Sholeh Zard Recipe

Sholeh Zard is one of the traditional and old Iranian dishes, which is also known as a dessert. However, nowadays, it is mostly prepared as a starter. Sholeh Zard can be served both hot and cold.

How To Make Sholeh Zard?

Sholeh Zard is made with rice, saffron, sugar, and rose water. This aromatic dish is known for its vibrant yellow color, which comes from the saffron, and its smooth, creamy texture. It is often garnished with cinnamon, almonds, and pistachios.

Its easy-to-make recipe and delightful taste make it a beloved treat for those who enjoy Persian sweets.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Iranian broken rice
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup of rose water
• 50 grams of butter
• 1 teaspoon of saffron
• 1/2 cup of almond slivers
• 3 tablespoons of brewed cardamom
• Cinnamon to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Cooking the Rice

To prepare Sholeh Zard, first wash the rice the night before and soak it in 3 cups of water. Allow it to soak for about 12 to 24 hours. After the rice has soaked, place it in a suitable pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil. Be careful not to stir the rice at this stage.

Once the rice becomes a little softer, takes on a mushy texture, and absorbs the water, reduce the heat. At this point, start stirring the rice. It is important not to add any more water to the rice, as this could cause the Sholeh Zard to become watery when serving.

Step 2: Adding Sugar

Once the rice is fully cooked and has become mushy, it’s time to add the sugar. If you feel that the rice has become too thick before adding the sugar, don’t worry, as the rice will loosen up again once the sugar is added. Therefore, do not add any more water to the rice. Stir the rice for about 15 minutes to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Step 3: Adding Saffron

Grind 1 mesqal of saffron and let it steep in ice. After the saffron has steeped, add it to the rice and stir well until the Sholeh Zard takes on a uniform color.

Step 4: Adding Almond Slivers and Rose Water

Soak the almond slivers along with the rose water in a bowl to allow the almonds to fully absorb the fragrance and flavor of the rose water. Then, add the soaked almond slivers and rose water to the Sholeh Zard and let it cook with the other ingredients for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Adding Butter and Oil

The saffron should be enough to give the Sholeh Zard an orange color. After adding the almonds and saffron, proceed to add the butter and oil. First, add the butter (which should be at room temperature) to the Sholeh Zard and stir. After 5 to 10 minutes of simmering the butter with the other ingredients, turn off the heat and cover the pot to allow the dish to fully steam.

Step 6: Serving Sholeh Zard

Once you are sure the Sholeh Zard is fully cooked, pour it into your desired serving bowls and let it sit for about 20 minutes to cool completely. Then, garnish it with almond slivers, pistachio slivers, and cinnamon, and serve.

Some Important Tips For Making Sholeh Zard

• An important point to note in the Sholeh Zard recipe is the measurement of the ingredients. You need to ensure that whatever cup or measure you use, you should use the same measure for water and sugar in a specific ratio. For example, if you use one cup of rice, you should use two cups of sugar and six cups of water. This ratio is common when making Sholeh Zard.
• Soaking broken rice for two to three hours is sufficient, but regular rice needs to soak for a longer period.
• To prevent Sholeh Zard from becoming watery, the rice must be fully cooked, and you should not add more rice during the cooking process.
  One of the main tips for making delicious, festive Sholeh Zard is to soak the almond slivers in a bowl of water for at least 3 hours before adding them to the dish.