Morasa Polo

The King of all Persian dishes, the Persian Jewelled Rice or Morasa Polo bedazzles the eye with twinkles of red, green, orange and gold. Morasa means jewels and it’s easy to see why this is called jewelled rice, because of the precious ingredients like pistachios, almonds, saffron, barberries and raisins. This jeweled rice always makes appearance at major Persian festivals such as Nowruz, the Persian New Year and especially weddings.

Ingredients : 

• 450 gram rice
• 1 gram ground saffron, dissolved in 1½ Tbsp. hot water
• 30 g/ 4 Tbsp almonds pistachios, slivered
• 30 g/ 4 Tbsp almonds, peeled, unsalted, dry toasted, slivered
• 35 g/ ½ cup/ 1 orange peel, julienned
• 100 g/ ½ cup sugar
• pinch salt
• 2 medium carrots, peeled, julienned
• 1½ Tbsp vegetable oil
• 100 g/ 1 small onion, diced small
• 60 g/ 6 Tbsp raisins, soaked in water for 10 minutes and drained
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter or vegetable oil
• 4 Tbsp barberries, soaked in water for 30 minutes and rinsed
• 1 Tbsp sugar

Directions :

• Cook the rice in Persian style.

Nuts

• Soak the Pistachios and Almonds in hot water, leave for 30 minutes. Peel and
• cut them into long thin pieces.

Orange peel and carrot

• In a saucepan, add orange peels, cover with plenty of water and bring to a boil. Drain and repeat the process. Try a strip, and if it is still bitter, repeat the process one more time. Return orange peel to the saucepan. Add sugar, salt, and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Add carrots, stir and cook for 3 minutes or until cooked, but not soft. Drain and set aside.

Raisins

• Wash the saucepan used before, add oil and heat on medium. Add diced onion and caramelize. Add drained raisins and sauté for 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

Barberries

• Wash the saucepan used before. Place on medium heat. Add and heat butter (or vegetable oil), add drained barberries and sugar, sauté for 1 minute after sugar is dissolved and set aside.

Saffron Rice

• When rice is ready, scoop 2 cups cooked rice from the top into a bowl. Add saffron water to the rice and mix well to get the perfect color.

Dish out remaining rice into a serving platter and smooth the top.Using A, B, C, D and E, decorate the top of the rice as desired and serve.
Jeweled rice goes perfectly with roasted or chicken or meat of choice.