Polo & Chelo✨Jeweled Saffron & Tart Ruby Barberries

Shirazi Polo

شیرازی پلو قالبی با بادمجان و زرشک

This is a dish that is somewhat similar to Tahchine Morgh, but yet it is different! I actually call it Shirazi Polo ghalebi because I make it in a round oven safe dish (Pyrex). When inverted, it reveals layers of golden saffron rice, tender chicken, fried eggplants, and sweet-tart barberries.

Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
1 hour 45 mins
Total Time
2 hr 20 min
Servings
6 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Shirazi Polo
The Authentic Sofreh Pairing

In Persian tradition, dining is a harmony of hot and cold temperaments (Garm o Sard). Serve this dish alongside:

Salad ShiraziMast-o KhiarTorshiFresh Herbs (Sabzi Khordan)
🍚The Tahdig Golden Guarantee

Master Crust Secret: Slick the pot bottom with 3–4 tbsp oil or melted butter and 2 tbsp bloomed saffron water. Sear on medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes until sizzling, then wrap the lid in a clean towel (damkoni) and steam on low for 40–45 minutes.

Ingredients

مواد لازم
Servings Stepper
6 servings
Unit System
Prep ready: 0 of 12

Step-by-Step Instructions

طرز تهیه
1
Cook chicken: Sauté onions in oil, add chicken pieces, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and cook on medium-low for 35 minutes. Set chicken aside and strain the broth.
2
Fry eggplants: Fry eggplant rounds in oil over medium-high heat until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
3
Sauté barberries: Sauté rinsed barberries in 1 tablespoon oil with sugar and a splash of saffron for 1 to 2 minutes on low heat.
4
Parboil rice: Boil soaked rice in water for 5 minutes, then drain.
5
Mix yogurt base: Whisk yogurt, egg yolks, saffron, oil, salt, and a splash of chicken broth. Mix 2 spatulas of rice into this yogurt mixture.
6
Layer in Pyrex: Grease a round oven-safe Pyrex dish generously with oil. Spread the saffron-yogurt rice across the bottom. Add a layer of rice, then the fried eggplant rounds, then the chicken pieces, and half the barberries. Cover with remaining rice and press down gently. Pour reserved chicken broth over the top.
7
Bake and invert: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 1.5 to 2 hours until the crust is crispy and golden brown. Wait a few minutes, run a knife around the edges, invert onto a platter, and top with remaining barberries 🙂.
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