Hello Everyone & Happy Mehregan!
Have you heard of Mehregan? It’s the Persian Festival of Autumn, celebrating harvest season in ancient Persia. From almost 4th century BC, this day has been celebrated by Persians, and Zorostrians in particular to give thanks to God for being given food entering the cold months of the year. You could say it’s similar to Thanksgiving in the West. This was the tradition in ancient times.
Nowadays, the tradition is still followed. Persians set colorful tables and all the family members gather around the table at lunch time and pray and eat together. Like almost all Persian festivities, this day is filled with dance, music, food and laughter!
This year I’ve joined a group of 27 awesome Persian bloggers to celebrate this festival. We all have posted Persian recipes on our blog simultaneously now, so please check them out as well, they all are a true inspiration to me:
Ahu Eats All Kinds of Yum Bottom of the Pot Café Leilee Della Cucina Povera Fae’s Twist and Tango Family Spice Fig and Quince Honest and Tasty Lab Noon Lucid Food Marjan Kamali My Caldron My Persian Kitchen Noghlemey Persian Spice Sabzi Blog Simi’s Kitchen The Saffron Tales The Salty Pear Spice Spoon The Unmanly Chef Turmeric and Saffron Veggiestan West of Persia Zozo Baking Coco in the Kitchen
Today’s recipe is called “Morasa Polow” which literally means “Jeweled Rice“. And I think by looking at it you can see why! It’s full of colourful ingredients which adorn the plain white basmati rice. This is one of the most beautiful dishes of the Persian cuisine and whoever has tried it, has fallen in love it! So I encourage you to definitely give this dish a go, you won’t regret it!
Noosheh Jan (which means Bon Apetite in Farsi)!! 🙂
Ingredients:
2.5 cups plain white Basmati rice
1 white onion
1 double skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon Curry powder
1 teapsoon Black pepper
Pinch of Salt
1/2 cup Blanched almonds
1/2 cup Blanched pistachios
1 cup Barberries
1/2 cup Rasins
1 cup Boiled sweetened orange peel, cut into strips
2 teaspoons Saffron, soaked in boiling water
Olive oil, for frying
Method:
1. Sauté the onion in a pan, then add the chicken pieces with the curry powder, salt and pepper.
2. Cook the chicken until completely cooked through.
3. Rinse the rice a few times with cold water then add it to a pan with enough water to cover it completely and a pinch of salt. Let it boil on medium heat until it is al dente.
4. Drain the rice with cold water. Separate 1/3 of it in a bowl and add the saffron mixture to it. Mix well.
5. Fry the barberries in a pan for 3 minutes.
6. Fry the raisins in a pan for 3 minutes.
7. Now is assembling time! Put the chicken pieces in the bottom of your chosen dish.
8. Add white rice on top to completely cover it. Then decorate the top of the rice with the rest of the ingredients, in whatever shape you desire.
Enjoy! ~~~~ 🙂
It is beautiful darling. The lovely and adorable colours of ingredients are giving a warm and enticing look. Your creative and beautiful taste in finding these colourful pieces and gather together has made it unique.
Love.
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Thanks so much!! I can’t wait for you to try it! 😉 xx
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I am beyond impressed with your rice artistry. The way you made everything look is unreal, i am so impressed.
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Thanks so much! I’m soooo flattered! To be honest it was a mad rush trying to take pics while cooking and blogging and submitting in time, but I enjoyed it! Haha thanks for dropping by 🙂
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Another gorgeous dish I’ve never tried. This #Mehregan2014 roundup is awesome! I love your step-by-step instructions. I think I’ll try this as the weather gets colder.
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Thank u Sara joon! It has a lot if ingredients but totally worth the effort! I really enjoyed our internet celebration too, Can’t wait for the next one 😀
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This is one of my all-time favorite rice dishes. I love all the colors in morasa pollo!!
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Hi Laura joon! It has become one of my faves too, next to albaloo polo 😀 thanks for dropping by 🙂
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So beautiful 🙂 thanks for sharing this lovely recipe
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Thanks Fariba joon! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Beautiful. Just so beautiful! And I love your flag!
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Thank you Coco joon for your lovely comment! So happy I got to participate in our internet celebration of Mehregan! Looking forward to next one! 🙂
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wow this is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing X Happy Mehergan
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Thanks so much! Hope u had a lovely Mehregan too 🙂
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This is so gorgeous looking and tempting, festive too 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it Afasaneh joon! Thanks for dropping by xx
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I HEART this rice dish! Parisa you’ve done an amazing job. 🙂 Loved reading about it and seeing it!
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Thanks Ahu joon, that’s so kind! Hope you had a lovely Mehregan xx
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Parisa, I love you presentation so pretty and with the Persian flag!! Well done!!! xoxo
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Thanks Sanam joon, that comment coming from a professional like you means a lot! Thanks for dropping by xx
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What a colorful and delicious looking polo! Perfect for a celebration and feast. Thanks for sharing Parisa!
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Thanks Naz! I can’t survive without polo 😆
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Wow, beautiful recipe and pictures. Wish I could dig in that delicious plate of goodness. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
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Thanks Aniseh joon! I loved it too, it’s a dish I definitely will make again 😀 thanks for dropping by xx
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Parisa joon, what a lovely recipe and styling. I heart it! 🙂 Beautiful work!
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Thanks a lot Azita joon! I was lucky I finished it in time !… Have a lovely day 🙂
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I know, right? It was touch and go for me too. Procrastinators unite! 🙂
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This dish is so beautiful ! I have never eaten any barberries (actually, it’s the first time I ear about it !) The colors are wonderful. And you also made me discover Mehregan …Thank you so much for all these beautiful things.
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Thanks Sylvie! I’m so happy u liked my post 🙂 ..I’m slowly trying to make my blog more active!… Yeah barberries are a hard ingredient to find, they’re sour in taste, I guess only middle eastern groceries would have it… Let me know what u think if u try it! hope you’re enjoying your day xx
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Parisa jan, What a beautifully executed morasa polo. The heart shape goes so well with the festivities of love. Belated Happy Mehregan! 🙂 Fae.
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Thanks so much dear Fae! Sorry for the delayed reply….. It was my first time making morasa polo and I’m in love with it now 🙂 hope you had a lovely Mehregan too xx
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Impressive. It looks like a true jewel. I love the heart shaped arrangement. I’ve never cooked with Barberries!
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Thanks so much Liz!… Barberries are a bit sour, so if you prefer you can add a little sugar to them when sautéing … Thanks for dropping by xx
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