Persian Rice With Barberries Zereshk Polow Recipes

Steps:

• Wash rice several times until water runs clear.
• Soak rice with salt to taste for at least an hour.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil add salt to taste and add drained rice.
• Once boiling, cook 10 minutes.
• While the rice cooks, gently scoop the rice from the bottom of the pot and bring to the surface and release. Do this step several times. NOTE: Do not stir.
• Place a colander in the sink. You will want to choose a colander where the holes are small so that the rice won't escape.
• Check the rice to make sure it is cooked. It should be soft and cooked but not mushy. Drain rice in colander.
• Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Pick over the barberries and remove any stones you may find and then soak in water for 5-10 minutes.
• Rinse barberries after soaking.
• In a skillet melt 1 tablespoon of butter then add the barberries. Add the sugar and give it a nice stir so that the barberries are coated with butter and sugar.
• You will see that they will start to plump up! Add 1 tablespoon saffron water and let the barberries absorb the liquid for about one minute. Remove from heat.
• Melt remaining butter in a heavy pot, stir in a 1/2 tbs saffron water and a couple large spoons of rice. Pat down somewhat. This will for the tahdig crust.
• Sprinkle advieh and top with some barberry mixture.
• Repeat layers until the last layer is rice, reserving about 1/4 of a cup of barberries for garnish.
• Create 3-4 holes in the rice with the bottom of your spoon.
• Cover and cook on medium-high 10 minutes or until crust would be formed but not burnt.
• Melt 1 tbs of butter and mix with 1/2 tablespoon of Saffron water and 1 tablespoon of water. Pour all over rice.
• Cover tightly and cook 1 hour on low.
• Serve rice in a platter and top with the reserved barberries serve with Recipe#427545 for a delicious combination.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Soak rice in water to cover for at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place 1 pinch saffron and 1 pinch sugar in a mortar and grind to a fine power. Transfer to a cup and fill 3/4 full with hot water. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wash the chicken pieces, pat dry, and place in a deep baking tray. Coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil, advieh, garlic paste, and remaining saffron. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink, about 1 hour.
• While the chicken is baking, drain the soaked rice, add to a pot, and cover with 4 cups of water. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil if desired to stop the grains from sticking to each other and 1 teaspoon salt. Boil the rice until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain in a colander.
• Put the pot back on the stove and add remaining oil. Lay the sliced potato in the base (to protect the rice, but also to create a delicious edible crust of rice and potato). Top with the drained rice and cover with a lid. Cook until the rice begins to steam, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low, and leave to steam, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Heat 1/2 of the butter in a frying pan and add barberries. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes; add 1 tablespoon sugar and 2 tablespoons of the saffron water. Stir briefly, then remove from heat. Place a layer of rice on a serving platter, followed by a sprinkling of barberries and a little saffron water. Keep layering. Leave some barberries for the top. Arrange the chicken quarters around or on the top of the platter then spoon the saffron rice and barberries on top.

Steps:

• In a large pot, saute onion until nice and golden.
• Remove pits from dates and dice them.
• In another pot, saute the reshteh noodles in butter until golden. Keep an eye on them, as they burn easily.
• Prepare your basmati rice according to my "Persian Rice" recipe. When you add the rice to the water, add the reshteh noodles too.
• Once the onion is nice and golden, add one tablespoon butter. Add turmeric and cinnamon. Give the pan a nice stir.
• Add dates and raisins. Give the pan a stir.
• Add orange peel. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Note: if the ingredients seem kind of dry, add a tablespoon of butter.
• After draining your rice and reshteh noodles, place 2 tablespoons canola oil in the bottom of the rice/reshteh pot and add enough water to cover the bottom.
• Add one layer of rice/reshteh noodles to the pot.
• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of advieh spice (or bouillon).
• Place half of the date-raisin-orange-peel-onion mixture on top.
• Repeat with another layer of rice/reshteh noodles and the remainder of the date-onion mixture.
• End the layering with the rice-reshteh noodles.
• With the end of the spatula, make 5 holes to circumference the rice.
• Cook covered on high for 10 minutes.
• Ground the saffron and dissolve in 1/4 cup of hot water. Add 1 tablespoon butter t the saffron and mix well. Pour the saffron mixture over the rice.
• Cover the top of the pot with a towel and cover with the lid. Steam rice on low for one hour.
• Once the rice is done, place the rice in a dish and sprinkle the almonds and pistachios on top.
• At the bottom of your pot you will find a crunchy rice delicacy Persians love, called tadigh. Break it into pieces with a spatula or spoon and serve in a separate dish.