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  • Persian Rice Cooker

    Persian Rice Cooker

    A Persian rice cooker is a must for perfect Persian rice every time.

    A Persian Rice Cooker (Polo Paz) is a secret weapon to good tahdig. Be sure that when you purchase your rice cooker that you buy the Persian style rice cooker. Currently there are 2 types of electric rice cookers on the market. The Asian style rice cooker that steams the rice but doesn’t produce that amazing rice crust for which Persian rice is renowned, and the Persian rice cooker. 

    An automatic Persian rice cooker can be used for all kinds of Persian cuisine and rice dishes from Polo rice to steamed rice and Tahcheen. The non-stick pan and the controlled heating through the timer results in perfect rice and tahdig every time. Great for both plain steamed rice with a rich tahdig, and any layered rice dish such as Baghali Polo and Sabzi Polo. Our easy Adas Polo, where we use the lamb stock to cook the rice, also forms amazing tahdig with a set and forget feature. Just perfect every time.

    Best rice for Persian Rice Cookers

    It is important that you use a good long grain rice for your Persian Polo rice dishes. Basmati rice is fairly easy to find now in the west, and more and more middle Eastern grocers are stocking the good quality long grain Persian rice. When you prepare Persian rice it is also important that you wash it well to make sure you remove all the excess starch.

    Features of the Iranian Rice Cooker

    The authentic polo paz has a non-stick pan so when you turn out the rice it comes out perfectly every time. The design of the rice cooker allows that high heat towards the end of the cooking to create the crunchy tahdig, but you have to remember to place the tea-towel under the lid. This absorbs the excess steam to ensure that the tahdig doesn’t go soggy. Also remember the rice steaming pot will be very hot when the rice is cooked, so be sure to use oven mitts when turning over the rice.

    The electric rice cooker is a must in a busy Persian family, where rice would be served at least 4 – 5 times a week. For our family of 5 we have 2 rice cookers, a 15 cup and a 7 cup. We use the smaller one when it is just our family and the larger one when we have guests, and when we have a lot of guests we will often us both. We use the Pars rice cooker as available from Amazon with the links below.  We have been using the smaller one for more than 20 years and still running perfectly.

    Buy a Persian Rice Cooker

    I have found some Amazon links for the Pars Rice Cookers.

    Some Recipes using the Persian Rice Cooker

    I love Persian cooking and it is amazing how man different versions of Polo rice there are. Below are some of my favorite Persian rice recipes using the Polo Paz.

    • Morgh-e-Kofta Baghali Polo – Chicken Meatballs with Broad beans and Rice

      Morgh-e-Kofta Baghali Polo – Chicken Meatballs with Broad beans and Rice

      This recipe is something a little different. Layers of rice, broad beans, chopped garlic chives and small chicken meatballs, with tarragon. A friend recently gave me a huge bunch of fresh tarragon which inspired this recipe. Tarragon and chicken go together really well, and Baghali Polo is a firm favorite in our family. Garlic chives…

    • Salmon and Dill Layered Rice – Sabzi Mahi Polo

      Salmon and Dill Layered Rice – Sabzi Mahi Polo

      I recently had a similar dish to this at a friends house and it was absolutely delightful. So when we had left over Salmon from Christmas lunch this year I decided to make my own rendition of Sabzi Mahi Polo. Hope you enjoy it. My husband had cooked the salmon on the BBQ for Christmas…

    • Baghali Polo – Rice with Broad Beans, Dill & Chicken

      Baghali Polo – Rice with Broad Beans, Dill & Chicken

      Baghali Polo is a traditional rice dish combining the flavours of the delicate Broad bean with Dill. This recipe includes chicken and becomes a complete meal. Although it can be a little time consuming to remove the outer husks from the bread bean, it is a quick and easy Iranian meal, served with Yoghurt, mixed…

    • Easy Adas Polo with Lamb

      Easy Adas Polo with Lamb

      This Adas Polo recipe with Lamb, and although it takes a while to cook, it is one of the easiest Persian recipes. Boil the lamb, onion, turmeric, salt pepper in a pressure cooker until the lamb pieces are well cooked. I usually then place this in fridge over night to remove excess fat that has…

    • Polo – White Persian Rice

      Polo – White Persian Rice

    • Adas Polo

      Adas Polo

    • Sabzi Polo

      Sabzi Polo


  • Saucepans

    Saucepans

    Good quality saucepans are a must for Persian Cooking, as an even transfer of heat will result in even cooking.

    A large saucepan is required for the cooking of rice as the rice will double in size in the cooking process and the rice grains need to freely move in the water when being boiled for the steamed or Polo rice.

  • Colander

    Colander

    A colander is needed for straining the rice once it has been par boiled ready to put back into the saucepan for the steaming process. Too big holes will result in the rice falling into the sink. The water must run freely around the cooked rice grains while rinsing.

  • Pressure Cooker

    A pressure cooker makes life easy for the busy cook, allowing for stews, Khoresht and other time consuming dishes to be prepared at the end of a busy day.

  • Rice Serving Dish

    Rice Serving Dish

    A round serving dish is essential for serving a good rice. The dish must be about 4 – 6 cm in diameter larger than the container in which the rice is cooked. This will ensure that as the rice is served and the sides of the rice dish collapse it stays on the dish.

    Traditionally the serving plate is placed on top of the container where the rice is cooked (either a saucepan or a rice-cooker) and then it is inverted upside down displaying the beautiful crispy tah-deeg.

    I have 2 different sized dishes depending on which rice cooker I use.

    Round Rice Serving Dish

  • Food Processor

    A food processor is a must in a busy kitchen. Choose a large bowled variety that is easily cleaned. One that can be pulled apart and put in the dishwasher is even better. A must for the preparation of the Persian Mince Kebab, Kebab Koobideh, and processing the herbs, sabzi, for dishes like Khoresht Gormeh Sabzi.

  • Zereshk – Barberry

    Zereshk – Barberry

    Zereshk, or Barberry is a small, sour, red berry. Used in Persian rices dishes or to add interest to jams and jellies, this berry is available dried from Persian or Afghani grocery stores.

    zereshk
  • Yoghurt

    Yoghurt

    Yoghurt is a dairy product produced by adding a culture to milk and allowing to incubate producing a thick substance. Yoghurt used in traditional Persian cooking is very thick and unsweetened.Greek yoghurt is a good substitution.

  • Tahdig

    Tahdig

    Tahdig, literally “the bottom of the pot”, is the crunchy crust formed at the bottom of the rice dish resulting from the temperature increase at the end of the cooking cycle for the rice.

    Adas Polo Vegan
    Rice with Broad Beans, Dill & Chicken
    Turn the rice out upside down on a large round serving dish
    Salmon and Dill Layered Rice – Sabzi Mahi Polo
  • Spinach

    Spinach

    A green leafy vegetable high in iron. Use either English spinach or Baby spinach leaves.

  • Salep

    Salep

    A white flour made from grinding the dried tubers of an Orchid species. Salep is the “secret ingredient” to Persian Ice cream or Bastani Salabi. salep is more commonly used in a traditional Turkish drink when mixed with hot milk. Sometimes salep is hard to find, but look in Turkish grocers as a drink mix rather than an ice cream ingredient. Available from Middle Eastern and Persian grocers.

  • Rose Water

    Rose Water

    Rose water, a by product of the production of Rose Oil is used extensively in Persian and Middle Eastern Cuisines. Rose Water can have an overpowering effect, so use sparingly until you are used to the strength. Rose Water is available at Persian or Middle Eastern grocery stores. Be careful when using rosewater purchased at other stores as the strength and sweetness can vary greatly.

    Also know as

    • Ghol-abi