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