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Home›Persian Recipes

🇮🇷Persian Recipes

Discover the rich flavors of Persian cuisine — from aromatic herb stews to jeweled saffron rice, succulent kebabs, and traditional sweets.

206 recipes

Persian cuisine is one of the world's oldest and most sophisticated culinary traditions, stretching back over 5,000 years. Built on a foundation of saffron, dried limes, barberries, and fresh herbs, it celebrates the balance of sweet, sour, and savory in every dish. From the elaborate rice dishes (polo) to the slow-cooked stews (khoresh), Persian cooking is an art form passed down through generations.

🧂 Essential Pantry

SaffronDried limes (limoo amani)Barberries (zereshk)Advieh spice blendRosewaterTurmericBasmati riceFresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, dill, fenugreek)Verjuice (ab-ghooreh)Pomegranate molasses

📂 Browse by category

All (1191)Main Courses (395)Rice Dishes (206)Stews (174)Soups (115)Appetizers (106)Kebabs (72)Side Dishes (41)Breakfast (37)Salads (24)Desserts (9)Breads (8)

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Persian · Rice Dishes
Jeweled Rice (مرصع پلو) — Festive Persian rice with saffron chicken and jeweled fruits
Morasa Polow is a showpiece Persian rice served at weddings and grand celebrations, symbolizing abundance and joy. Fluffy basmati is layered with saffron chicken and a sparkling mix of barberries, raisins, nuts, and candied citrus.
135 min 6 820 cal

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🌍 Related Cuisines

🇹🇷 Turkish 🇦🇫 Afghan 🇦🇿 Azerbaijani 🌱 Kurdish 🇮🇶 Iraqi

Baghali Polo — Persian Dill and Fava Bean Rice with Saffron - authentic persian recipe

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Persian · Rice Dishes

Baghali Polo (باقالی پلو) — Persian Dill and Fava Bean Rice with Saffron

A celebratory Persian rice dish, Baghali Polo layers fluffy basmati with dill, fava beans, and saffron. Often served at gatherings and holidays, it’s prized for its bright green aroma and jeweled, buttery tahdig.

95 min 6 395 cal

Kashmish Polow — Persian Raisin Rice with Slow-Cooked Lamb - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Kashmish Polow (کشمش پلو) — Persian Raisin Rice with Slow-Cooked Lamb

Kashmish Polow is a celebratory Persian layered rice dish where sweet raisins meet deeply savory lamb and saffron perfume. Often served at gatherings, it balances caramelized onions, gentle spices, and fluffy basmati in one elegant platter.

155 min 6 735 cal

Nokhod Polo — Saffron Chickpea Rice with Warm Spices - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Nokhod Polo (نخود پلو) — Saffron Chickpea Rice with Warm Spices

Nokhod Polo is a comforting Persian rice dish where fluffy basmati is layered with tender chickpeas, onion, and warm spices. Saffron and cinnamon give it a golden aroma that feels both everyday and celebratory.

80 min 6 430 cal

Mixed Vegetable Rice — Persian-Style Aromatic Pilaf - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Mixed Vegetable Rice (برنج با مخلوط سبزیجات) — Persian-Style Aromatic Pilaf

A colorful Persian-style pilaf where fluffy basmati rice is layered with sautéed garden vegetables and warm spices. Turmeric and cumin bring a golden aroma that echoes everyday home cooking across Iran.

75 min 6 360 cal

Katteh Tond — Spicy Caspian-Style One-Pot Chicken Rice - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Katteh Tond (کته تند) — Spicy Caspian-Style One-Pot Chicken Rice

Katteh is the beloved Caspian method of cooking rice as a moist, tender one-pot dish. This “Tond” version layers chicken, herbs, verjuice, and warm spices for a comforting Northern Iranian table staple.

85 min 4 635 cal

Saffron Sweet Rice — Festive Persian milk-saffron rice with nuts - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Saffron Sweet Rice (پلو شیرینی زعفرانی) — Festive Persian milk-saffron rice with nuts

Polo Shirini Zaferani is a celebratory Persian sweet rice, perfumed with saffron and cardamom and enriched with milk and butter. It’s traditionally served warm at gatherings, topped with raisins and pistachios for a regal finish.

75 min 6 454 cal

Gol Kalam Polow — Persian Cauliflower Pilaf with Saffron and Dill - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Gol Kalam Polow (پلو گل کلم) — Persian Cauliflower Pilaf with Saffron and Dill

Gol Kalam Polow is a comforting Persian polow where sautéed cauliflower and onions are layered with parboiled basmati rice, saffron, and turmeric. It’s a home-style dish prized for its golden aroma, fluffy grains, and herb-fresh finish.

80 min 6 378 cal

Kalam Polo Ghermez — Saffron Red Cabbage Rice with Chicken - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Kalam Polo Ghermez (کلم پلو قرمز) — Saffron Red Cabbage Rice with Chicken

Kalam Polo Ghermez is a jewel-toned Persian rice dish where red cabbage is gently sweet-sour cooked, then layered with fragrant basmati, saffron, rose petals, and cinnamon. It’s a festive way to turn everyday vegetables into a centerpiece.

95 min 6 560 cal

Kalam Polow Shirazi — Shirazi Herb Cabbage Rice with Meatballs - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Kalam Polow Shirazi (کلم پلو شیرازی) — Shirazi Herb Cabbage Rice with Meatballs

Kalam Polow Shirazi is a signature layered rice from Shiraz, perfumed with fresh herbs and warm spices. Tender cabbage and small meatballs cook into the rice, creating a festive, aromatic dish often served for gatherings.

110 min 6 610 cal

Zereshk Polo ba Morgh — Saffron Basmati Rice with Barberries and Braised Chicken - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Zereshk Polo ba Morgh (زرشک پلو با مرغ) — Saffron Basmati Rice with Barberries and Braised Chicken

A celebratory Persian classic, Zereshk Polo ba Morgh pairs saffron-fragrant basmati with jewel-like barberries and tender chicken braised in a golden onion-turmeric sauce. It’s a staple at weddings and festive family tables across Iran.

110 min 6 735 cal

Green Bean and Herb Rice — Saffron-Scented Persian Layered Rice - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Green Bean and Herb Rice (لوبیا پلو با سبزی) — Saffron-Scented Persian Layered Rice

Loobia Polo ba Sabzi is a beloved Persian layered rice where tender green beans and a mix of fresh herbs are folded into tomato-scented aromatics and finished with saffron. It’s a colorful family-table staple, often paired with yogurt and pickles.

100 min 6 520 cal

Loubia Polo — Persian Green Bean Rice with Lamb - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Loubia Polo (لوبیا پلو) — Persian Green Bean Rice with Lamb

Loubia Polo is a beloved Persian comfort dish of layered rice and a tomato-braised lamb and green bean filling, perfumed with cinnamon and black pepper. It’s a family-table classic, often served with yogurt and pickles for balance.

120 min 6 690 cal

Tahchin Tadig — Golden Saffron Yogurt Rice Crust - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Tahchin Tadig (ته‌چین ته‌دیگ) — Golden Saffron Yogurt Rice Crust

Tahchin tadig is the prized Persian pot-bottom crust: saffron-perfumed rice bound with yogurt and egg, baked by steam into a golden crown. It’s served flipped like a cake, celebrating aroma, crunch, and comfort in one dish.

85 min 6 372 cal

Polo Nokhod Farangi — Persian Green Pea Rice with Warm Spices - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Polo Nokhod Farangi (پلو نخود فرنگی) — Persian Green Pea Rice with Warm Spices

A springtime Persian pilaf, Polo Nokhod Farangi pairs fluffy basmati with sweet green peas, carrots, and aromatic spices. It’s often served as a bright, comforting family dish alongside yogurt and fresh herbs.

80 min 6 430 cal

Traditional Persian Kateh — Everyday Caspian-Style Absorption Rice - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Traditional Persian Kateh (کته) — Everyday Caspian-Style Absorption Rice

Kateh is Northern Iran’s beloved everyday rice, cooked by absorption for a soft, comforting texture and a lightly crisp bottom. It’s simpler than chelow yet deeply satisfying, especially with butter and saffron.

55 min 4 420 cal

Lobia Polo ba Sabzi — Saffron Herb Rice with Green Beans and Chicken - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Lobia Polo ba Sabzi (لوبیا پلو با سبزی) — Saffron Herb Rice with Green Beans and Chicken

Lobia Polo ba Sabzi is a beloved Persian layered rice dish where tender green beans and a fresh herb medley perfume every grain. Finished with saffron and often served with chicken, it’s a festive, family-style centerpiece for gatherings.

110 min 6 640 cal

Mushroom and Chicken Pilaf — Saffron-scented Persian polow with peppers - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Mushroom and Chicken Pilaf (پلو با قارچ و مرغ) — Saffron-scented Persian polow with peppers

Polow-e gharch va morgh is a modern Persian pilaf that layers fluffy basmati with sautéed mushrooms, peppers, and tender chicken. Brewed saffron and piaz dagh give it a festive aroma and golden color, perfect for family-style serving.

95 min 6 610 cal

Morgh Polo Ba Sabzijat — Saffron Chicken & Vegetable Rice - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Morgh Polo Ba Sabzijat (مرغ پلو با سبزیجات) — Saffron Chicken & Vegetable Rice

Morgh Polo Ba Sabzijat is a colorful Persian rice dish where saffron-scented chicken meets fluffy basmati and bright vegetables. It’s a modern home-style favorite that keeps the spirit of classic polo while celebrating seasonal produce.

100 min 4 645 cal

Valak Polo — Spring Wild Garlic Saffron Rice - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Valak Polo (والک پلو) — Spring Wild Garlic Saffron Rice

Valak Polo is a springtime rice from Iran’s Alborz mountain regions, made when wild garlic (valak) first appears. Its clean, pungent aroma is balanced with saffron and a creamy yogurt-egg tahdig for a celebratory seasonal table.

80 min 4 560 cal

Eslamboli Polo — Persian Tomato Rice with Tender Beef - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Eslamboli Polo (اسلامبولی پلو) — Persian Tomato Rice with Tender Beef

Eslamboli Polo is a beloved Iranian home-style “red rice,” perfumed with tomatoes and layered with savory beef and fried onions. It’s a comforting, everyday dish often cooked in one pot and finished with a crisp tahdig.

130 min 6 575 cal

Kabk Polo — Royal Persian Quail Pilaf - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Kabk Polo (کبک پلو) — Royal Persian Quail Pilaf

Kabk Polo is a celebratory Persian pilaf that pairs saffron-steamed basmati rice with tender quail and citrusy bitter-orange accents. Traditionally linked to hunting-season feasts, it balances warm spices, caramelized onion, and fragrant saffron.

120 min 6 720 cal

Polo va Sabzijat — Persian Saffron Vegetable Rice - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Polo va Sabzijat (پلو و سبزیجات) — Persian Saffron Vegetable Rice

Polo va Sabzijat is a fragrant Iranian-style rice dish where basmati is steamed until fluffy, then finished with saffron and colorful vegetables. It’s commonly served as a family-style main or side alongside kebabs, stews, or yogurt.

75 min 6 392 cal

Loobia Polo ba Fileh Morgh — Saffron Green Bean Rice with Chicken - authentic persian recipe

Persian · Rice Dishes

Loobia Polo ba Fileh Morgh (لوبیا پلو با فیله مرغ) — Saffron Green Bean Rice with Chicken

Loobia Polo is a cherished Persian comfort dish where fragrant basmati rice is layered with sautéed green beans and warmly spiced chicken. Finished with saffron, it’s a family-style meal often served for gatherings and everyday lunches alike.

100 min 6 640 cal

Persian Recipes — Zaffaron