Best Persian Rice With A Golden Crust Chelow 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.

PERSIAN STEAMED WHITE RICE (CHELO)

Steps:

• To cook the rice
• 1. Fill a large nonstick saucepan (at least 6 quarts) with 12 cups water; add oil and salt. Cover and bring to a brisk boil over high heat.
• 2. Add the rice and continue cooking over medium to high heat, stirring occasionally.
• 3. After 3-5 minutes, use a slotted spoon to scoop some grains from the water. Break one grain in half to make sure it is "al dente" (see above). Turn off the heat and pour rice into the colander to drain; set aside.
• To steam and make tadig
• 1. Place the empty 6-quart saucepan back onto the stovetop over medium heat. Add 1/4-inch canola oil and 2 tablespoons water. Add turmeric and/or saffron powder. Stir together.
• 2. Add the drained rice and shape it into a pyramid. Cover the pot and cook for 5-7 minutes until rice begins to steam.
• 3. Uncover and place 2 paper towels (one on top of the other) over the rice. The ends will extend outside the pot. Replace the lid tightly.
• 4. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Turn off the heat and tilt the lid until ready to serve.
• 5. With a wide spatula, scoop the rice from the pot, making sure not to disturb the crust (tadig) that formed on the bottom of the pot. Serve the rice on a flat serving platter, mounding it into the shape of a pyramid. Turn the tadig out onto a flat serving platter by inverting the pot, as you would invert a cake pan, or cut it into pieces and serve around the rice.
• Optional garnish: Saffron Rice
• 1. To make saffron water, mix together 1 teaspoon crushed saffron threads and 1/4 cup hot water. Steep for a few minutes, until the water becomes yellow.
• 2. Mix saffron water with steamed white rice. Use this intensely yellow rice to make designs on the Chelo.
• To reheat this rice:
• Pour 1/2 cup water mixed with 1/4 cup canola oil onto the pyramid in a large pot. You can also freeze this rice, as long as you do not stir it until it is completely defrosted. You can even cook it, freeze it, and later steam it as it defrosts. I know I will have to spend time in "rice hell" for admitting to freezing Persian rice, but it is worth it to make my life easier!

PERSIAN RICE (CHELOW)

Steps:

• Rinse the rice thoroughly in water.
• Bring 2 quarts of water with 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil. Pour drained rice into boiling water and add either the liquid at the top of yogurt or a spoonful of yogurt.
• After boiling for 3 minutes test the rice. you want it to still be firm in the center. If it is not quite ready give it a few more minutes but do not stir the rice.
• When ready strain rice completely and rinse with lukewarm water. Make sure rice is completely strained and grains are not packed too tightly.
• Start a saucepan over medium heat with 1/3 cup of vegetable oil or butter.
• To make the crust mix 1 egg with a teaspoon of yogurt, saffron or turmeric, and some salt in a small bowl.
• Add about 1 cup of rice to the mixture and coat.
• When oil is hot, put egg-coated rice down first, covering the bottom of the pan.
• Then sprinkle remaining rice into the pan using a large slotted spoon. It is important to sprinkle the rice, rather than dump all at once, so it stays fluffy and doesn't get compressed.
• Poke three holes into the rice by using the bottom of the spoon handle. This releases steam.
• Wrap the lid in a clean kitchen towel and put firmly over saucepan. The towel absorbs the steam, preventing moisture from dripping back into the rice and making it soggy.
• The covered pan should stay on high heat for a few minutes until it is steaming. You can tell if it's steaming without taking off the lid by flicking water drops on the outside of the saucepan. If it sizzles and evaporates immediately, the rice is probably steaming, and you can turn it down to medium-low.
• Cook for 30 minutes at this setting, or even lower for an hour, depending on the timing of the rest of your meal.
• When ready to serve, replace lid with a large plate. Flip the pan so rice transfers to the plate crust side up.

PERSIAN RICE WITH A GOLDEN CRUST / CHELOW

Steps:

• 1. Place the rice in a large bowl and add cold water to cover by 3 inches. Swirl the rice around with your fingers until the water becomes cloudy, then pour through a strainer to drain. Repeat the process until the water remains clear. This will take 4 to 6 rinsings.2. Place 8 cups of the water and the salt in a large shallow pot (preferably nonstick the pot should be 10 to 12 inches across and about 6 inches deep) and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-high, add the rice, and cook, uncovered, at a brisk simmer for 6 minutes. Pour the rice into a strainer, rinse under cool running water, and drain well. Wipe out and dry the rice pot with paper towels.3. Meanwhile, place the saffron threads in a small bowl and grind to a fine powder with a pestle or the end of a wooden spoon. Add the 1 tablespoon warm water and let soak for 5 minutes.4. In a separate bowl, combine the clarified butter, yogurt, and another 1/2 cup water and whisk to mix. Pour this mixture evenly over the bottom of the rice pot. Spoon a 1/2-inch layer of rice evenly over the yogurt mixture. Without disturbing this layer, add the remaining rice, mounding it toward the center. Sprinkle the top of the mound with the dissolved saffron mixture. Cover the pan and place it over medium heat for 8 minutes.5. Remove the lid and sprinkle the rice with an additional 1/2 cup water. Reduce the heat to low. Wrap a clean kitchen towel around the pot lid, piling any excess cloth on top of the lid. (You want to keep the cloth away from the heat.) Place the cloth-covered lid over the rice and cook until the rice on top is tender and the rice on the bottom of the pot has formed a dark golden crust, about 40 minutes. Check after 30 minutes, and if you don't see a crust, increase the heat slightly.6. To serve, spoon the loose rice on top into a serving bowl, leaving the crusty rice at the bottom. Place a round platter over the pot. Invert the pot and give it a little shake. The crusty rice should slide out in a golden brown disk. Cut the crust into wedges and serve it next to the loose rice.Serves 6Note: To clarify butter, melt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat and pour off the golden liquid (the clarified butter) into a glass measure or heatproof jar discard the white milk solids that have settled in the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate any unused clarified butter for up to a month.

PERSIAN RICE WITH GOLDEN CRUST

Steps:

• In a large saucepan bring water with salt to a boil. Add rice and boil 10 minutes. In a colander drain rice and rinse under warm water.
• In a 2- to 3-quart nonstick saucepan melt butter. Spoon rice over butter and cover pan with a kitchen towel and a heavy lid. Fold edges of towel up over lid and cook rice over moderately low heat until tender and a crust forms on bottom, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Spoon loose rice onto a platter and dip bottom of pan in a large bowl of cold water 30 seconds to loosen tah-dig. Remove tah-dig and serve over rice.