Martha Stewart Persian Rice Recipes

TAHDIG RECIPE (CRISPY PERSIAN RICE)

Steps:

• Mix the saffron into 1 cup very warm (but not hot) water. Let sit for at least 10 minutes to let the saffron release all of its flavor.
• In a sieve, rinse the rice under cool running water until the water almost runs clear.
• In a large pot, combine 8 cups of water and the salt (this is your one shot to season the rice itself). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the rice and cook until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the rice.
• In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup of the cooked rice, the yogurt, grapeseed oil, and 2 tbsp of the saffron water. Mix thoroughly.
• Spread the rice-yogurt mixture evenly on the bottom of a 10-inch lidded nonstick pot. Sprinkle 1 cup of the remaining cooked rice on top, followed by 2 tablespoons of the dried cherries, a pinch of orange zest, and a pinch of cinnamon. Add another layer of rice and repeat with the cherries, orange zest, and cinnamon, reserving a couple tbsp of the cherries for garnish. As you go about layering, the rice will start to dome and look "pointy" in the middle--that's okay! Keep it that way. Finish by dotting the top with the butter and pour the rest of the saffron water all over the top.
• Wrap the lid in a kitchen towel and secure it around the handle with a rubber band. Cover the pot and cook over low heat, 25 to 30 minutes or until the rice around the edges is golden and crispy; it's okay to peek under the lid! (See note #2) Be sure not to burn the bottom layer of the rice, though you do want a nice crust in the bottom.
• Remove the lid, invert a large serving plate over the pot, and carefully flip them over together. No worries if it sticks, just scrape it out and run with it! Sprinkle the tahdig with the reserved dried cherries and pistachios and serve right away.

SHOLEH ZARD (PERSIAN RICE PUDDING)

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of water to a hard boil in a Dutch oven or other large pot over high heat. Add the rice and let it boil, stirring regularly, until the grains begin to soften around the edges but are still crunchy in the center, 1 to 2 minutes. Strain the rice, but do not rinse it. Rinse the pot with cold water to cool it down, then return it to the stove.
• To the rinsed pot, add the milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon stick, cardamom, turmeric, saffron water and kosher salt. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You may be tempted to turn the heat up to make it boil faster - resist this urge. The goal is to let the spices slowly infuse the milk and cream, like a tea, for deep flavor.
• Slowly stir in the rice, making sure the grains are all well coated. Cover, turn the heat down to low, and simmer, stirring a few times to make sure the grains don't stick to the bottom, until the mixture has the consistency of a loose pudding, 35 to 45 minutes. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, with the rice maintaining a slight chew.
• Add the cubes of butter a few at a time, stirring to incorporate fully between each addition. Remove from the heat and let cool until warm, stirring regularly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the egg yolks, one at a time. The consistency should be velvety.
• Divide the sholeh zard among bowls, and divide the ground cinnamon, strawberry powder and pistachios - in that order - over the top of each one. The strawberry powder should be the thickest layer, covering the entire surface. Crown the bowls with a light sprinkling of flaky salt and serve.

IRANIAN RICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a fine-mesh sieve with 4 layers of cheesecloth; set over a small liquid measuring cup. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until beginning to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until foamy, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, and milk solids separate into brown specks that sink to bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and strain butter through prepared sieve, leaving solids behind. Let cool slightly.
• In another small saucepan over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 tablespoons water until sugar has dissolved; transfer to a large bowl. Let cool slightly. Add rose water and stir to combine.
• Add egg yolk to sugar mixture; whisk until light and slightly thickened. Continue whisking and drizzle in strained brown butter until thick and incorporated. In a medium bowl, whisk together both flours, the cardamom, and salt. Add to brown butter mixture and stir until incorporated.
• Roll or scoop dough into 11/2‑inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Imprint each ball with the grooved side of a meat mallet, pressing to 1/4 inch thick. Dust mallet with rice flour as needed to prevent sticking. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies just turn light golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely. (Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)

LAMB SHANKS WITH RICE AND FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Cook the meat: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. In a small bowl, mix together 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, turmeric, and flour. Lightly dredge lamb shanks in salt mixture, shaking off excess. Add to Dutch oven and cook lamb on all sides until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to Dutch oven; add onions and garlic; cook, stirring, until soft and translucent. Place saffron and sugar cube in a mortar and add rose water; using a pestle, grind until dissolved. Transfer saffron-rose water mixture to Dutch oven along with honey, orange zest, lime juice, remaining 2 teaspoons salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and advieh; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Return lamb shanks to Dutch oven; add 1 cup water and cover. Transfer to oven and bake for 2 hours. Turn lamb shanks and re-cover; continue baking until lamb is tender and falling off the bone, about 1 hour more. Remove from oven and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Make the rice: Place rice in a large bowl and add enough warm water to cover; drain and repeat process 4 more times. Set rice aside. If using fresh fava beans, shell and remove outer layer of skin; if using frozen, soak in warm water and remove second skin. Set aside.
• Bring 8 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil in a large nonstick saucepan. Add rinsed rice, cardamom pods, and 2 tablespoons rose water; let boil, gently stirring to loosen grains of rice that have adhered to the bottom, until rice is soft and has risen to the surface, about 8 minutes. Drain in a large fine mesh sieve and rinse with 2 cups water; reserve saucepan.
• Place saffron in a mortar and add rose water; using a pestle, grind until dissolved. In a large bowl, mix together 1/2 cup oil and milk, 1 teaspoon saffron-rose water mixture, and 2 1/2 cups drained rice. Spread mixture over the bottom of saucepan, pressing with a spatula to make even. Add fava beans, dill, and chopped green garlic to remaining rice in colander; toss to combine. Using a spatula, gently transfer to saucepan, forming a mound. Sprinkle with remaining saffron-rosewater mixture; cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together remaining 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup warm water; pour over rice mixture in saucepan. Top with knotted green garlic and season with salt. Wrap the lid of the saucepan with a clean kitchen towel and cover saucepan firmly to prevent steam from escaping. Decrease heat to low and cook for 70 minutes. Remove from heat and place saucepan on rimmed baking sheet lined with a damp kitchen towel; let cool for 10 minutes. Do not uncover.
• Uncover and remove knotted garlic; set aside. Using a wooden spatula, loosen the crust from the bottom of the saucepan. Place a large platter over the top of the saucepan; invert saucepan to remove rice. Garnish rice with knotted garlic and serve with lamb, yogurt and bitter orange.

HERBY SPINACH-AND-RICE SOUP WITH TURMERIC

Steps:

• Cook 2 tablespoons oil and cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium, swirling pan, until seeds are fragrant, darkened slightly in color, and sizzling, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl; let cool completely. (Oil can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.)
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium; swirl in remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Add shallots and garlic, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in rice, potato, and turmeric; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add broth and 1 cup water; bring to a boil. Season with salt, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, until flavors meld and potato and rice are cooked and very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in spinach, herbs, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into bowls. Whisk yogurt and spoon into the soup, along with cumin-seed oil and more herbs and lemon juice; serve.

PERFECT WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in rice and salt and return to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid, 16 to 18 minutes (check only toward the end of cooking time). The rice should be studded with craters, or steam holes, when it is ready.
• Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork and serve.