Sholeh Zard Recipe (Saffron Rice Pudding)

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Sholeh Zard is known to be a Persian rice pudding or better known as Persian saffron rice pudding that is loved by every single Iranian. You will not hear anyone saying that they do not like this yummy saffron pudding.

It is very famous, and it is a meal mainly found in Iranian cuisine.

If you are looking for the Persian Sholeh Zard Recipe in Youtube, do not worry. Here is all you need:

Shole Zard is usually served as a dessert, or you can even enjoy it in the evenings as a meal. Some people love to have shole Zard as the main course. So it is highly up to you how you desire to enjoy having this delicious rice pudding.

Let us know more about the Persian saffron rice pudding called Shole Zard Recipe.

Table of Contents

What Is a Saffron Rice Pudding That Is Known Famously as Shole Zard?

Shole Zard is a pudding that originated from the province of Kermanshah. Keep in mind that now this fantastic dish is made and served throughout Iran. Shole Zard is highly nutritious since it has saffron and can give energy.

On the other hand, sholeh Zard is also considered a mood booster. The main ingredient of Shole Zard is rice, and we know rice itself is a great source of fibres and vitamins. It does not have any milk or cream in it. But shole Zard is creamy in nature.

You probably see some Iranians simply using the pre-made templates to garnish their prepared rice pudding, and it is mostly done with ground cinnamon. It is a very high-demand pudding and a well-known dessert among all Iranians.

In Iran, sholeh Zard is also served for Nazri, and it is an inseparable part of the tables in many religious ceremonies. You see, shole Zard is not only a dish loved by all; it is very popular even in the holy month of Ramadan.

Now let us see what ingredients are used in cooking this delicious shole Zard and how you can prepare it back at home to enjoy the taste and treat yourself with it.

How to Prepare Shole Zard?

Before preparing this mouthwatering rice pudding, you should know the ingredients it requires.
The ingredients required for the preparation of sholeh Zard are:

Rice 1 cup
Water 8 cups
Granulated sugar 2 cups
Butter 50 gr
Rosewater 4 tablespoons
Ground saffron 1 gr
Blanched Slivered almonds 50 gr
salt 1/8 teaspoon Ground cinnamon for garnish
Chopped pistachios for garnish and decoration

Persian Sholeh Zard Recipe

The preparation process of sholeh Zard is straightforward but, at the same time, very time-consuming.

Wash and then soak 1 cup of rice in water for a few hours.
Put a pot of water on the heat.
When the water is boiling, pour the water of rice and add the soaked rice to the boiling water.
Let the water boil. Then make the heat low and allow the rice to cook until you notice the rice is getting mushy.
Remove the foam from the pot.
When the rice is soft, it is time to add more water, 2 cups of sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. The water should be 8 cups.
Pour 1 gr of ground saffron on 3-4 ice cubes. Let the ice cubes melt. Our bloomed saffron is ready.
Now, you should add bloomed saffron along with 50 gr blanched Slivered almonds and keep it on low heat. Stir slowly and make sure the bottom part of the pot is not burning.
If you see it is very thick, add water to it, and if it is too watery, allow the water to evaporate.
Now it is time for you to add 4 tablespoons of rosewater.
Allow the mixture to cook slowly on low heat.
Then add 50 gr butter and let it cook 5 minutes more.
Once it is cooked, remove it from the pot and pour shole zard into the dish you want to serve.
Decorate it with chopped pistachios, blanched Slivered almonds, or ground cinnamon.
Bonne appetite, your shole Zard is ready!
Sholeh Zard can be served warm or cold.

You can try this delicious saffron pudding wherever you are. You can easily prepare its ingredients, and the main ingredients are rice and saffron, which are found in all houses today.

We hope the ingredients and the recipe were easy to get and understand. Try to prepare this delicious sholeh Zard and enjoy it with your friends and family members.

Please let us know how your experience of preparing Shole Zard at home was. We would love to hear from you.

How to Serve Sholeh Zard

Cooked Sholeh-Zard is served hot and steaming, either in big bowls for a family-style presentation or in individual serving bowls. Persians prefer to put it in big bowls so that people may spoon out as much as they want and possibly have seconds.
Sholeh-Zard can be eaten hot immediately out of the cooker, although it’s most commonly served cold or room temperature. When served hot, it’s usually served unadorned or with toppings that are more casually added without much thought given to its aesthetic appeal. It pairs best with a cup of hot black tea, regardless of serving temperature.
Savoring this smooth and sophisticated pudding as a lunchtime dessert, after dinner, or even for breakfast is highly recommended.

Sholeh Zard Recipe FAQs

Is there another kind of rice I can use in Sholeh Zard?

The meal pairs beautifully with the large grains and fragrant flavor of basmati rice, which is the recommended kind. If Basmati isn’t available, you can use another long-grain rice, however the texture may be somewhat different.

How much time does Sholeh Zard take to cook?

Usually, the cooking procedure takes one and a half to two hours. This covers the time required to boil the rice, include the saffron and sugar, then simmer the mixture until it reaches the desired consistency.

How can the proper consistency be attained in Sholeh Zard?

Not too hard or watery, but thick and creamy is how the pudding should be. This may be accomplished by cooking the mixture over low heat, stirring from time to time.

Sholeh Zard Recipe (Saffron Rice Pudding)

Recipe by FerdosCourse: DessertsCuisine: PersianDifficulty: Medium

Servings

servings

Chill time

hours

Cooking time

hour

Calories

250

kcal

Sholeh Zard is known to be a Persian rice pudding mainly served as a dessert. its main ingredients are rice and saffron.

Ingredients

Rice 1 cup
Water 8 cups
Granulated sugar 2 cups
Butter 50 gr
Rosewater 4 tablespoons
Ground saffron 1 gr
Blanched Slivered almonds 50 gr
salt 1/8 teaspoon
Garnish
Blanched Slivered almonds
Ground cinnamon
Chopped pistachios

Directions

Wash and then soak 1 cup of rice in water for a few hours.
Put a pot of water on the heat.
When the water is boiling, pour the water of rice and add the soaked rice to the boiling water.
Let the water boil. Then make the heat low and allow the rice to cook until you notice the rice is getting mushy.
Remove the foam from the pot.
When the rice is soft, it is time to add more water, 2 cups of sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. The water should be 8 cups.
Pour 1 gr of ground saffron on 3-4 ice cubes. Let the ice cubes melt. Our bloomed saffron is ready.
Now, you should add bloomed saffron along with 50 gr blanched Slivered almonds and keep it on low heat. Stir slowly and make sure the bottom part of the pot is not burning.
If you see it is very thick, add water to it, and if it is too watery, allow the water to evaporate.
Now it is time for you to add 4 tablespoons of rosewater.
Allow the mixture to cook slowly on low heat.
Then add 50 gr butter and let it cook 5 minutes more.
Once it is cooked, remove it from the pot and pour shole zard into the dish you want to serve.
Decorate it with chopped pistachios, blanched Slivered almonds, or ground cinnamon.
Bonne appetite, your shole Zard is ready.