Tahchin: Persia’s Famous Crispy Saffron Rice Cake

By Unicorns in the Kitchen · 240 min

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Grind the saffron with a pestle and mortar, sprinkle it over the ice cubes in a bowl or cup, and let them melt completely to make bloomed saffron.
2. Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the sliced onion for 5 to 10 minutes until tender and slightly golden.
3. Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces and add to the onion with the turmeric, paprika and salt. Cook about 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. If you like, stir in 1 tablespoon of bloomed saffron. Turn off the heat and set aside.
4. Rinse the basmati rice several times. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously with kosher salt.
5. Add the rice to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes, until soft outside but still firm inside.
6. Drain the rice in a colander and set aside.
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the bottom of a 9x9-inch baking pan with oil.
8. Whisk the yogurt, oil, eggs and salt in a large bowl until combined, then stir in the bloomed saffron.
9. Gently fold the parboiled rice into the yogurt mixture.
10. Spread half the rice mixture in the pan, top with the chicken and onion, then add the rest of the rice mixture and spread it evenly over the chicken.
11. Cover with aluminum foil, poke holes in the foil with a toothpick, and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes. It is ready when the bottom is golden brown, the top is slightly golden and dry, and a toothpick inserted into the rice comes out clean.
12. Let the tahchin cool for 10 to 20 minutes.
13. Melt the butter over medium heat in a pan, add the vegetable oil, then add the barberries and stir until coated.
14. Stir in the sugar and rose water and cook for a minute or two until the barberries look shiny.
15. Once the tahchin is cool enough to handle, loosen the sides with a knife or spatula, quickly and confidently flip it onto a platter, and top with the barberries, slivered almonds and slivered pistachios.

Summarized from Unicorns in the Kitchen's video. Watch it for the details.

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OnionEggRiceYoghurtChicken breastAlmondGreek yoghurtPistachio