Cranberry jeweled rice dish is a spin-off of a very famous and delicious Persian rice dish, zereshk polo. This dish is the queen of Persian dishes. It is made using orange peels, almonds, pistachios barberries, and butter. The colors represent golds, rubies, and emeralds; hence, the name, Jeweled Rice!.

For me, Thanksgiving is incomplete without a rice dish. When I picked up the can of cranberry sauce from the grocery store, I had no idea what I was going to do create with it. I knew I wanted to use cranberries and I also knew I wanted to make a rice dish. After some thought, I decided to create a simpler version of zereshk polo using cranberries. It is a perfect jeweled addition to your Thanksgiving!

What is the difference between zereshk (barberries) and cranberries?
Barberries resemble cranberries and are prominent in Persian cuisine. They have a tart yet slighlty sweet flavor. These little jewels are highly addictive especially when paired with pistachios and almonds and rice.

Cranberries are very tart and sour and it is not possible eat them as a snack which is why people often buy cranberry sauce which has sugar in it.

How do I prepare cranberry jeweled rice?
While preparing this recipe, I knew that I wanted to keep it simple. The authentic recipe for zereshk polo is a labor of love. The end result blows your taste buds but I was determined to achieve the same results by subtracting a few steps from the original recipe.

I start off by cooking my rice in salted water and butter. I then prepare the cranberry jeweled sauce in butter and then mixing it with rice. You will taste the sweetness and tartness of the cranberries and the rich flavors of pistachios, almonds, and green cardamom. It is a comforting side dish that you would not want to be without this Thanksgiving!

If you want to make the authentic recipe for zereshk polo, I would highly recommend getting Najmieh Batmanglij’s book, Joon. She is a very famous Persian author and her recipes are detailed and easy to follow.

What kind of rice do I use for this recipe?
In order to get the best results, I recommend using long grain basmati rice. I have been using Kohinoor long grain basmati rice for over 10 years and love the texture and taste of the rice.

What do I eat with cranberry jeweled rice dish?
This dish makes a perfect side (or even a full meal) for Thanksgiving. It pairs really well with chicken or turkey. I love eating it on its own too but zereshk polo is traditionally served with chicken.

Tips for making the perfect rice:
Wash, wash, and wash your rice! I cannot emphasize enough how important this step is. You want to wash your rice till it is no longer cloudy (starch). If you skip this step, your rice will be sticky.
Since we are not parboiling the rice as the traditional recipe calls for, we will need to add our fat (butter) and salt when we cook the rice. Don’t skip on butter as it is an important component of this recipe.
Do not overcook the rice. Once the water has been absorbed from the rice, close the lid, and put a timer on for 7 minutes. Switch off the flame after 7 minutes, and allow the rice to continue cooking in its steam for 10 minutes.