Zereshk Polo Morgh or Barberry Rice Chicken

Zereshk Polo Morgh literally means Zereshk (dried barberry), Rice, Chicken. It’s one of the easiest dishes in Persian cuisine. It cooks in around ⏳ 1 hour. But if you like a good tahdig (rice crust) it can take longer. It’s best with chicken thighs but feel free to use any part of chicken you like.

What is Zereshk? It’s Barberry.

It is a type of berry that grows in arid mountain areas up to 2000m/6561f of height. A vitamin-C-rich fruit which is sour, that’s why it’s a great match with greasy food because it balances the flavors and in general Persian food has a penchant for sourness.

In case you don’t have Zereshk, replace it with one of these berries:

• Ribes/currant
• Raspberries

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Ingredients | 2-3 servings

• 3-4 Chicken thighs & legs
• 1tbsp Tomato paste
• A handful of dried Zereshk/Barberries
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric
• 1 white Onion
• Salt and Black Pepper
• Clarified butter
• Slices of Almonds (optional)
• 1 spring of Rosemary (optional)

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While cooking the chicken, start cooking the Persian rice. Here is the recipe of white rice.

Preparation

– In a big pot add clarified butter (or the oil of your choice), followed by chicken tights.

– Stir fry the chicken until browning.

– Add onion, turmeric, salt, pepper.

– Add 1 cup of boiling water and set the heat to low.

– Cover with the lid and cook for ⏳ 40 mins.

– In a small pan stir fry tomato paste to have a more vivid red color (Optional).

– Add the tomato paste to chickens.

– Cook for another ⏳ 30 minutes.

Preparation of Zereshk/Berries:

– Wash the Zereshk using a sieve.

– In a pan add: oil + Zereshk + 1tsp sugar + a bit of ground saffron and salt. Stir fry for ⏳ 1 minute.

– Add 2-3 tbsp of cooked rice and almonds (optional), mix them well.

– The topping for the rice is ready.

Back to the chicken pot:

After cooking zeresh polo for an hour, the chicken becomes tender and gains the red color of tomato paste, that is when it is ready, check the seasoning before serving.

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Notes

• Some people like to eat this dish with sides like white greek yogurt, raw onions & fresh herbs (سبزی خوردن).
• If you like less red chicken feel free to add less tomato paste, in many restaurants, this dish doesn’t have an intense red color and it’s less sour.

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Serve it with basmati rice, zereshk & saffron rice on top and the chickens aside.

Noosh-e-jan (buon appetito) ☺️