Sholeh Zard Recipe (Saffron Rice Pudding)

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.

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 and look at its recipe.

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.

See also: Iftar Meal; What is the Best Ramadan Meal Plan?

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:

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

Sholeh Zard recipe

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

1. Wash and then soak 1 cup of rice in water for a few hours.
2. Put a pot of water on the heat.
3. When the water is boiling, pour the water of rice and add the soaked rice to the boiling water.
4. Let the water boil. Then make the heat low and allow the rice to cook until you notice the rice is getting mushy.
5. Remove the foam from the pot.
6. 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.
7. Pour 1 gr of ground saffron on 3-4 ice cubes. Let the ice cubes melt. Our bloomed saffron is ready.
8. 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.
9. If you see it is very thick, add water to it, and if it is too watery, allow the water to evaporate.
10. Now it is time for you to add 4 tablespoons of rosewater.
11. Allow the mixture to cook slowly on low heat.
12. Then add 50 gr butter and let it cook 5 minutes more.
13. Once it is cooked, remove it from the pot and pour shole zard into the dish you want to serve.
14. Decorate it with chopped pistachios, blanched Slivered almonds, or ground cinnamon.
15. Bonne appetite, your shole Zard is ready!
16. 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.