Name: Saffron-Flavored Steamed Rice with Golden Crust (Chelow)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 20 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Cuisine: Iranian
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (or nigella seeds or coriander seeds), optional; 1 teaspoon ground saffron dissolved in 4 tablespoons rose water or hot water; 2 tablespoons plain yogurt; ¾ cup (180 ml) oil, melted butter, or ghee*; 1 tablespoon rose water; 2 tablespoons fine sea salt; 1 tablespoon ground cardamom; 4 cups (800 g) long-grain basmati rice; 10 cups (2.4 l) water

Preparation info

Makes
6
servings

Difficulty
Medium
Ready in
1 hr 35

Appears in

Food of Life

By Najmieh Batmanglij

Published 2011

About

Ingredients

Rice

4 cups (800 g) long-grain basmati rice
10 cups (2.4

Asia
Iran
Supper
Side dish
Gluten-free
Southeast Asia
Vegetarian

Method

Pick over the rice. Basmati rice like any other old rice contains many small solid particles. This grit must be removed by picking over the rice carefully by hand. Wash the rice by placing it in a large container and covering it with lukewarm water. Agitate gently with your hand, then pour off the water. Repeat 5 times until the rice is completely clean. When washed rice