Zereshk Polo (Persian Barberry Rice)
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups uncooked basmati rice
  • 1 cup dried barberries (also known as Zereshk, you can find at any Iranian store)
  • 4 tablespoons sugar (add more or less, depends on your taste)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground saffron
  • salt
  • 2 teaspoons rosewater
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 3 tablespoons slivered pistachios
Instructions:

Dissolve ground saffron in 1/3 cup of boiling water and set aside (click for <a href="https://www.cookingandcooking.com/recipe.php?recname=How-to-Use-Saffron"\" class="linkInLine" target="_blank">How to Use Saffron</a>).

Prepare the plain rice (click for <a href="https://www.cookingandcooking.com/recipe.php?recname=Persian-Rice"\" class="linkInLine" target="_blank">Persian Rice</a> recipe).

Pick over the dried barberries (zereshk) and remove any stones. Then wash and drain.

In a small pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the barberries and sauté for 1 minute. Add the sugar, cardamom and salt, and cook for 1 minute.

Add the dissolved saffron and rosewater, and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add in the pistachios, stir and set aside.

When rice is ready, in a large bowl mix 1 1/2 cups of cooked rice with the barberry mixture.

To serve, place a layer of plain rice on a serving dish then a layer of barberry-rice mixture. Repeat the layers until done.

Serve with <a href="https://www.cookingandcooking.com/recipe.php?recname=Cooked-Chicken"\" class="linkInLine" target="_blank">Cooked Chicken</a>.

Back to Zereshk Polo (Persian Barberry Rice) on Cooking and Cooking
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