Instant Pot Barberry Rice (zereshk polo) studded with tangy berries and crowned with a golden saffron hue comes together so quickly in the pressure cooker. If you’re not familiar with these jewel-like berries, check out this post about barberries (zereshk).
I’ve been eating barberry rice, also known as zereshk polo for a very long time. Back when my husband and I were dating, we would often meet at a Persian restaurant nearby to both of our offices. He always knew the best dishes to order and pointed me towards zereshk polo ba morgh. Barberry rice with chicken. That was when my love affair began (with him and zereshk polo).
Traditional Persian barberry rice vs. the Instant Pot version
Fast forward very many years and I am now confident enough to prepare cuisines of all kinds at home. But I am also a realist. Traditionally, rice for Persian dishes is rinsed, soaked, parboiled and then steamed. Honestly, it’s not hard. But sometimes we all need a short cut. That’s where the instant pot comes in. (you could also use a rice cooker – but that’s another post!)
What kind of rice should you use?
Basmati rice is the rice of choice for Persian food. It is a long grain rice that you can find in local Middle Eastern markets, Indian markets and more than likely in a well-stocked large chain store. But it’s important that you use basmati rice – not quick-cooking Uncle Ben’s, or Jasmine, or Japanese short grain or Chinese mid-grain.
I won’t go into a long lesson on the differences now, but suffice it to say this recipe was developed using basmati rice, not the other types. Also, you will find bags that say extra-long grain basmati vs just basmati – I used Sadaf aged basmati rice imported from India. I did not use the extra-long grain, but likely that would work as well.
Basmati rice grains, when cooked properly should remain separate and distinct. This characteristic makes them perfect for soaking up all kinds of flavor. But on its own, basmati rice has a lovely nutty and floral aroma. Not as floral as Jasmine rice, but it carries a flavor profile of its own, rather than acting just as a bland backdrop for other ingredients.
Having said that, it still marries beautifully with other flavors as in this dish where saffron and tangy barberries are added. Or when served with a saucy stew or fish or meat main course.
Do I need to soak the rice?
Generally, you should soak basmati rice. But when I tested this recipe, I didn’t find a big advantage when I soaked it. So I suggest you can skip this step for Instant Pot cooking. Expediency, especially if you are making this mid-week, matters.
Should I rinse the basmati rice?
I recommend rinsing the rice until the water runs clear. Then drain it and add the rice and the specified amount of water to the instant pot.
Steps to prepare the rice
- Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear. Probably 2-3 rinses.
- Drain the rice and put it in the instant pot.
- Add the water, salt and oil and mix it around.
- Set the Instant Pot for 5 minutes of high pressure.
- Let it do natural pressure release (NPR) for 10 minutes.
- Then carefully release the rest of the pressure.
- Open the pot and use a fork to fluff the rice.
- Remove some of the rice to mix with the saffron and barberries.
Steps to prepare the barberries
- Soak the barberries in some warm water for 10 – 30 minutes
- Extraneous dirt and other debris will sink to the bottom of the bowl.
- Lay the drained berries on a towel or paper towel so you can check that all the stems and other foreign matter are gone.
- Dry them off.
- Sauté them with a bit of olive oil. Add a dab of sugar if you prefer to tone back their tartness.
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Steps to prepare the saffron
- Use a mortar and pestle, if you have one, to crush the saffron threads.
- Soak the threads in water.
- When the barberries and rice are ready, you add the saffron water and barberries to the portioned-out basmati rice. This creates a distinct yellow rice studded with ruby red barberries to lay on top of the white rice.
What if my rice sticks to the Instant Pot?
Unlike in a rice cooker where my rice rarely, if ever, sticks, you may find a few grains stick to the inner pot of the Instant Pot. When I was testing this recipe, I found it stuck less and had a nicer consistency with the addition of some oil.
If I play with the recipe, the “stickage” is an indication that we probably could create a nice crust on this rice imitating a tahdig (traditional Persian crusty rice). But that, too, is a topic for another post!
What to serve with Instant Pot barberry rice
Traditionally, zereshk polo is served with chicken. Any of these chicken dishes would pair nicely with this rice or try the Persian kabob or Persian stew recipe:
Chicken with Jerusalem Artichokes and Lemon
Roasted Chicken with Clementines, Vermouth and Fennel
Instant Pot Gormeh Sabzi (Persian Stew)
For ease of browsing, here are all of my instant pot recipes in one place.
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Instant Pot Barberry Rice (Zereshk Polo)
Beth LeeIngredients
- 2 cups basmati rice rinsed
- 2 cups water
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil separated
- ½ cup barberries rinsed, drained, dried
- ½ teaspoon saffron ground, soaked in 2 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon sugar optional to sweeten barberries
Instructions
Prepare the Rice
- Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear. I usually rinse 2-3 times.
- Drain the rice and put it in the instant pot.
- Add the water, salt and oil and mix it around.
- Set the Instant Pot for 5 minutes of high pressure.
- Let the instant pot do natural pressure release (NPR) for 10 minutes. Then carefully release the rest of the pressure. (I cover the release valve with a towel and use the end of a wooden spoon to move the valve to open and let the steam release through the towel.)
- Open the pot and use a fork to fluff the rice. Remove 2 cups of the rice to mix with the saffron and barberries.
Prepare the Barberries (while rice is cooking)
- Soak the barberries in some warm water for 10 – 30 minutes. Extraneous dirt and other debris will sink to the bottom of the bowl.
- Lay the drained berries on a towel or paper towel so you can check that all the stems and other foreign matter are gone. Dry them off.
- Sauté the barberries with the other tablespoon of olive oil. Add the ½ teaspoon of sugar if you prefer to tone back their tartness.
Prepare the Saffron (while rice is cooking)
- Use a mortar and pestle, if you have one, to crush the saffron threads.
- Soak the threads in 2 tablespoon of water.
Put it all together
- Mix the saffron water and barberries with the 2 cups of rice you portioned out.
- Place the rest of the rice in a nice serving bowl or platter and then add the saffron barberry rice mixture on top.
- Serve with chicken or kabobs or stew - any dish that goes well with rice.
Nutrition
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Hi! I'm Beth
Cookbook author, cooking teacher, preserved lemon lover. My family is a mix of Jewish, Hawaiian and Korean heritage. My virtual multicultural kitchen is always open.
Kelly says
This is delightful. The barberries are tart and citrusy adding little bursts of flavor. This dish pairs really well with baharat spiced chicken. I use butter instead of oil because I prefer the taste, but that's the only modification I have made. I didn't have a grocery near me that carried the barberries so I actually ordered them on Amazon.
Beth Lee says
Wonderful feedback - butter is a great option and I love the pairing with baharat spiced chicken! I'm lucky to have sources for barberries nearby-ish but online is a great option!
Susan Fatemi says
I'm just learning to use my instant pot, so glad to find this recipe. Questions: Does the rice really come out as well as when it's steamed (after being boiled)? Also, obviously olive oil is healthier, but Persians always use butter with this dish. Any reason you didn't?
My MIL told me to grind the saffron with some sugar, supposed to grind it finer. Also to add a little orange juice, if available when sauteing the zereshk to balance the tartness.
We have a lot of post-Thanksgiving turkey left, and zereshk polo is excellent with turkey, so thank you for posting this!!
Beth Lee says
Thank you for great questions. To someone who is a lifelong expert, the steam/boil method may still seem better. Hard for me to say. But I've eaten both and this was close, for sure. My main purpose in coming up with this recipe was to hopefully convince more people to give the rice/saffron/barberry combo a try. I am a huge fan of barberries and adore (pre-covid) going out to local Persian restaurants and enjoying zereshk polo sprinkled with sumac. To me, nothing is much better :-). Re the butter - I used the olive oil in the instant pot, because I have done that with success in the rice cooker. But you could use some butter when you saute the barberries. And it would probably work in the Instant pot - I will have to try it next time I make this rice. I had not heard of the sugar trick with the saffron - that is interesting! And the orange juice idea sounds perfect - I would totally try that. Great idea to eat zereshk polo with leftover turkey! So if you made it, please come back and tell me what you think. I would love to know! P.S. - my husband considers himself an expert on making Japanese rice (he is American-born with family from Hawaii and Korea). He recently had a long conversation in the Instant Pot Community about how to make "perfect" rice in the Instant Pot and came up with a recipe and shared it in the group. He thinks it is perfect - couldn't do better in a pot or rice cooker. So ... maybe this can be just as good as the steam/boil method. P.P.S - we bought a ceramic coated pot for the Instant Pot so we can try a tahdig ... stay tuned!
DiDi says
I am so excited to find your recipe! I had this kind of rice in an Iranian restaurant years ago in LA, CA. I so loved it! This sounds just like what I had! Can’t wait to try it! Will repost once I make it!
Beth Lee says
It's such a great dish - comforting, flavorful, full of texture. One you never can forget once you have it. Can't wait to hear back - have fun with it.
Laura says
You know me, I don't mess with making rice any other way but the traditional way in a pot. But I have to say, your method of making it quickly in the instant pot is fool proof. Thank you!
Beth Lee says
I would expect nothing less from you :-). And when you are as talented as you, even the pot method is foolproof!
Sandi says
Absolutely delicious. I had no idea you can use an Instant Pot to make this! Now I have to find those berries.
Beth Lee says
Neither did I! And I was incredulous. But the rice came out well! Give it a try.
Jenni says
I am all over this recipe! I love rice and tartness. And a big yes to Persian food in general, too!
Beth Lee says
Thank you - so glad you are inspired by the recipe. I personally can't get enough of those tart little berries!