Best 9 Iranian Rice Recipes

IRANIAN RICE COOKIES (NAN-E BERENJI)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a fine sieve with four layers of cheesecloth and set over a small liquid measuring cup. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until beginning to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until foamy, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, and milk solids separate into brown specks that sink to bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and strain through prepared sieve, leaving solids behind. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In another small saucepan over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 tablespoons water until sugar has dissolved, then transfer to a large bowl. Let cool slightly, then add rose water and stir to combine.
• Add yolk to sugar mixture and whisk until light and slightly thickened. Continue whisking and slowly drizzle in strained brown butter until thick and fully incorporated. In a medium bowl, combine flours, cardamom, and salt. Add to brown butter mixture and stir until thoroughly incorporated.
• Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart. Imprint each ball with the grooved side of a meat mallet, pressing to 1/4 inch thick. Dust mallet with rice flour as needed to prevent sticking. Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges of cookies just turn light golden, about 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

IRANIAN RICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a fine-mesh sieve with 4 layers of cheesecloth; set over a small liquid measuring cup. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until beginning to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until foamy, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, and milk solids separate into brown specks that sink to bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and strain butter through prepared sieve, leaving solids behind. Let cool slightly.
• In another small saucepan over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 tablespoons water until sugar has dissolved; transfer to a large bowl. Let cool slightly. Add rose water and stir to combine.
• Add egg yolk to sugar mixture; whisk until light and slightly thickened. Continue whisking and drizzle in strained brown butter until thick and incorporated. In a medium bowl, whisk together both flours, the cardamom, and salt. Add to brown butter mixture and stir until incorporated.
• Roll or scoop dough into 11/2‑inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Imprint each ball with the grooved side of a meat mallet, pressing to 1/4 inch thick. Dust mallet with rice flour as needed to prevent sticking. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies just turn light golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely. (Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)

BAGHALA POLO -- IRANIAN RICE WITH LAMB, DILL AND LIMA BEANS

Steps:

• In a heavy 3-4 quart casserole, with a tightly fitting lid, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter over a medium heat.
• Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes or until the slices are browned.
• You will need to stir them often.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the pan and onto a plate.
• Set aside.
• Working in batches, brown the lamb cubes in the remaining fat in the dish.
• As they brown, take them out of the dish and put them on the plate with the onions.
• Pour the 3 cups of water into the casserole and bring it to a boil, scraping to loosen any brown particles clinging to the dish.
• Return the lamb and onion to the dish, add the salt and reduce the heat to low.
• Cover tightly and simmer for about an hour or untilt he lamb is tender and doesn't show any resistance when pierced.
• Transfer the onions, lamb and all the cooking liquid to a large bowl.
• Set the casserole aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a 5-6 quart saucepan.
• Pour in the rice in a slow, thin stream so the water does not stop boiling.
• Stir a couple times and boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the dill and lima beans and drain in a fine sieve.
• Ladle about half of the rice mixture into the smaller casserole and moisten it with 1/2 cup of the lamb cooking liquid.
• Then use a spatula or spoon to spread the rice mixture to the edges of the pan.
• Use a slotted spoon to return the lamb and onions to the casserole and smooth them over the rice.
• Spread the remaining rice mixture on top.
• Combine 2 tablespoons of the melted butter with 6 tablespoons of the lamb broth and pour it over the rice.
• Bring the casserole to a boil over high heat.
• Cover tightly and bake on a middle oven shelf for 30-40 minutes or until the beans are tender and rice has absorbed the liquid.
• To serve, spoon about a cup of the rice mixture into a small bowl.
• Add the dissolved saffron and stir until the rice is bright yellow.
• Spread about half the remaining rice on a heated platter and arrange the lamb over it.
• Cover the lamb with the rest of the plain rice and garnish with the saffron rice.
• Pour the remaining 6 tablespoons butter over the top.

IRANIAN SAFFRON RICE PUDDING (SHOLEH ZARD) (DAIRY FREE & GLU

Steps:

• Wash rice. Rinse and drain the rice several times until the water runs clear. Add the rice to a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Add 8 cups of water to the pot and partially cover with a lid. Bring the rice to a boil over medium heat, occasionally skimming the foam off the top.
• Put saffron into 2 tbs warm water and set aside.
• Once rice is soft and boiling (approximately 30 minutes), add sugar and stir gently to dissolve. Add an additional 2 cups of water and stir to combine. Keep the rice partially covered and continue to cook over a medium-low heat for approximately 20 more minutes. Stiring occasionally.
• Put canola oil, rose water and the ground saffron threads along with their water into the rice and stir thoroughly to combine. Continue to cook, partially-covered, for another 20 minutes over low heat.
• Remove the lid and stir well. The mixture should start to look like a thick pudding-like cream; all the water should be boiled out at this point. Feel free to add more saffron to taste. The more saffron you add the richer the flavor and color of the pudding will be.
• Add the blanched slivered almonds and continue cooking over medium-low heat until a pudding-like texture develops (approximately 30 more minutes).
• Once thickened, remove the pot from the stove and pour the Sholeh Zard into a large, shallow plate and let it cool*. Once the top has dried into a thin, yet hard, layer you can decorate with the cinnamon and pistachios in a pretty pattern.
• Once cool, place the plate, covered into the refrigerator and continue chilling until the pudding has transformed into a jello-like consistency.
• *Optional serving styles: The pudding also tastes great warm (right after it's done cooking).
• Which ever way you choose, we like both you may now serve the tastiest dessert along with a nice cup of tea.
• Enjoy!

IRANIAN RICE WITH POTATO CRUST AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Clean, wash, and soak rice for 30 minutes.
• Cook in a pan with 4 cups water.
• Boil on high heat for 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat, stir rice, and leave on low heat again for 5 minutes, then drain in a sieve.
• Mix saffron and warm water; set aside.
• Peel potatoes and cut into thick round slices.
• Pour saffron in a pan.
• Add 2 tbsps. melted butter and potatoes, and mix very well.
• Spread sliced potatoes in the bottom of the pan and spoon all rice over.
• Sprinkle with remaining butter.
• Cover pan with aluminum foil and leave on very low fire until done.
• Transfer rice to a platter so that sliced potatoes are on top of rice.

IRANIAN CHICKEN WITH RICE (MORGH POLOU)

Steps:

• Season the chicken pieces with salt & pepper.
• Using half the Ghee/butter brown the chicken, set aside.
• Fry the onion until transparent in the remaining butter/ghee, add apricots & raisins cook 5 miniutes.
• Stir in the cinnamon then add the 1/4 cup water to lift the browned sediment.
• Place half the cooked rice in an oven proof dish placing the chicken on top.
• Spread the apricot mixture over the chicken and top with remaining rice.
• Cover the dish tightly and bake in 350 oven for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked & tender.
• While the chicken is cooking mix the saffron with 2 tbsp boiling water, leave to steep.
• Just before serving sprinkle saffron liquid over the top of the casserole , stir gently mixing the chicken, rice & saffron.
• Serve heaped on a platter.

IRANIAN RICE WITH BEANS AND DILL WEED (BAQALA POLO)

Steps:

• Cook lima beans until done.
• Drain.
• Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Add rice to water.
• Boil 5-10 minutes , until rice is no longer crunchy, but still firm.
• Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Drain rice in colander.
• Mix beans and dill weed with the rice.
• Put half of the melted margarine in the bottom of the rice pot.
• Put the rice back into the pot, a spoonful at a time, heaping it into a mound, not touching sides of pot.
• With a chopstick or similar tool, poke holes in the rice in several places.
• Pour the remaining melted margarine over the rice.
• Cover the underside of the pot lid with a dish towel, and put lid tightly on pot.
• Cook rice about 20 minutes over medium heat, then turn heat to low, and cook for another 30 minutes.
• The rice on the bottom of the pot should become golden and crispy.
• Soak bottom of pot in cold water for a few minutes, to loosen this.
• Put rice onto a serving platter, surrounded by chunks of crispy rice.
• Take 2/3 cup of the rice, mix it with the dissolved saffron, and sprinkle over the rest of the rice as a garnish.
• Cook spinach in lightly salted water until tender
• Drain well.
• Chop.
• Set aside.
• Heat margarine or oil in a pan.
• Add onions, and fry until golden.
• Add spinach and fry together briefly.
• Turn off heat.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to serving bowl or dish.
• Mix in yogurt.

KATEH - IRANIAN SIMPLE RICE

Steps:

• Wash three cups of rice with plain water twice and drain the water.
• Pour rice into a non-stick pan.
• Add five cups of water, four spoons of oil and salt, and mix.
• Bring the water to a boil over high temperature.
• Let the water boil until water level sinks to just below rice level.
• Cover the pan, and cook over low temperature for about half an hour.

IRANIAN ESLAMBOLI POLOU (RICE WITH GROUND MEAT)

Steps:

• Fry the sliced onions in oil until slightly golden.
• Add ground lamb or beef, salt, and black pepper and fry until color changes.
• Dissolve tomato paste in a glass of hot water and add to meat.
• Cook for a few minutes until little water is left.
• Wash rice twice and soak in salted warm water for 3-4 hours, then drain the water.
• Pour water in a large non-stick pan until it is half-full and bring it to a boil. Add rice and a spoonful of salt and continue boiling until rice slightly softens. Pour rice into a drain and wash it with slightly warm water.
• Mix the rice with the meat, and continue simmering for another 10-20 minutes.