Reshteh Polo Recipe: Persian Noodle Rice
Reshteh polo is rice cooked together with noodles, raisins, and warm spices — one of the most symbolic dishes in Persian cooking. It’s traditionally eaten on Nowruz (Persian New Year) and before starting a journey or a new chapter in life, since the noodles are believed to represent finding your way through life’s twists and turns toward good fortune.
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 1 package noodles for reshteh polo
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 onion, thinly sliced and fried until golden
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of saffron, bloomed in a few tablespoons of hot water
- Oil or butter, salt, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes, then parboil until still slightly firm in the center. Drain.
- Break the noodles into 2-inch pieces and briefly parboil separately for a couple of minutes, until just softened. Drain.
- In a pot, layer a little oil on the bottom, then alternate layers of rice and noodles, mixing in the raisins and cinnamon as you go.
- Drizzle the bloomed saffron water over the top, cover with a clean towel under the lid, and steam on low heat for 30-40 minutes to build a golden tahdig (crispy rice crust) on the bottom.
- Top with the fried onions before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is reshteh polo?
Reshteh polo is a Persian rice dish cooked together with thin noodles, raisins, and warm spices like cinnamon — traditionally eaten for good fortune on Nowruz or before a journey.
What’s the difference between reshteh polo and ash reshteh?
Both use reshteh (Persian noodles), but they’re very different dishes. Ash reshteh is a hearty noodle and herb soup. Reshteh polo is a rice dish — the noodles are cooked together with the rice, not in a broth.
Why is reshteh polo eaten before a journey?
The noodles are symbolically believed to represent finding your way through life’s twists and turns, making the dish a traditional good-luck meal before travel or starting something new.
Can I use regular noodles instead of Persian reshteh?
Reshteh noodles have a texture made specifically to hold up when cooked with rice — thin pasta like vermicelli can work in a pinch, but won’t have quite the same authentic texture or flavor.
Shop the Ingredients
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