Persian jeweled sweet rice with orange peel, carrots, and nuts — the wedding rice.
Shirin Polo (sweet rice) is one of the most magnificent dishes in Persian cuisine — saffron basmati layered with candied orange peel, julienned carrots, almonds, pistachios, and dried barberries. Sometimes called 'jeweled rice' (morassa polo), it is the traditional rice served at Persian weddings. Each bite offers a different combination of sweet, tart, nutty, and floral flavors.
Serves 8
Blanch orange peel twice to remove bitterness. Cook with carrots, sugar, and a little water until translucent and lightly candied. Add cardamom.
Soak and parboil basmati as usual. Drain.
Lightly toast pistachios and almonds.
In a buttered pot, layer rice with spoonfuls of orange-carrot mixture and nuts. Add saffron water. Steam 50 minutes with towel-wrapped lid.
Flip rice onto large platter. Arrange remaining garnishes and barberries decoratively on top.
This dish is worth the effort — make it for a special occasion.
Blanching the orange peel removes bitterness — don't skip this step.
Add raisins and dates for more sweetness.
Serve alongside chicken or lamb for a complete meal.
Refrigerate up to 3 days.
Shirin Polo is the most celebrated rice dish in Iran, served at weddings for centuries. Its colorful appearance symbolizes joy and abundance.
Yes — use store-bought candied orange peel and focus on the saffron rice with a simpler nut topping.
Per serving (400g / 14.1 oz) · 8 servings total
Ask our AI cooking assistant anything about this recipe — substitutions, techniques, scaling.
Chat with AI Chef →Join the conversation
Sign in to leave a comment and save your favourite recipes