{"id":8652,"date":"2026-10-27T13:27:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T04:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parade.kyoto\/?post_type=sweetlore&p=8652"},"modified":"2026-10-31T18:51:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T09:51:52","slug":"sholeh-zard","status":"publish","type":"sweetlore","link":"https:\/\/parade.kyoto\/en\/sweetlore\/sholeh-zard\/","title":{"rendered":"Sholeh Zard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sholeh zard is a sweet Iranian dish in which rice is simmered in water until soft, sugar is added, and it is flavored with saffron and rose water. The rice, turned yellow by the saffron, is served in bowls, patterns are drawn on the surface with cinnamon, and almonds and pistachios are scattered over the top.<\/p>\n

Breaking Down the Rice and Imparting the Yellow<\/h2>\n

The rice is simmered slowly until the grains break down. In one home recipe, sugar and the other ingredients are added only after the rice has become fully soft, and the dish is finished smooth, with no bite left in the grains. Even without milk, the long-simmered rice thickens the liquid. Some methods mix the nuts in, but scattering them on the surface as decoration keeps their crunch.<\/p>\n

In Persian, \u201csholeh\u201d refers to a porridge-like state, and \u201czard\u201d means yellow. Saffron provides not only color but also aroma, and rose water and cinnamon each add their own fragrance. It is not a sweet cut into shapes; it is poured into individual bowls, left to cool, and eaten with a spoon.<\/p>\n

Some households grind the saffron and steep it in hot water before adding it to the pot. Some recipes include a little butter, and the garnish may include pistachios or almonds for texture, or rose petals.<\/p>\n

\"Sholeh
Sholeh zard divided into individual portions. 2013, location unknown. Photo: \u0645\u062d\u06a9 \/ Source<\/a> \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>. Reduced-size version from the source host; content not altered after retrieval.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shared with Prayers<\/h2>\n

It is made as an after-meal sweet at home and on the night of the winter solstice, but it may also be cooked in large pots and shared with neighbors in gratitude for a wish that has come true or for religious observances. The cinnamon on the surface is not only decoration; it is also used to write the names of religious figures. Food prepared with wishes or gratitude and shared with others is also called nazri.<\/p>\n

In one household in Tehran, rice soaked since the previous night is lightly crushed by hand in the morning and set to simmer in a large pot. Relatives and friends take turns stirring the pot, each praying as they think of someone dear to them. When it is ready, it is divided into small bowls, and once the surface has firmed slightly, letters are drawn on it with cinnamon, and the bowls are delivered to friends and relatives. This is the once-a-year preparation that Goli Mohammadi saw in an aunt\u2019s kitchen.<\/p>\n

\"Sholeh
Sholeh zard on a table for breaking the fast. 2005, location unknown. Photo: Hamed Saber \/ Source<\/a> \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>. Reduced-size version from the source host; content not altered after retrieval.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"People
People decorating sholeh zard served in bowls. Taken in 2010. Photo: Akkasbashy (Seyed Ali Hoseinifar) \/ Source<\/a> \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>. Reduced-size version from the source host; content not altered after retrieval.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glossary<\/h2>\n

Saffron<\/strong>: A spice made from the dried pistils of the crocus. It imparts color and aroma to dishes.<\/p>

Rose water<\/strong>: Fragrant water obtained by distilling rose flowers.<\/p>

Nazri<\/strong>: Food made with wishes, gratitude, or religious devotion and shared with others.<\/p>

Goli Mohammadi<\/strong>: A writer who recorded the cooking of an aunt in Tehran.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sholeh zard is a sweet Iranian dish of rice simmered in water until soft and flavored with saffron, sugar, and rose water. The yellow saffron mixture is served in bowls, patterns are drawn on the surface with cinnamon, and almonds and pistachios are scattered over the top.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7887,"menu_order":423,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_parade_sweetlore_meta":{"en":"Sholeh zard","subtitle":"Ingredients and Preparation of Sholeh Zard","topics":"Rice simmered in water until it breaks down\uff0fThe aroma of saffron and rose water\uff0fA yellow sweet decorated with cinnamon designs","country":"Iran","show_toc":true,"ingredients":["nuts","spice","grain"],"texture":[],"occasion":[],"method":["cooked"],"season":[]},"footnotes":""},"sweetlore_category":[164],"class_list":["post-8652","sweetlore","type-sweetlore","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"sweetlore_related_products":null,"sweetlore_related_faqs":null,"sweetlore_related_voices":null,"sweetlore_related_mode":"auto","sweetlore_related_articles":null},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t