Shirin Polow - Persian Sweet Rice

شیرین پلو  Shirin polow - Persian sweet rice is a traditional special-occasion rice dish which is usually served with chicken and goes well with turkey too. This delicious sweet rice is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is all about getting together with the people you love and care about. Spending time together, telling stories, laughing, giving thanks, and of course eating delicious food and mouth-watering sweets. Like many Iranians, I do add my own Persian cooking touches to the Thanksgiving menu. I feel the meal is not complete if there's no Persian-style rice to go with it!

Shirin Polow - Persian Sweet Rice

Ingredients:

 Serves 4-6

2 cups long-grain white basmati rice
2 cups carrots, peeled and shredded
1 cup orange skin, slivered
1 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup sugar (may be adjusted to your liking)
1/2 teaspoon powdered saffron dissolved in 3 tablespoons of hot water
Dash of cinnamon
Salt
Oil

 Method:

1. Rinse 3 large oranges and, using a vegetable peeler, peel the skin and cut into thin stripes. Rinse well under cold water. Place the slivered orange peels into a small pot, add a cup of cold water, boil for 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat, drain, and repeat the process two more times. 
2. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the shredded carrots and saute for about 5 minutes, add the slivered almonds, then add the sliced orange peels. Continue sauteing for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Add the sugar, a dash of cinnamon, pour 1/4 cup of water, gently stir, cover and cook over low heat for 7 minutes. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, wash the rice with cool water a few times. Soak the rice in 8 cups of water, add 4 tablespoons of salt, and set aside for at least a couple of hours.
5. In a large non-stick pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a rapid boil over medium-high heat. Drain the rice and pour it into the boiling water. Bring the water back to a boil for about 7 minutes or until the grains are long, soft on the outside, and hard in the center. Drain the rice in a colander and rinse the par-boiled rice with cool water.
6. Wash the pot and return to heat, add 4 tablespoons of oil, with a large spatula, place 1/3 of the rice into the pot, add a layer of the carrot mixture, building it into a pyramid shape away from the sides of the pot. In order to release the steam, make 4-5 holes in the rice with the bottom of the spatula.
7. Cook the rice for about 7-10 minutes over medium-high heat or until rice is steaming. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 tablespoons of water, and the liquid saffron over the rice, lower the heat, cover, and steam the rice for 50 minutes.

Transfer the rice to a serving plate, garnish, and serve warm.

Enjoy!