Name: Albaloo Polo: Iranian Rice with Cherries and Meat
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: Iranian Food
Ingredients: Morello Cherries: 300g; Sugar: 150g; Chicken breast or thighs: 600g; Onions: 2; Minced Meat: 200g; Olive oil: 2 tablespoons; Basmati rice: 200g; Salt: 1 teaspoon; Slivered almonds: 50g; Saffron: 1 teaspoon

Cuisine:

Iranian Food

30min
Serves 4
Medium

Ingredients

300g
Morello Cherries
150g
Sugar
600g
Chicken breast or thighs
2
Onions
200g
Minced Meat
<
For the rice (polo)
2 tablespoons
Olive oil
200g
Basmati rice
1 teaspoon
Salt
50g
Slivered almonds
1 teaspoon
Saffron

Directions

Votes: 4

Albaloo Polo (آلبالو پلو) is an Iranian dish that consists of Persian rice and Morello cherries, having a tangy taste. This morello cherry rice is very popular in Iran and Persian countries!

“Albaloo” literally means “sour cherries” in Farsi and “polo” means “rice”.

In this Albaloo Polow recipe, we add ground meat to it so that it is a complete meal. However, you can also make this recipe without meat and accompany it with grilled meat or fish.

Table of Contents

When to cook Albaloo Polo?

This dish is mostly prepared in late spring and early summer to have fresh cherries to enhance this delicious Iranian rice. You can also freeze the cherries to enjoy this dish all year round!

The recipe for Albaloo Polo is an adaptation of Shirin polo and Morasa polo which are festive dishes (New Year, wedding or special occasions).

The health benefits of Morello cherries

These sour cherries are full of antioxidants and nutrients and are a good way to prevent cancer. They are cooked in the traditional Persian way, layered inside the rice.

Albaloo is the Farsi word for morello cherries, which are highly prized in Iranian cuisine due to their intense flavor.

What to serve with your Albaloo Polo?

This tasty and nutritious dish is usually served with Koobideh, saffron chicken or meatballs called “gel gheli”. Not to mention the traditional Iranian bread: lavash.

You want a dish that changes from the ordinary? Then do not hesitate and get in the kitchen to make a superb Albaloo Polo!

Steps

1 Done	Preparation or Cherries Pit your morello cherries. If you are using frozen sour cherries that have already been pitted, let them thaw.
2 Done	Cooking Cherries Mettez vos cerises griottes dénoyautées et le sucre dans une casserole et laissez mijoter à feu très doux pendant 30 à 40 minutes.
3 Done	Preparation of saffron water Meanwhile, in a bowl or cup, dilute your saffron in 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Let stand for 20 to 30 minutes.
4 Done	Meat Preparation Heat a little butter or a little oil in a frying pan and sauté the chicken and a chopped onion for a few minutes and reserve the preparation.
5 Done	Minced Meat Preparation In a large salad bowl, mix the minced meat, a finely chopped onion and add salt and pepper to your liking. Form small meatballs and cook them in the pan.
6 Done	Preparing Rice (Polo) In a saucepan, heat a little olive oil, add the 200g of rice and mix with a little salt until the rice is pearly. (like a risotto!) Then add boiling water, cover and simmer over low heat for about twenty minutes. Be careful not to remove the lid during the whole cooking!
7 Done	Add Saffron Water to the rice After 20 minutes of cooking, remove the rice from the heat and pour in the saffron water. Cover the pan with a clean tea towel and cover it. Leave to rest for ten minutes.
8 Done	Your Homemade Albaloo Polo is ready! And There you go ! You have made a delicious homemade Albaloo Polo! On a nice plate, dress your saffron rice, add your cooked morello cherries, the minced meatballs and the chicken. You can add slivered almonds and barberry if you wish! Enjoy!