This Persian Style Rice is the base of many Persian dishes. A must-know for anyone who wants to learn how to cook delicious Persian food!
Ah, beautiful Persian food, how can I even start?
I have been waiting so long to write this post because I wanted to share with all of you how amazingly delicious Persian food is. I want to share the love for Persian food, the knowledge of making it and the sincere love I have for my country and its food.
Iranians love to eat. Sweet and savory. Homemade food is part of our culture and eating fresh homemade food everyday is part of Persian life. Persian kitchens are always active, something is always going on in them, either a meal is being made, or family members are just hanging out there. Persian kitchens never sleep! At least, ours never did in Iran.
My lovely maman makes THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD. I mean it. She is so fast, and efficient. My maman can make food for 50 people in less than 2 hours, and not just one type of food. at least two types, plus salad and side dishes, plus dessert! My mom's a magician! And when I see her, we are going to cook together and I will tell you all secrets of a Persian kitchen! But because my maman is now far away, I made the Persian Style Rice with my friend Zeinab for you my friends!
Zeinab is one of my best friends, the first best friend. We used to go to the same school and then she moved to London. Then I moved to Turkey. Then we both moved to the U.S and now we can see each other more often! See, you never know what's waiting for you!
I visited Zeinab last week and we made (She did most of it, though) 3 different Persian dishes, one of them was this gorgeous Persian style rice with crispy golden crust. This type of rice is the basic of Persian cuisine and much needed for many stews we make. It needs a bit of practice but it's something that you can (and should) boast about later if people start talking about their culinary skills. Because this is Persian style rice my friends, the best type of plain white rice!
Persian style rice calls for long grain rice therefore the best rice (If you cannot find Iranian rice) to make this dish with is Basmati rice. You will also need some vegetable oil and salt. No fuss, no exotic ingredients.
The best part of the rice is the crispy golden crust that shapes around the fluffy rice. It's like a crispy shell holding the beautiful, fluffy, white as snow rice inside, so basically there are two types of rice in one dish. My favorite part? The golden crispy crust!
So now get your Basmati rice, oil, salt and water, and let's make some Persian style rice with crispy golden crust!
Realated Recipes:
- Zereshk Polo Morgh
- Persian Pumpkin Pancakes - KAKA
- Maman's Stuffed Potato Patties
- Kotlet (Persian Meat Patties)
Persian Style Rice with Crispy Golden Crust
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 2-2 ½ cup cold water
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Put rice in a small pot.
- Pour water over the rice until it covers the rice and comes ½ inch over it.
- Add salt.
- Cook the rice uncovered over high heat until water evaporates almost completely. (about 20 minutes)
- Using a fork, bring the rice from the edge to the middle, make a mountain shape.
- Add the oil around the edge.
- Put the lid on and cook on medium-high heat for 7 minutes and then on low heat for additional 15 minutes.
- Turn the heat off. Place a plate on top of the pot and carefully turn the pot over so the rice drops into the plate.
- Serve immedietly.
Noel
what a spectacular looking dish! and how simple the cooking process is.
the next time I make rice, I'll be making this recipe
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
You will love it Noel! The crispy part is the best!
Ange
I love love love this. That golden crunchy rice looks amazing. I am giving this a go next time I make rice!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Hi Ange! I hope you like it! We love it!
LydiaF
This is probably the best explanation I've seen for how to make Persian style rice. Thank you!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
You are more than welcome Lydia! I hope you make it and like it! 🙂
Ramona W
Coming over from FBC. 🙂 We eat a lot of rice around my house and this is such a new recipe to me. Thank you for sharing it. 🙂
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Hi Ramona! Always great to see a fellow foodie coming over from FBC 🙂 I think there aren't many nations out there making rice the way we do 🙂 I'm glad you liked it!
Sarah
This looks delicious! I love making a new rice dish every once in a while, I'll have to try this one next!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Hopefully you will like it Sarah!
The Veganista Foodie
I've never had rice like that. Looks yummy!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
I think you will like it!
Maris (In Good Taste)
So simple! I love your plates, too.
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
It is very simple Maris! Plates are my friend's and I love them too!
Christine | Vermilion Roots
Nice to see how rice is eaten in other cultures. I like the way it's served.
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Hi Christine! Yes for me it's interesting too, like the way Mexicans do it which is totally different from us, both delicious, both beautiful!
Lynn
Gorgeous rice! I have always wanted to make this. Thanks so much!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
You are welcome Lynn! Love your blog!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
This looks AMAZING!!!!! I always love trying new things so can't wait to give this a go!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
I'm sure you will like it Lucy!
Simon (BBQ Bastard)
Wow that golden brown crust looks so good! Never had this on rice! I'll try this out! Must be delicious 🙂
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
You will love it, that crust is life!
Vicky from @Avocado Pesto
Woahhh the crust on that rice is simply beautiful!! Would love to learn how to make this!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Vicky it's quite easy! Just give it a try and you'll see! 🙂
Mar
Mom's always make the best food! Your pictures are beautiful! I've always wanted to try middle eastern food!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Isn't it just pure truth Mar? Moms are the best! Thank you! <3
Amanda {Striped Spatula}
I've never had Persian cuisine and this rice looks fantastic! I love other crispy rice dishes I've tried, so I will definitely bookmark this. Thanks for sharing!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Thank you Amanda for stopping by! This rice dish is the base of Persian food so if you can make this one, the rest is quite easy!
Hedi
Love your recipes and explanations! I was wondering if you’ve tested this with any other oils? I’m on the search for healthier oils but I’m not sure how for example, avocado oil would taste? Currently using sunflower oil .
Nikki @ Tikkido
This looks amazing! I love rice--LOVE RICE--of any variety, but I've never attempted to make rice like this. I can't wait to try the technique for getting that amazing golden crust!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
I am so glad you liked it Nikki! This technique is really easy but the result is oh-so-yum!
Angeline
I have made it only I put rings of potato on the bottom of the pit while the rice cooker and the potato also crisps up. Yummy
Michelle
Hello Shadi, This looks simply delicious! I'm gluten-free and my family loves rice, so we'll give this one a try. Looks yummy.
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Hi Michelle! You will love this! And I am posting a Persian stew tomorrow that is vegetarian and goes so well with this!
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy
This basmati rice looks amazing!! So so good! Thanks for the recipe!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Thank you Neli for stopping by! Yes, it's one of the best!
Deedra
That looks very good and very simple to make.
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
I'm with you Deedra!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender
YUM!!! I absolutely LOVE the look of that beautiful crust! I cannot wait to try it! Seeing as we eat rice regularly, I will make sure I practice!! Now I actually will WANT to eating the crust of the rice (My husband is the one who usually likes it!), in fact it might become my favourite part too 🙂
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Oh Dini the crust will be your favorite! I never share the crust unless i really love that person 😀
Joy @ Joy Love Food
I love Persian food, this rice with that crispy crust looks amazing! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend? I hope you will join us again next Monday!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Thank you Joy for stopping by! Sure I will join next Monday! I have a new Persian Recipe!
Amber | Caleigh's Kitchen
OMG, I love anything with a crispy crust! I have never heard of this before!! I want to try it out! Thanks for linking up at Try A Bite Tuesday link party last week! This week is live, we'd love for you to come party again this week! #TryABiteTuesday
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Coming over right now! I've got a pumpkin pie!
Kylie
Oh my! This looks fab. I'm going to give it a go. Thanks for linking up at #whatkidseatwednesday!
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by Kylie! Loving every link party at your blog!
Miz Helen
Your recipe is awesome, I have pinned it. We really enjoy you sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again soon!
Miz Helen
unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com
Hi! Thanks for visiting! Would love to join again! 🙂 <3
Angeline
I have made it only I put rings of potato on the bottom of the pit while the rice cooker and the potato also crisps up. Yummy
Suzette Nguyen
I just tried this and all the crispy part stuck to the bottom of the pan 🙁 waaahhhh what do i do wrong? what do I need to do differently next time? Thanks for all the recipes, I make your celery stew recipe all the time!!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Oh Suzette I'm so sorry to hear that the tahdig stuck to the pan. Did you use a non stick pan? And what did you use for tahdig? Bread or potatoes? If you use non stick pot, it usually shouldn't stick. Tahdig requires a bit of practice and I want you to know that I have ruined so many tahdigs in my early days 🙂 Hope you try it again, and if you do, definitely serve it with some celery stew! <3
John
Hi Shadi.
Is there still a small amount of water in the pan when you add the oil?
Also, once you add the oil, do you flatten the rice back out or leave in a mountain in the center. Thanks much. Can’t wait to try.
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi John, Thank you for your comment. Yes, very little water is left when you add the oil. It depends on you whether you flatten the rice or not. I usually flatten just a little bit. Hope you enjoy this recipe!
Joseph
Hello ,can you help ,,I was many years ago at the home of an Iranian pro soccer player his wife prepared a rice and chicken dish ,it was in a tall pot she placed a plate over pot and it was spectacular it came out wit chicken a bottom of plate and a tower of a very crisp rice ,served with a flat bread ,,,I have searched and that's how I found you're Wonderfull site Can You help with a recipe ,it was very flavorful. Thankyou Sir
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Joseph. I don't have the recipe that you mentioned on the site, however, you might want to check out our zereshk polo morgh as it's the closest recipe to what you have in mind: https://www.unicornsinthekitchen.com/zereshk-polo-morgh/