Tahchin – Persian Savory Rice Cake

Persian Savory Saffron Cake – Tahchin is a very delicious traditional Persian rice dish full of saffron and great flavors. It is usually served with chicken in tomato sauce. This tahchin recipe is simple and perfect for a family meal. 

I’m here with another delicious Persian recipe for you! A new Persian rice dish that everyone loves because it’s so unique!

If you’re familiar with Persian recipes, you know that rice is a key element of this beautiful cuisine. From basic Persian rice and tahdig to sabzi polo (herb rice) and tomato rice, this white grain is cooked in different ways and with different flavors. Today, I’m showing you one of my favorite rice recipes called tahchin, aka Persian savory saffron rice cake.

What is Tahchin?

Tahchin is a combination of two words: Tah+Chin. “Tah” means bottom and “chin” means arrange. Tahchin – Persian savory saffron cake is a delicious dish that is very different from other Persian dishes as the rice is actually very sticky and has a cake texture instead of being all fluffy. The golden color of this saffron rice cake is because of bloomed saffron which makes it so aromatic and full of flavor.

Tahchin recipe ingredients

To make tahchin, you need long grain rice, preferably Basmati, yogurt, eggs, bloomed saffron and vegetable oil. Make sure you use good quality saffron. My favorite is Mehr Saffron, the color and aroma is just amazing. Depending on the recipe, you can also used cooked and shredded chicken and barberries as a middle layer in tahchin as well.

How to make Tahchin

To make this saffron rice casserole, you need par cooked rice. You should cook the rice halfway so that it’s still firm in the middle because the rice is going to cook further with the addition of yogurt, saffron and eggs. Once the par cooked rice is ready, mix it with eggs, yogurt, vegetable oil and saffron. Then bake in te oven for almost an hour until it’s set and golden.

Traditionally, Persian savory saffron cake is made in a pot on medium heat but there is always a possibility of burning the bottom if you’re not careful. That’s why my recipe instructs you to cook this Persian rice cake dish in an oven safe dish, it’s easier and you will always end up with a delicious golden Tahchin!

What’s the difference between tahchin and tahdig?

Tahdig is the crispy bottom of the part deliciousness that is made with Persian rice, it can be made with rice, potatoes or flatbread like lavash. Tahchin on the other hand, is a complete meal on its own and is usually served with chicken and is also called tahchin morgh.

Different types of tahchin

This savory saffron rice cake is a vegetarian dish on its own but many recipes call for a middle layer such as chicken, beef or lamb. This tahchin recipe is a basic and foolproof one that comes out perfectly every time and I love topping it with barberries sauteed in butter with a pinch of sugar.

Notes and tips to make Persian savory saffron cake – Tahchin:

• Bastmati rice has different variations. Make sure the consistency of your Tahchin batter looks like what you see in the video.
• Absolutely bloom your saffron. You can find the full guide How To Bloom Saffron. Saffron threads don’t have full aroma, color and flavor if they’re not bloomed.
• This dish is usually served with chicken in tomato sauce. You can use the chicken recipe in Zereshk Polo Morgh to make the chicken.
• You can make Tahchin in a muffin tin to have individual portions of Tahchin. Make sure to coat the tin with nonstick spray.
• You can store Tahchin in an airtight container for up to two days.

Tahchin can be served with chicken, beef, lamb or veggies, usually cooked in a sauce. I hope you love it as much as we do!

More delicious Persian recipe:

• Kabab Tabei – Persian Pan Kebab
• Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian Barberry Rice with Chicken
• Saffron Milkshake Recipe (Persian Style)
• Persian Love Cake Recipe
• Joojeh Kabab (Persian Saffron Chicken Kebab)

5 from 3 votes

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Persian Savory Saffron Cake - Tahchin

Persian Savory Saffron Cake - Tahchin is a very delicious traditional Persian rice dish full of saffron and great flavors. It is usually served with chicken in tomato sauce.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Persian

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings 12 servings

Calories 225 kcal

Author Shadi HasanzadeNemati

Ingredients

Saffron Rice Cake

• 6 cup Water
• 2 cups Basmati rice washed
• 2 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 cup Plain Greek yogurt
• 3 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp Bloomed Saffron

Barberries

• 2 tbsp Butter
• 3/4 Cup Dried Barberries
• 1/2 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp Rose Water

To Top:

• 2 tbsp Slivered Almonds
• 2 tbsp Slivered Pistachios

Instructions

1. Pour water in a large pot, bring to boil.

2. Add rice to the boiling water, cook for 10 minutes until the rice is soft on the outside but firm on the inside. 

3. Drain the rice, set aside in a bowl. 

4. Preheat the oven to 350F. Coat an oven safe dish (8X8) with nonstick spray. 

5. Place yogurt, oil and eggs and salt in a large bowl whisk until combined. 

6. Add in par cooked rice. mix well. 

   Add in bloomed saffron. Mix well. 

7. Pour into the oven safe dish, cover with aluminum foil and poke holes into the aluminum foil using a fork.  

8. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. The dish is ready once it's fully cooked and stuck together. 

Meanwhile, prepare the barberries.

1. Heat a small pan over medium low heat. Melt the butter in the pan. 

2. Add in barberries, stir until coated with butter. 

3. Add in sugar and rose water. Stir well. 

4. Barberries are ready once they're shiny. 

To Serve:

1. Once the Tahchin in ready, flip it into a plate and top it with barberries, slivered almond and slivered pistachios. 

2. Serve plain or with chicken in tomato rice. 

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

How to bloom saffron: 

https://www.unicornsinthekitchen.com/how-to-bloom-saffron/