Top 10 Persian Rice Dishes You Should Try!

Persian foods have always been a lovely part of Iranian culture. Persian cuisine is a must-try, made with love and passion by using the freshest and the most healthy ingredients. Persian rice dishes are the main dishes of Iranian culture. Iranian rice dishes’ names are simple yet filled with different ingredients. One of the popular Persian rice recipes is the Persian rice with crispy Tahdig, which is among the top 10 foods of Iran and requires a great cooking skill. In this article, we will go through the best Persian rice dishes and explore the delicious cuisine of Iran.

Baqali Polo

Baqali Polo is Iranians’ unequivocal favorite Persian meal. This fava bean-infused dish is aromatic, flavorful, and full of lovely textures. While the rice is perfectly steamed (proper Persian rice dishes recipes must have each grain standing separately, be perfectly and exactly salted, with a crunchy tahdig, the beans are tender yet slightly firm so that they pop when you bite into them, and their vibrant green color stands wonderfully against white rice.

The tender rice, combined with the slight firmness of the beans makes for a very pleasurable contrast of textures, which makes every mouthful heavenly. This joy-inducing dish is deeply fragranced with spices like saffron, dill, and turmeric. (Some also like to add a hint of cardamom, and it’s nothing traditional, but they love a little orange zest in the mix).

Tahdig Recipe (Crispy Persian Rice)

A beloved Persian culinary tradition, Tahdig refers to the crisp and golden crust that forms at the bottom of the pot as the rice cooks. To make the Persian Rice with Crispy Tahdig, rinse and soak basmati rice before parboiling it. Melt butter or heat vegetable oil in a pot, make the bottom level with the parboiled rice, and compact it down. Make a well in the center so steam can escape. Cover the pot with a towel or lid and cook over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes; the longer it cooks, the crispier the tahdig will be. Once it’s done, invert the pot with care onto a serving platter.

Depending on the dish, people sometimes use potatoes, lavash Persian bread, or yogurt alongside or replacing the rice. An interesting fact about Tah Dig is that in some cultures inside Iran, people believe that eating too much Tahdig will result in heavy rain or snow at your wedding.

Lubia Polo (Persian Green Bean Rice)

Lubia Polo, also known as Persian green bean rice, is a kind of staple food in Iran. It is made with basmati rice, delicious green beans, and fragrant spices. Add water, soak rice, stir-fry onions and garlic, then brown the meat and add it. Then, add tomato paste and spices. In the next step, add the green beans and cook for a little while. Drain the soaked rice and add it to the pan with enough water to cover. Cook until the rice gets fluffy. Let the rice rest for a short period, fluff it with a spoon, and then dish it out.

Persian Food Lubia Polo

Lubia Polo is usually eaten with some Shirazi Salad or yogurt. Lubia Polo is one of the luscious traditional Persian rice dishes that has a lovely texture and flavor.

Adas Polo (Persian Lentil Rice with Lavash Tahdig)

The mere mention of Adas Polo, or Persian Lentil Rice with Lavash Tahdig, always sets my mouth watering! This classic Persian dish is a delicious blend of flavors, with tender lentils mixed with fragrant, light, and airy basmati rice with a wonderful nutty flavor. The lentils, cooked to perfection, have a pleasant texture and a delicate but unique flavor. They give a hearty and nutritious touch to the Persian rice recipe. The rice, cooked fluffy and filled with fragrant spices like cumin and cinnamon, compliments the lentils even better.

The thing that sets Adas Polo apart is its lovely taste and the addition of a crispy layer of lavash bread that forms at the bottom of the pot. This crunchy golden crust is known as “tahdig” (literally the bottom of the pot) and provides a compelling contrast in texture to the soft lentils and rice.

Tah Chin

Tah Chin is a Persian rice dish with saffron famous among Iranian communities all around the world. Tah Chin is known for its flavorful filling, crispy crust, and delicious taste. It is a baked rice dish that comes in a variety of formulas to suit different tastes and dietary restrictions. The traditional version usually includes meat, such as chicken or lamb, seasoned with fragrant spices, yogurt, and saffron.

Variations of Tah Chin include vegetable Tah Chin, which contains an array of colorful vegetables; fish Tah Chin, which has chunks of fish; and a vegan version in which animal products are replaced with plant-based ingredients like tofu or tempeh. Tah Chin is renowned for its complex tastes and distinct textures. The crunchy crust complements the savory and fragrant contents. It is a popular meal that highlights the Best Persian rice dishes, which are served with various Persian Side Dishes.

How to Make Tah Chin?

Rinse and soak the basmati rice before parboiling. Then, in a mixing bowl, add the cooked and shredded chicken, yogurt, eggs, saffron, turmeric, salt, and pepper. In the follow-up, layer the rice and chicken-yogurt mixture in the greased baking dish, repeat it until you make sure all the ingredients are used, and then top with rice. At last, cover the dish and bake until the rice is cooked through and the bottom is golden and crispy.

Tahchin Persian Food

Estanboli Polo

Estanboli Polo, or Turkish Rice, Istanbuli Polo, is an easy Persian rice dish that bursts with flavor. This dish borrows its origin from Turkish cuisine. It is a tantalizingly fragrant rice mixed with a variety of ingredients from Persian and Turkish flavors. Ground beef or lamb is cooked with onions and a range of spices, and lots of tomatoes are added to this dish. The spiced meat mixture is then layered with parboiled rice, resulting in a delicious aromatic concoction.

This Persian rice recipe is typically garnished with fried potatoes, and in some cases, raisins are added, as well, for extra sweetness and a variety of textures. What distinguishes Estanboli Polo is its rich and delicious flavor, as well as the combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean ingredients. The use of ground pork, along with tomatoes and spices, gives the meal a powerful and pleasant taste profile. Estanboli Polo is frequently served as the main course, with a fresh salad or yogurt on the side.

Zereshk Polo

Zereshk Polo is an Iranian rice dish that’s as lovely to look at as it is delicious to eat. It’s all about the beautiful, vibrant colors, the aromatic flavors, and the unique ingredients. This basmati rice is cooked with zereshk (dried barberries) and tiny, tart, ruby-red colored berries. This combination of fluffy rice and tangy little berries is what sets it apart. Zereshk Polo is sweet and sour; the tart berries, sweet caramelized onions, and aromatic spices go beautifully together, and the berries also add a beautiful pop of red, making this a uniquely visual rice.

Zereshk Polo Recipe (Persian Rice Dishes with Chicken)

Zereshk Polo is a vegetarian Persian rice dish that is made in several stages. First, the rice is rinsed, soaked, and parboiled. At the same time, the barberries are also rehydrated. When it is time to cook, the layers, which also feature saffron rice, caramelized onions, and red barberries make a spectacular presentation. The rice is cooked, and the flavors meld. Each grain is infused with the aroma, flavor, and color of saffron.

Zeresh Polo ba Morgh

You can taste the sweetness of the caramelized onions, and as you eat, you bite into the plump, tangy barberries that have gone from dry and hard as rocks to juicy, sweet, and slightly sour little berries. This colorful and festive dish, known as Persian rice dish with saffron is typically served with chicken or a meat stew and provides a wonderful contrast to what can be a heavy, rich meal.

Kalam Polo

Kalam Polo is a delicious Persian rice dish featuring tender bits of lamb or beef, cabbage, and aromatic spices. In Persian, “kalam” means cabbage and is the main item for this Persian rice recipe. This savory meal is beloved among Persian food lovers. To make Kalam Polo, beef is marinated in a mixture of spices that may include turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and black pepper. The cabbage is sliced and heated until it gets tender and gently browned. The marinated beef is then cooked until it gets soft, then cabbage is added to flavor the meat.

The rice is first parboiled on its own, and after that, it is combined with the beef and cabbage combination in a large saucepan. The meal is then steamed until the rice is well cooked, and all of the flavors have joined to create the aromatic delight of the dish. Kalam Polo is extremely fragrant and has a full-bodied flavor that the caramelized cabbage only enriches further. Kalam polo is among traditional Persian rice dishes and appears as a main meal, and it often gets additional texture from fried onions, raisins, and slivered almonds.

Morasa Polo (Jeweled Rice)

Morasa Polo is a Persian Rice Dish of basmati rice perfectly cooked, mixed with a beautiful array of aromatic spices, and then studded with saffron-infused rice, nuts, and dried fruits. The entire dish is so visually stunning and impressive, and its origins trace back to the Qazvin city of Iran, often referred to as Jeweled Rice in English, as it is reminiscent of a dish bedazzled with a variety of different-sized jewels and different colored metals. Morasa Polo is often served on holidays, such as during the Persian New Year or other special occasions.

When you visit Qazvin City, be sure to try this delectable Persian Rice Dish. Read the top things to do in Qazvin for more information.

Sabzi Polo Ba Mahi (Herb Rice with Fish)

One of the Persian rice dishes for vegetarians is Sabzi Polo. Sabzi Polo is a beloved Persian rice recipe known for its fragrant flavors and aromatic blend of herbs that are made by combining “sabzi,” which means herbs in Persian, and “polo,” which means rice. The dish is enjoyed during Nowruz (Persian New Year) and is seen as a representation of rebirth and fresh starts in the Iranian culture.

The main element of Sabzi Polo is the mixture of fresh herbs. A combination of dill, parsley, coriander, and fenugreek is finely chopped and mixed with steamed basmati rice, giving color and a delightful fragrance to the dish.

Sabzi Polo (Herb Rice with Dill)

While the herbs are the most important part of this dish, Sabzi Polo is served with all kinds of other delicious things. It can be served with fava beans, in which case the creamy, earthy fava beans are even better than the fish, or smoked fish with some great, dark, crusty rice Mahi (Fish) or smoked whitefish or trout. Some recipes even add cooked chicken or lamb to create a more complete and protein-packed meal.

Iranian Rice Dishes

Rice is a fundamental ingredient in Iranian rice dishes names. It has historical significance in Iranian culture, as it has been part of Iranian culinary traditions for centuries among people. This lovely food is linked to the country’s culture, and its availability in Iran’s agriculture makes it an everyday food that is both cheap and easy to come by. Moreover, It is also a versatile ingredient that can be the base of many dishes, especially prepared in an assortment of ways, flavored with virtually any ingredient.

Final Words

One of the notable highlights of the Iranian culture is its Easy Persian Rice dishes, which are considered the Best Persian Rice dishes in the Middle East. Traditional Persian Rice Dishes are well-known for their taste and their unique ingredients. Another unique point about Persian Rice Dishes Recipes is that each region inside of Iran has its unique and special cooking method, which adds up to more characteristics of Persian cuisine. If you are hungry or in the mood for Persian rice dishes, making a Persian Rice recipe at home and trying out an Iranian rice dish is an ideal choice for exploring Persian Cuisine.

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Try these Top Iran Dessert Foods after your Persian Rice Dish!