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    Home » Persian Recipes

    Sabzi Polo (Persian Herb Rice)

    Published: Mar 17, 2018 · Modified: Jul 15, 2022 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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    Sabzi Polo is a delicious Persian herb rice that's served with fish for Persian new year. Rice mixed with a selection of aromatic herbs makes this a great side dish to serve when you're feeding a crowd!

    Sabzi Polo is a delicious Persian herb rice that's served with fish for Persian new year.

    Who's up for a rice dish that is full of herbs and bursting with flavor? And just look at that shiny lettuce tahdig!

    THE COMPLETE PERSIAN FOOD BUNDLE INCLUDES…

    Norooz is so close, I can feel that spring is waiting at the door. It's such a great feeling to start the new year with spring, where everything is new. At this time of the year, we eat all the green food as they represent life and rebirth such as Kuku Sabzi and Dill Rice with Peas. We also make different types of Persian cookies and pastries like Walnut Filled Persian Pastry (Qottab) and Raisin Cookies (Shirini Keshmeshi). Everything around here smells like Nowruz these days.

    Related Recipes:

    • Persian One Pot Tomato Rice
    • Tahchin – Persian Savory Rice Cake

    Today, I'm going to show you how to make Sabzi Polo which is a delicious Persian herb rice recipe that's made with fresh or dried herbs and usually has a crispy lettuce tahdig, which is amazing, trust me. Sabzi means "herbs" and Polo means "Rice, so Sabzi Polo means "herb rice" and it's usually served with stuffed fish with pomegranates and walnuts which is a Persian style fish usually served around the new year. We call the full meal "Sabzi Polo Mahi" which means "Herb Rice and Fish".

    Persian herb rice with lettuce tahdig. This rice is very aromatic and tasty.

    What are the herbs used in Sabzi Polo?

    Sabzi polo is a mixture of rice and several different herbs. You can use either fresh or dried herbs, or even a mix of both like I did here. The herbs used in Sabzi polo are:

    • Parsley
    • Cilantro
    • Chives or leek (the green parts)
    • Dill

    I always use both the leaves and the stems of the herbs as I don't like to waste any food, and I also believe that most of the flavor is nestled in the stems!

    Herbs used in Sabzi Polo are leeks, cilantro, parsley and dill. You can use fresh or dried herbs.

    How to make Sabzi Polo

    Start with rinsing the rice at least three times, and mix chopped parsley, cilantro, dill and chives/leek together in a bowl. Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the rice in boiling water until it's par cooked, meaning that the rice grain would be soft on the outside and firm in the middle. Drain the rice using a colander and place the pot back on the heat, make sure the pot is fully dry. Mix the rice with the herbs in the colander (see the photo below)

    Drain the excess water and mix the herbs with par cooked rice in a colander.

    Pour some oil into the pot so it covers the bottom of the pot. Place lettuce leaves and cover the bottom of the pot completely. Scoop in the rice and herbs, shape it into a mound and using the end of a spatula, make five holes in the rice to let the steam out.

    Pour some water around the edges, cover the lid in a clean towel and place it on the pot. Cook for 15 minutes on medium high so the rice starts to steam, then pour some oil on the rice, cover, and cook on low for another 30 minutes. Serve warm and don't forget the lettuce tahdig at the bottom!

    Cover the bottom of the pot with oil and lay lettuce leaves at the bottom of the pot. Scoop in the rice and herb mixture.

    How to make Sabzi Polo with dried herbs

    It's pretty easy to make Persian herb rice with dried herbs. You'll need ¼ cup dried parsley, dried cilantro, dried chives and ½ cup dried dill or one cup of a pre-made sabzi polo herb mix. Mix the dried herbs together and once you drain the par boiled rice using a colander, mix it with dried herbs and proceed with the original recipe. There is no need to soak the herbs in water as they will blend with rice properly because of the steaming process.

    I love making sabzi polo with both dried or fresh herbs but I have to admit that using dried herbs is much easier as there is no washing and chopping involved. The flavors are the same and both will yield into delicious green rice dishes. You can get sabzi polo dried herbs from Amazon (Affiliate Link).

    Is there a simpler way to make Sabzi Polo?

    Yes! If par cooking is not the approach you would like to take, you can put two cups of basmati rice in a pot, cover with water so it comes 2 inches above the rice and add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and a teaspoon of salt to it. Bring the pot to a boil and once half of the water is evaporated, mix in the fresh chopped herbs and two tablespoons of oil into the rice and wrap the lid in a kitchen towel. Cover the pot, lower the heat and cook for fifteen to twenty minutes and that's it! This approach doesn't include the lettuce tahdig but will still have the crispy rice at the bottom of the pot.

    If using dried herb mix, mix it with rice in the beginning, cover with water, add oil and salt, and cook until the water is almost evaporated, cover with the lid wrapped in a kitchen towel and cook for 10-15 more minutes.

    Notes and Tips to make Sabzi Polo

    • If you're making sabzi polo with fresh herbs, make sure to chop them as small as possible, this will help the rice to get more flavor and color.
    • If using dried sabzi polo herb mix, store the leftovers in a glass jar or an airtight container and keep in a cool, dry place.
    • You can serve sabzi polo with different types of meat. The most common is to serve it with fish for the Persian New Year.
    • Non stick pots work best for making tahdig. Make sure there is enough oil at the bottom of the pot and cover it completely with lettuce leaves.
    • To start steaming the rice, make sure to have the heat on medium high for the first ten to fifteen minutes and then turn the heat to low.
    Lettuce tahdig is perfect for sabzi polo. It's usually served with fish.

    Sabzi Polo (Persian Herb Rice)

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Sabzi Polo is a delicious Persian Herb Rice that is usually served with fish for the new year. Sabzi Polo has a crispy lettuce Tahdig that's hard to resist! 
    4.90 from 38 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Persian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 114 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups Basmati Rice
    • 1 ½ cup Fresh Dill Chopped (See Note #1)
    • ½ cup Fresh Chives Chopped (See Note #2)
    • ½ cup Fresh Cilantro Chopped
    • ½ cup Fresh Parsley Chopped
    • ⅛ cup Vegetable Oil Plus 4 tablespoons
    • 5-6 Romaine Lettuce Leaves

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse Basmati rice at least three times. Set aside. 
    • Mix all the chopped herbs in a large bowl and set aside.
    • Fill a large non stick pot with water, place over high heat, cover with a lid and bring water to boil. 
    • Once the water is boiling, pour the rinsed rice into the water and cook it for 7-8 minutes until the rice grain is soft on the outside but still firm on the inside.  
    • Drain using a colander and mix the herbs with the rice. 
    • Place the pot back on medium heat and make sure it's dry. Pour the vegetable oil into the pot and heat it. 
    • Once the oil is shimmery, place the lettuce leaves at the bottom of the pot to cover it. 
    • 5.Scoop the rice and herbs back into the pot. Bring most of the rice to the middle, shaping it into a mound. Using the edge of a spatula, make 5 holes in the surface of the rice to let the steam out. 
    • Pour ½ cup of water around the edges. Wrap the lid in a clean towel and put it on the pot. Let the rice steam for 15 minutes, until the steam comes out from the bottom of the pot.
    • Pour 4 tablespoons vegetable oil on the rice, cover, and steam for 20-30 more minutes on low heat. 
    • Serve warm with chicken or fish.

    Video

    Notes

    1. If fresh dill is not available, use ½ cup dried dill. 
    2. You can use leek (the green parts) instead of chives. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6servingsCalories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 7mgFiber: 1g
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

    Have you made this recipe? Let us know by commenting and rating on this recipe. Take a picture and tag @unicornsinthekitchen and #unicornsinthekitchen for a chance to be featured!

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    15627 shares
    • 10

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dana

      March 14, 2023 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      This was absolutely delicious, and so aromatic! The whole family loved it.

      Reply
    2. Traci

      March 14, 2023 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! This Persian rice has all of my favorite herbs! Who knew it was this simple?! Thanks for sharing another exciting recipe 🙂

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 14, 2023 at 1:04 pm

        It's a favorite!

        Reply
    3. Rachel A

      June 27, 2022 at 12:54 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe now at least 5 times. It’s a staple in my household 🙂 so delicious!

      Reply
    4. Howard

      March 18, 2022 at 10:58 am

      5 stars
      This sounds delicious. That's tomorrow's dinner sorted. I can't wait to try it. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    5. Azzy

      June 30, 2021 at 5:19 am

      5 stars
      Made this for Mother’s Day and we used all fresh herbs (leek, dill, parsley and cilantro) and MY GOODNESS! It was one of the most flavorful rice dishes I’ve ever had. We’ve been making this recipe nonstop! Thank you for sharing and bringing these amazing new tastes into our hone!

      Reply
    6. wilhelmina

      May 04, 2020 at 10:46 am

      5 stars
      You are always introducing me to new dishes and flavors! This rice is another yummy winner!

      Reply
    7. Noelle

      May 04, 2020 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      This rice is amazing! flavors are out of this world, remind me to never make plain rice again 😉

      Reply
    8. Maela

      March 24, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      Hello Shadi!
      I cooked this receipe tonight and it was great ! I bought dry herbs (ghorme sabzi mix) which made it easier. I was a bit sceptical about the salad-crust but it worked out just perfectly and tasted nicely crispy. Will definitely cook it again! We had your Persian Chicken with Saffron with the rice (see my review). Thank you so much for this dinner !
      Maela

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 24, 2018 at 11:36 pm

        Hi Maela!
        So glad to hear you loved the rice! It's such a fragrant side dish to any protein! That lettuce crust is so good, too!

        Reply
    9. Danielle

      March 23, 2018 at 5:58 am

      5 stars
      I don't know much about Persian cooking, but love learning about new cuisines. I'm so glad I found your website 🙂 This rice sounds so fresh and delicious!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 24, 2018 at 7:52 am

        Thank you Danielle! I really hope you try and enjoy these recipes!

        Reply
    10. Soha Molina

      March 18, 2018 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for this recipe and happy new year from a fellow Persian. I love to cook Persian food and my family loves the taste. I have not made Sabzi Polow before though so I may try it soon.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 19, 2018 at 9:59 pm

        Hi Soha! Thank you for your ind comments! I hope you love sabzi polo, we sure do!

        Reply
    11. Julia

      March 18, 2018 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      What a wonderful way to turn ordinary rice into something so delicious! My mouth is watering here 🙂

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 19, 2018 at 10:02 pm

        Thanks Julia!

        Reply
    12. Emily

      March 18, 2018 at 5:57 am

      5 stars
      Wow this looks so delicious, a perfect side dish!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 19, 2018 at 10:03 pm

        Thanks Emily!

        Reply
    13. Emily Krill

      March 18, 2018 at 5:35 am

      5 stars
      I've never heard of lettuce tahdig before. I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 19, 2018 at 10:10 pm

        It's so good!

        Reply
    14. Natalie

      March 18, 2018 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      I love this Persian dish, I used to eat it at a Persian friend's house who's mother made this amazing dish. Yours looks just like hers - so delicious!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 24, 2018 at 8:02 am

        Hope you try and enjoy this, Natalie!

        Reply
    15. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      March 18, 2018 at 4:39 am

      5 stars
      Oh wow, this rice looks absolutely delicious! Love the flavours in it.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        March 19, 2018 at 10:10 pm

        Thanks Bintu! It's our favorite!

        Reply
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