Barberry rice(زرشک پلو zereshk polo) is a popular side dish of Persian cuisine.

Barberry rice is commonly served with chicken. Sometimes pistachio bits are added as an additional garnish.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cup basmati rice, soaked at least 1 hour and drained
• 4 cup water
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ onion, chopped (optional)
• ½ cup barberry, soaked about 5 minutes and drained
• 2 tbsp honey or sugar
• 1 tbsp saffron water (¼ tsp saffron, crushed and dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water)
• pistachio, shelled and slivered (optional)

Directions

• boil rice, water, salt
• simmer until partly cooked, about 5 minutes
• drain and rinse
• steam rice about 30 minutes
• sauté onion until lightly browned
• sauté barberry, honey, salt, saffron water until combined, about 2 minutes
• transfer rice to serving dish; add onion and pour barberry mixture over
• garnish with pistachio (optional)
• serve