Persian Jeweled Rice is a spectacular rice pilaf topped with colorful gem-like fruits and nuts. This popular Middle Eastern wedding dish is a celebration in itself ~ it’s gluten free, vegan, and incredibly delicious!
Persian Jeweled Rice is a show stopping side dish
This is insane. I was grinning the whole time I was making, photographing, and eating this spectacular recipe. The mix of colors and textures, the aroma, and the complex flavors make it totally holiday worthy. I can’t think of a meal that wouldn’t be enhanced by this delicious Persian jeweled rice.
Persian Jeweled Rice (aka Persian Wedding Rice)
Persian jeweled rice, known as “Javaher Polow” in Farsi, is a traditional Iranian dish that is as visually stunning as it is delicious. The name “jeweled” comes from the vibrant colors of its ingredients, which resemble precious gems. It is a celebratory dish often served at weddings, holidays, and other special occasions in Persian culture.
Dried cherries, apricots, figs, pistachios and pomegranate seeds glisten like little gems scattered throughout this beautiful dish.
It’s the perfect accompaniment to a simple roasted chicken, and wouldn’t it be just amazing on a Thanksgiving table?
Authentic Basmati rice is essential for this jeweled pilaf
When I made my Saffron Rice I learned that true basmati rice only comes from India. When I was at my regular grocery store I was surprised to find a 10 lb burlap sack of Indian basmati, complete with a zipper and handles! I felt very exotic and chic walking out with my basmati tote bag But seriously, look for genuine Indian basmati, you’ll taste the difference and you’ll be helping to support the dna of an ancient rice, as well as the farmer’s who grow it.
Basmati rice is prized for its long, slender grains that remain separate and fluffy after cooking, unlike regular rice which tends to be stickier. It has a distinctive nutty aroma and delicate floral flavor, thanks to its naturally high content of aromatic compounds, setting it apart from other varieties. It’s one of the many ingredients that makes Persian jeweled rice so special.
The spices in Persian jeweled rice make it a feast for the senses.
It’s exquisitely flavored with saffron, which gives it its golden color, along with cardamom, cinnamon, and allspice. You’ll bite down on toasted fennel and cumin seeds which will release alternate bursts of flavor.
a hint of citrus
The finely julienned lemon rind adds a surprising amount of citrus aroma to the rice.
This little zesting tool will give you super fine ribbons of pure zest, with none of the bitter white part. I love this tool and use it a lot.
the fruits are the jewels in jeweled rice
What kind of dried fruits can you use?
I chose apricots, tart cherries and figs, but you could also use cranberries, golden raisins, goji berries, or the authentic Middle Eastern barberries, if you can find them.
pomegranates arils
Most pomegranates are harvested during the fall months (in the northern hemisphere) and are widely available throughout the holiday season. Many grocery stores will stock them during this period, so grab them if you see them. You can sometimes find the seeds sold separately in little tubs, but they are not always very fresh, so I like to start with the whole fruit whenever possible. Pomegranate arils are the finishing touch on Persian jeweled rice and you want them to gleam!!
the easiest way to seed a pomegranate
The best method for separating the gem-like seeds, or arils, from a pomegranate is also the easiest!
- Slice the fruit in half with a large sharp knife. I like to slice it part way, and then break the rest apart with my hands.
- Hold the half, cut side down, over a large bowl in the sink.
- Whack the skin side of the fruit and watch the seeds fall right into the bowl ~ it’s like magic!
Persian jeweled rice is vegan and gluten free
This makes it an ideal side dish to make for Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings. Your special diet friends and family won’t feel cheated this year, I promise!
more show stopping vegetarian and vegan side dishes
- Vegan Ancient Grain Salad
- Basmati with Wild Rice, Chickpeas, Currants, and Herbs
- Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries and Nuts
- Fragrant Toasted Almond Pilaf
Featured comments
“Not too sweet, not too spicy, just perfect! You just made three friends’ evening a night to remember. Thanks and thanks and thanks!” ~Efthymia
“Well, this was just phenomenal. It took willpower for us not to consume the whole pan tonight.” ~Lynda
“I made this awesome rice for a special occassion and my word, it is absolutely a rich dish. One of the best rich dish I have had and I will make it again.” ~Rafeya
“Hi every body, sorry, my English is very limited. I just finished to cook this rice dish und it’s the best rice I ever made.” ~Christa
“I made this for a dinner party last week and it was as tasty as it was beautiful to look at! The fragrance of the spices while cooking was absolutely intoxicating!” ~Darlene
Persian Jeweled Rice
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp saffron threads
- 2 Tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
- 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cardamom
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed well
- 2 bay leaves
- finely julienned rind of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup dried tart cherries
- 1/4 cup dried Turkish apricots, diced
- 1/4 cup dried figs, diced
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup pistachios, toasted
- seeds of 1 pomegranate for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the saffron threads in 2 1/4 cups of hot water and set aside. Note: you can use vegetable or chicken stock if you prefer.)
- Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute the fennel and cumin seeds until they are fragrant, just a minute or two. Add the cinnamon, cardamom and allspice and stir to combine. Add the onion and sauté over low heat until the onion is softened, about 10 minutes.
- Add in the rice and saute it for a minute or 2 with the spices and onion.
- Pour in the saffron infused water, along with the bay leaves and lemon rind. Stir to combine, season with salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
- Add in the fruit and nuts, stir to combine, and cover the skillet with a tight fitting lid. Cook on low to medium heat for about 12 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it sit, covered, for another 10 minutes. Note: check your rice after 12 minutes, and if it's not tender, let cook a few minutes more.
- When the rice is done, fluff it, remove the bay leaves, and spoon onto a large platter. Scatter the pomegranate seeds on top to garnish.
Notes
I should also note that a more traditional way of making this rice includes a crusted layer of rice at the bottom. It’s a more involved method which you can see here
- Try this same flavor profile with other grains such as quinoa, farro, or cracked wheat.
Nutrition
Golly gee whiz that sure looks delicious. It’s funny how I feel like I can smell the aroma of all of those spices. You must have been in sensory heaven!
I was definitely in sensory heaven, especially the moment when my husband and I took our first bite, we looked at each other and rolled our eyes!
By the way, I was consciously channeling your photographic style in this post!
That is perhaps the prettiest rice ever. I love it!
Thanks Eileen, I hope you try it.
Sue, every time I visit your blog it’s literally a feast for the senses! I can almost smell the saffron and other spices right through the screen.
(Thanks for the pomegranate tips too! I usually attack mine with a knife…it’s not pretty.) 😉
Thanks Valerie, comments like yours make my day 🙂 I’ve always avoided pomegranates because I figured I’d never get out enough seeds to make all the trouble and mess worthwhile. The underwater method is really a game changer!
I have one of those zesters, and nothing I make looks like your gorgeous peeled citrus. I have no idea where to get true basmati where I am, but will look on line. Can’t wait for thanksgiving!!!!! this will be there. Again, the photographs are spectacular. many thanks
I have no idea where I got that zester, but it’s always been in my kitchen. I only recently rediscovered it. I had to go back in and edit my post to include the Thanksgiving idea! It’s perfect for the holidays.
How beautiful. This rice looks so good, I wish I could eat it for dinner tonight. I’ve also heard really great things about the traditional crisped-rice way of making it.
I know, but the one time I tried that technique it didn’t work out very well for me, so I didn’t attempt it here. I’d love to see you try it. I’m sure it adds a whole other level of interest to this dish.
FANTÁSTICAS FOTOS…. FANTÁSTICO ARROZ…
Felicidades AMIGA 🙂
Muchas gracias!
There could not possibly be a more beautiful rice dish! The presentation is spectacular. I was so excited to try basmati rice after you posted the saffron rice and I bought some the other day. Unfortunately, what was labeled basmati was nothing like this. It was basically jasmine. (which I love already, but I wanted the basmati!) I’m going to look for rice in the burlap bag and labeled from India. Thanks for the tip!
I was surprised to see the huge sack there on the bottom shelf, and this was at my ‘lower end’ grocery store, too. There are so may different varieties of basmati, though. The one I used for the Saffron rice cooked up long and curly, while this one was more of a regular shape.
ooooohhh’s and awwwww’s – this is beautiful! The spices, the lemon, the photos, the silver, all if it is wonderful.
Finally a use for some of the silver my mom handed down to me. I never seem to use it for anything!
I love the colors and flavors and photos, Sue! The opening photo looks like it belongs on the cover of a Persian Cookbook! So pretty!
I don’t think you could take a bad picture of this rice!
Oh Sue! this is outstanding! I wanted to jump in and eat the lot – beautiful!
Mary x
Me too— the chicken is just an afterthought!