepare Zereshk Polo Ba Morgh?

Step 1: Preparing Ingredients

Rinse and soak the rice in salty water for at least 2 hours.

Chop the onions, celery, carrot and garlic.

Soak the barberries in a small bowl for half an hour. Drain and set aside.

Brew saffron.

Step 2: Cooking Chicken

Put some oil into a pot and saute the chopped onions until soften. Add the vegetables and saute for a few more minutes. Add turmeric, salt, and pepper, and stir-fry the chicken until white on all sides. Add a pinch of saffron. Pour some boiling water. Put the lid on and let it simmer until fully cooked.

Drain, and set aside.

You can use the broth for making soup.

Step 3: Preparing Rice

Fill a large nonstick pot with 10 cups of water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the rinsed rice to the boiling water, and continue cooking over medium to high heat. Stir occasionally. After 5-6 mins. scoop some rice grains from the water using a slotted spoon. Break one grain in half to ensure it is ‘’al dente’’. The rice should be firm in the center and soft on the outside. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Step 4: Making Tadig and Simmering Rice

Pour some oil into a nonstick pot. Slice the potato and put them onto the bottom of the pot to make Tadig. Scoop the rice with a big spatula into the pot and shape a pyramid. Wrap the lid with a clean cotton towel and cover the pot. Simmer over medium to low heat for 45 minutes.

Step 5: Preparing Garnish

Melt some butter, and add the barberries, sugar, and brewed saffron. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes and set aside.

Step 6: Frying the chicken

Pour some oil into a frying pan and fry the chickens on both sides. You can add brewed saffron for more flavor and color. Serve the chicken on a big plate. Garnish with fresh herbs, pickles, or steamed vegetables.

Step 7: Serve

Scoop out the rice on a big platter and shape a pyramid. Use brewed saffron on top of the rice for more flavor and color. Garnish with barberries, the slices of potato Tadig. Serve with Chicken and Shirazi salad.

Useful links:

Delicious Iranian Side Dishes

Different types of Tadig

How to brew saffron?