January 08, 2009

Sholeh Zard - Persian Saffron Rice Pudding

Persian Saffron Rice Pudding

شله زرد Sholeh zard - Saffron and rosewater rice pudding is an aromatic and flavorful traditional Iranian dessert that can be made all year round and it's one of my favorite desserts. This recipe takes a little bit of time and patience to prepare but it is well worth the effort.

Sholeh Zard - Saffron Rice & Rosewater Pudding

Ingredients:
Serves 8

2 cups white rice
2 cups sugar (may be adjusted to your liking)
1 teaspoon ground saffron dissolved in 3 tablespoons of hot water
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup rosewater
2 tablespoons butter
Water

Garnish:

2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 tablespoons ground pistachios
1-2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Method:
  1. Rinse the rice with cool water until the water becomes clear. Drain and place the rice in a large bowl, add 6 cups of water and soak the rice for 6-8 hours. 
  2. Drain the washed and soaked rice, place in a large heavy-bottomed pot, add 12 cups of water, bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, reduce the heat, cover, leaving the lid a little ajar, cook over low heat for 40 minutes or until the rice is soft and the water is fully absorbed, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. 
  3. Add the sugar and stir until it is fully dissolved.
  4. Add the slivered almonds, stir well and add the butter.
  5. Add the saffron and mix thoroughly, simmer for another 20 minutes over low heat. 
  6. Add the rosewater, cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes over low heat. 
Pour the rice pudding into a large serving bowl or several small bowls. Garnish with cinnamon, almonds and pistachios and let cool for at least an hour before serving.

Enjoy!

13 comments:

  1. lovely, i plan on preparing this on the weekend. it ws made in our home too, not for nazr necessarily.

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  2. Dear Shayma,

    I hope you enjoy your sholeh zard this weekend and I agree with you that it does not necessarily need to be made for a nazri occasion.

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  3. would love for you to have a look at my sholeh zard recipe, it's my Madre Kalan's.

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  4. looks yummy

    i will do it tomorrow Inshallah

    can i use basmati rice or there is another type prefer for this pudding??

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  5. Bent el Deera, yes, you can use basmati rice for this pudding. Thank you for visiting.

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  6. I DID IT AND IT WAS VERY YUMMI .. I POST THE PICTURE IN MY BLOG :)
    THANK YOU

    AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND TO ALL READER :)

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  7. Im an American, whose husband is Persian. He loves sholezard, so I'm going to try to make this for him. I'm not very good at following recipes, but you make it sound so easy. I'll keep you posted as to if I succeeded! Thank you!

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  8. I think you have a fantastic blog. What kind of rice did you use here?

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  9. Azita joon, I have been craving this for weeks. And now that the weather has heated up, it's time to make a batch.
    I love your recipe. Such beautiful presentation. Can't wait to try it. xoxo

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  10. Thanks for this fantastic blog my dear! What rice should we be using for this? Basmati? or short grain?

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    Replies
    1. Unknown, short-grain rice is the best choice for sholeh zard (rice pudding) but I like to use basmati rice for its aroma and flavor. Thank you!

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  11. I just made this, it's fantastic. Just a few ago I returned from a trip to Iran and while cooking this dessert, I felt like I'm back in Iran, all these fragrances... yum! Love your blog :*

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