Persian Rice Recipes

Persian cooking is elegant and aromatic — jewelled rices, herb-packed stews and a signature balance of sour, sweet and floral notes. When Persian cooks work with rice, they reach for saffron, dried lime, turmeric, mint, barberries and rosewater, and the techniques that come up most across these recipes are simmering, boiling, steaming and sautéing.

The everyday grain for half the planet — a neutral base that soaks up the flavours around it, from pilafs to fried rice. In this collection it's most often cooked with onion, fine sea salt, garlic, saffron, dill and saffron threads. The dishes here span persian classics ready in as little as 30 minutes to slower, more involved cooking that rewards a relaxed afternoon.

Reader favourite: Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian Saffron Chicken with Barberry Rice is the highest-rated dish in this collection at 4.9★ from 14,200 ratings.