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Persian Rice Recipes

36 recipes using rice — Ghormeh sabzi, kebabs, rice — Iran's 2,500-year culinary tradition.

These 36 persian rice recipes are ready in about 81 minutes on average, with 200–780 kcal per serving, and 14% are rated easy enough for a weeknight. Every recipe includes exact ingredient quantities, step-by-step instructions and full nutrition per serving.

36
recipes
81 min
average time
459 kcal
avg per serving
14%
easy recipes

How Persian cuisine cooks with rice

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 fine sea salt, garlic, saffron, onion, 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.

36 Persian Rice Recipes

Dinner

Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian Saffron Chicken with Barberry Rice

Iran's most celebrated dish: saffron-infused chicken stew served over jewelled barberry and saffron rice.

⏱ 120 min🔥 620 kcalHard
Dinner

Zereshk Polo Morgh

Persian saffron-fragrant rice jewelled with tart barberries, served alongside tender braised chicken — Iran's most celebrated celebratory dish.

⏱ 120 min🔥 680 kcalMedium
Dinner

Tahdig with Potato

Persian crispy rice with golden potato crust — the most coveted piece at any Persian table.

⏱ 80 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
Dinner

Koofteh Tabrizi

Giant Persian meatballs stuffed with eggs and prunes — a spectacular Tabriz specialty.

⏱ 120 min🔥 580 kcalHard
Dinner

Baghali Polo

Persian dill and fava bean rice — the ultimate spring celebration dish.

⏱ 90 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
starter

Dolmeh Barg

Persian stuffed grape leaves with sweet-sour herb and rice filling — a labor of love.

⏱ 150 min🔥 200 kcalHard
Dinner

Reshteh Polo

Persian noodle rice cooked with caramelized onions and raisins — a Nowruz tradition.

⏱ 90 min🔥 440 kcalMedium
Dinner

Loobia Polo

Persian green bean rice with spiced lamb — a beloved family dish.

⏱ 85 min🔥 480 kcalMedium
Dinner

Shirin Polo

Persian jeweled sweet rice with orange peel, carrots, and nuts — the wedding rice.

⏱ 130 min🔥 480 kcalHard
Dinner

Tahdig with Saffron

Persian crispy golden rice crust with saffron — the most coveted piece.

⏱ 90 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
Dinner

Tahchin

Persian saffron rice cake with yogurt and chicken — crispy bottom, fluffy inside.

⏱ 95 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
✨ NewDessert

Sholeh Zard (Persian Saffron Rice Pudding)

Iran's golden saffron rice pudding, perfumed with rosewater and cardamom, decorated with cinnamon, pistachio, and slivered almond.

⏱ 125 min🔥 290 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Khoresht-e Bademjan (Persian Lamb and Eggplant Stew)

Iran's beloved tomato-eggplant stew — slow-braised lamb shoulder with fried eggplant, dried limes and saffron in a tart, savory sauce.

⏱ 120 min🔥 540 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Fesenjan (Persian Walnut and Pomegranate Stew)

Iran's most elegant stew — chicken slow-braised in a dark, sweet-sour gravy of toasted ground walnuts and reduced pomegranate molasses, served over saffron rice.

⏱ 170 min🔥 780 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Tahdig (Persian Saffron Crispy Rice Crust)

Tahdig is the crown jewel of Persian cooking: a golden, shatteringly crisp saffron-scented rice crust formed at the base of the pot, served inverted as the centrepiece of every Iranian meal.

⏱ 75 min🔥 360 kcalHard
✨ NewLunch

Shiraz Saffron Chicken Rice Bowl

Shiraz Saffron Chicken Rice Bowl brings persian flavor into a practical home recipe with chicken thighs, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a finish of dill.

⏱ 59 min🔥 544 kcalHard
✨ NewSoup

Tehran Herb Lentil Soup

Tehran Herb Lentil Soup brings persian flavor into a practical home recipe with white fish, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a finish of dill.

⏱ 89 min🔥 566 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Isfahan Walnut Eggplant Skillet Dinner

Isfahan Walnut Eggplant Skillet Dinner brings persian flavor into a practical home recipe with lamb mince, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a finish of dill.

⏱ 37 min🔥 390 kcalEasy
✨ NewSalads

Caspian Dill Fish Salad

Caspian Dill Fish Salad brings persian flavor into a practical home recipe with roasted carrots, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a finish of dill.

⏱ 48 min🔥 412 kcalMedium
✨ NewLunch

Shiraz Lemon Herb Grain Bowl

Shiraz Lemon Herb Grain Bowl turns persian pantry flavors into a complete grain bowl with salmon, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 30 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
✨ NewSoup

Tehran Smoky Tomato Soup

Tehran Smoky Tomato Soup turns persian pantry flavors into a complete soup with white fish, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 51 min🔥 401 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Isfahan Sesame Lime Stew

Isfahan Sesame Lime Stew turns persian pantry flavors into a complete stew with chicken legs, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 62 min🔥 422 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Caspian Charred Pepper Noodles

Caspian Charred Pepper Noodles turns persian pantry flavors into a complete noodle dish with wheat noodles, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 73 min🔥 443 kcalMedium
✨ NewSalads

Yazd Green Herb Salad

Yazd Green Herb Salad turns persian pantry flavors into a complete salad with grilled chicken, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 46 min🔥 464 kcalHard
✨ NewDinner

Kerman Smoky Tomato Traybake

Kerman Smoky Tomato Traybake turns persian pantry flavors into a complete traybake with sweet potatoes, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 51 min🔥 506 kcalMedium
✨ NewSnacks

Mashhad Sesame Lime Fritters

Mashhad Sesame Lime Fritters turns persian pantry flavors into a complete fritters with salted fish, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 53 min🔥 527 kcalEasy
✨ NewBreakfast

Gilan Charred Pepper Breakfast Plate

Gilan Charred Pepper Breakfast Plate turns persian pantry flavors into a complete breakfast plate with yogurt, saffron, dried limes, herbs and walnuts, and a fresh dill finish.

⏱ 42 min🔥 548 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Dolmeh Felfel (Persian Stuffed Peppers with Rice and Herbs)

Bell peppers stuffed with rice, ground beef, herbs and split peas, simmered in a tangy tomato sauce, a Persian family dinner classic.

⏱ 75 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
✨ NewSalads

Persian Herbed Rice Salad (Salad-e Adas va Sabzi)

Cooked rice and lentils tossed with abundant fresh herbs and a lemon-olive oil dressing, a light Persian-inspired grain salad.

⏱ 45 min🔥 280 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Zereshk Polo (Persian Barberry Rice)

Fragrant saffron-scented Persian rice studded with tart dried barberries and toasted almonds, traditionally served with chicken.

⏱ 70 min🔥 420 kcalHard
✨ NewDinner

Morgh Polo (Persian Saffron Chicken and Rice)

Tender saffron-braised chicken served over fragrant basmati rice with a golden, crispy tahdig crust, a comforting Persian classic.

⏱ 85 min🔥 520 kcalHard
✨ NewLunch

Persian Herbed Rice Bowl with Roasted Onions and Lentils (Adas Polo)

Saffron rice layered with lentils, dates and deeply roasted onions, inspired by Persian adas polo.

⏱ 65 min🔥 440 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Persian Saffron Shrimp Rice with Mint-Yogurt Sauce

Saffron-scented shrimp and rice served with a cooling mint and cucumber yogurt sauce on the side.

⏱ 48 min🔥 420 kcalEasy
✨ NewLunch

Persian Lentil and Rice Bowl with Dried Lime and Tahini

Warm-spiced lentils and rice brightened with tart dried lime and a tahini drizzle.

⏱ 60 min🔥 390 kcalHard
✨ NewDinner

Chelow Kabab Platter with Saffron Rice and Grilled Tomatoes

A festive Persian platter of saffron-buttered rice, grilled beef kabab, and charred tomatoes.

⏱ 80 min🔥 610 kcalHard
✨ NewDinner

Persian Everyday Roasted Onion Stuffed Peppers

Sweet peppers stuffed with saffron rice, ground beef, split peas and caramelized onion, then baked in a light tomato sauce until tender.

⏱ 85 min🔥 415 kcalMedium

Choosing & preparing rice

How to choose

Choose by use: long-grain (basmati, jasmine) for fluffy, separate grains; short-grain for risotto and sushi where stickiness is wanted. Aged basmati cooks longer and fluffier.

Prep & storage

Rinse until the water runs clear to wash off surface starch and prevent clumping. The absorption method — a fixed water ratio, lid on, then a 10-minute steam off the heat — gives reliable results.

Nutrition

A gluten-free carbohydrate staple; brown and wild varieties keep the bran for extra fibre, B vitamins and minerals.

Classic flavour partners: onion, garlic, saffron, peas, soy sauce, cumin

Persian Rice Recipes — FAQ

How long do Persian rice recipes take to make?

Most of these 36 Persian rice recipes are ready in around 81 minutes from start to finish. The quickest, Shiraz Lemon Herb Grain Bowl, takes about 30 minutes, while the slower-cooked dishes run up to 170 minutes.

How many calories are in Persian rice dishes?

Across this collection they range from about 200 to 780 kcal per serving, averaging 459 kcal — Dolmeh Barg is the lightest option at 200 kcal.

What is the easiest Persian rice recipe for beginners?

Isfahan Walnut Eggplant Skillet Dinner is a great place to start — it's rated easy and comes together in about 37 minutes. 14% of the recipes here are beginner-friendly.

What goes well with rice in Persian cooking?

In these recipes, rice is most often paired with fine sea salt, garlic, saffron, onion, dill and saffron threads. Persian kitchens also lean on saffron, dried lime, turmeric, mint, barberries and rosewater.

More Persian Recipes by Ingredient

Rice Recipes from Other Cuisines