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Zereshk polo ba morgh
Soften the chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy pot, 10 minutes. Add turmeric, then the chicken, and brown lightly 6 minutes. Add tomato purée, salt, pepper, half the saffron water and the water. Cover and simmer 50 minutes.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Zereshk polo ba morgh take?
2 hr 55 min all in — 25 min prep, 1 hr 30 min cook, 1 hr rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 plates. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Milk. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Gluten-free, Nut-free.
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What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Dutch oven, Stockpot, Saucepan.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 2 tsp (plus 2 tbsp for the rice water).
How much sugar?
1 tbsp of Sugar.
What can I use instead?
Barberries → Dried cranberries soaked in lemon juice. Sweeter and softer. Cut the sugar out entirely.
What should I watch for?
Barberries burn and turn bitter in seconds. Low heat, short time.
Any tips from this recipe?
Shortcut rice: cook the rinsed basmati by absorption, 1 part rice to 1.5 parts water, then fluff and add the barberries. You lose the tahdig but save half an hour. Rinse barberries in a sieve and check for grit and stalks. Cheap packets have both.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.