Persian barberry rice with saffron chicken
Prep Time
1 hr 20 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
2 hr 10 min
Servings
6
6 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Moderate
$$
Persian barberry rice with saffron chicken
Fragrant saffron rice topped with jewel-like tart barberries and served alongside tender saffron chicken. A beloved Persian party dish that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
80m
Prep Time
50m
Cook Time
130m
Total Time
6
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Moderate $$
Cost
(Updated )
Zereshk polo is one of Persia's most iconic rice dishes—the tiny tart barberries pop with flavor against the sweet saffron rice. It's the dish that graces every Persian celebration table.
Season chicken with salt, turmeric, and half the saffron water. Roast at 400°F for 35 minutes until golden.
Par-boil soaked rice in salted water for 5-6 minutes. Drain.
Layer rice in a buttered pot, drizzle remaining saffron water between layers. Steam covered on low heat for 30 minutes.
Sauté barberries in 1 tbsp butter with sugar for 2 minutes—just until plump. Don't overcook.
Mound rice on a platter, scatter barberries on top, and arrange chicken alongside. Serve with yogurt.
Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping
Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil
Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette
Sweeter but similar visual appeal
Leaner but drier; thighs are preferred
Test Kitchen Pick
Olive Oil
Helpful Pantry Staple
On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.
This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.
A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.
Shop olive oil for this recipeDon't overcook the barberries—they burn quickly and become bitter.
Soak barberries for 10 minutes to rehydrate before sauteing.
Store rice and chicken separately for up to 3 days.
Steam rice with a splash of water. Reheat chicken in the oven.
Per serving (120mg) · 6 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
View all recipes →Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Mediterranean

Mediterranean

Mediterranean