13 replies to this topic

[fou de Bassan]

I was taught to make persian rice, in Montreal, by a lovely woman whom I have lost contact with. The last time I saw her I coaxed these from her.


She called them dried red currants. She was mysterious as to her source and I have not been able to find more, either on the internet or in middle eastern markets.

Can anyone tell me their Persian name and where I can find more? I used all that I had to make the ?(then I put them back in the freezer)

Thanks in advance
kathryn

[gingerly]

those look like barberries-zereshk in persian.

[fou de Bassan]

Gingerly,
Thanks! I'll do a search for sources. I was taught to plump them in hot water and put them on top of the rice with a bit of saffron tinted rice for contrast. Is this common?

[Hector]

I thought that they where called Berberis in Persian, guess I was wrong..
I don't get it, but is it the same berry that you use when you make sumac..

[gingerly]

you're welcome!here's a recipe
and a possible online source http://sadaf.com/store/product108.html
my experience is limited to periodic dabbling, but that treatment sounds correct. the barberries i've bought in persian stores seem much darker-may just be the stock.delicious little things anyway!that is a lovely photograph.
Hector,i believe sumac is rhus coriaria and barberries as grown in iran would likely be Berberis vulgaris var. asperma

[fou de Bassan]

Gingerly, thanks again!
I've bookmarked both links and the photo does look almost exactly like those I have. Now that I have a source I will not be so sparing with them. Seriously, no one could touch them because I was afraid to not have enough for the next polow.

[Hector]

Appearantly only the berry is edible on the whole berberis-bush.. the rest of the bush is filled with poison!

[Adam Balic]

Barberries are relatively common in Middle-Eastern food stores. They were once very popular in European cooking as a soaring agent, until it was discovered that they were an intermediate host for one of the rust fungi. At this point erradication occured. In the UK, they are now a very common hedging plant (mostly the purple forms).

They are excellent in many dishes.

[andiesenji]

They are also very good for eye health. I make an infusion from the dried berries that I mix with tea. The local middle eastern market carries them. Even though they are dried, they should be stored in the refrigerator.

I saw an article about the various fruits that support eye healt in Prevention magazine 3 or 4 years ago and have been buying them ever since. They are also great sprinkled on salads, in sandwiches and etc.

[fou de Bassan]

Thanks all.
Persian rice is on the menu for this weekend. I'll try to remember to take pictures and post on this thread for the sake of interest.
Andie, I'll try them in salads. That sounds really good!


Kathryn

[Sackville]

You can get them in Turkish grocery stores, in my experience.

[SushiCat]

Does anyone know how these might be related to the Cranberry or the the German Preiselberren ?

[andiesenji]

Does anyone know how these might be related to the Cranberry or the the German Preiselberren ?

This might answer some of your questions.

[fou de Bassan]

Andie,
You never cease to amaze me. What a wealth of information!
I wasn't able to make the rice this weekend, just too hectic. Soon, maybe.