Special Everyday Rice Chelo Recipes

PERSIAN STEAMED WHITE RICE (CHELO)

Steps:

• To cook the rice
• 1. Fill a large nonstick saucepan (at least 6 quarts) with 12 cups water; add oil and salt. Cover and bring to a brisk boil over high heat.
• 2. Add the rice and continue cooking over medium to high heat, stirring occasionally.
• 3. After 3-5 minutes, use a slotted spoon to scoop some grains from the water. Break one grain in half to make sure it is "al dente" (see above). Turn off the heat and pour rice into the colander to drain; set aside.
• To steam and make tadig
• 1. Place the empty 6-quart saucepan back onto the stovetop over medium heat. Add 1/4-inch canola oil and 2 tablespoons water. Add turmeric and/or saffron powder. Stir together.
• 2. Add the drained rice and shape it into a pyramid. Cover the pot and cook for 5-7 minutes until rice begins to steam.
• 3. Uncover and place 2 paper towels (one on top of the other) over the rice. The ends will extend outside the pot. Replace the lid tightly.
• 4. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Turn off the heat and tilt the lid until ready to serve.
• 5. With a wide spatula, scoop the rice from the pot, making sure not to disturb the crust (tadig) that formed on the bottom of the pot. Serve the rice on a flat serving platter, mounding it into the shape of a pyramid. Turn the tadig out onto a flat serving platter by inverting the pot, as you would invert a cake pan, or cut it into pieces and serve around the rice.
• Optional garnish: Saffron Rice
• 1. To make saffron water, mix together 1 teaspoon crushed saffron threads and 1/4 cup hot water. Steep for a few minutes, until the water becomes yellow.
• 2. Mix saffron water with steamed white rice. Use this intensely yellow rice to make designs on the Chelo.
• To reheat this rice:
• Pour 1/2 cup water mixed with 1/4 cup canola oil onto the pyramid in a large pot. You can also freeze this rice, as long as you do not stir it until it is completely defrosted. You can even cook it, freeze it, and later steam it as it defrosts. I know I will have to spend time in "rice hell" for admitting to freezing Persian rice, but it is worth it to make my life easier!

SPECIAL RICE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a covered saucepan. Add butter, cumin, raisins, currants, zest, and rice. Stir the rice and return to a rolling boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and add chives. Fluff rice with fork and transfer to a serving dish. Cover rice liberally with toasted sliced almonds or smoked almonds.

CHELO KABOB (PERSIAN RICE WITH CHICKEN KABOB)

Steps:

• Combine chicken, diced onion, black pepper, salt, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon saffron, and cayenne in a bowl. Shape mixture into long, sausage-like kabob shapes, or shape around skewers and put aside in the refrigerator.
• Put the leftover saffron minus a pinch in 2 tablespoons warm water so that it lets out its color.
• Bring 3 cups water and cardamom pods to a boil; add rice, reduce heat, and let simmer until tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes, making sure not to overcook or undercook. Drain out any remaining starch water.
• Place a pot over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter, remaining turmeric, and reserved pinch of saffron; saute a bit then add the rice on top to dry out the excess water. Drizzle the saffron water on top and add 1 tablespoon butter. Cover and let simmer until the rice is fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Melt remaining butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry kabobs in the hot oil until they are no longer pink in the centers, 5 to 7 minutes, flipping as needed. Place tomatoes and chopped onion on top and cover. Cook until tomatoes soften and release their juices (this helps it from getting too dry), about 5 minutes. Serve with rice.

CHELO (PERSIAN STEAMED RICE)

Steps:

• If you are using Iranian rice, start at least 6 hours ahead.
• Spread it on a clean surface and pick out and discard any dark or discolored grains.
• Then wash it in a fine sieve or colander set under warm running water until the draining water runs clear.
• Finally place the rice in a large bowl or pot, add 1/4 cup of salt and enough cold water to cover it by about 1 inch and soak overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
• If you are using other long-grain rice, wash it in the same way, but soak it in the salt water for about 2 hours.
• In a heavy 3 to 4 quart saucepan equipped with a tightly fitting lid, bring 6 cups of fresh water to a boil over high heat.
• Drain the rice thoroughly and pour it into the boiling water.
• in a slow, thin stream so the water does not stop boiling.
• Stir once or twice, then boil briskly, uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Drain in a sieve.
• Pour 1 cup fresh water and the melted butter in the saucepan and pour in the parboiled rice, mounding it slightly in the middle of the pan.
• Cover the pan tightly with a strip of aluminum foil and set the lid in place.
• Simmer the rice over moderate heat to 15 to 20 minutes, or until the grains are tender and have absorbed all the liquid in the pan.
• Serve at once.
• Traditionally, when served with skewered broiled meat or chicken, the rice is served mounded into individual portions with a well in the center of each.
• A pat of butter is placed on top, a raw egg yolk is dropped in, and the top is sprinkled with salt, a grindings of pepper and if desired a little dried sumak.