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Home›Nutrition and daily life›Global food database›Iran›Zereshk polo (barberry rice)
Iranian cuisine

Zereshk polo (barberry rice)

Saffron rice with tart barberries, usually served with chicken.

Well-cooked hot dish

Zereshk polo (barberry rice) — dish photo
Zereshk polo (barberry rice) — Iranian cuisine. Photograph of the dish.

Ingredients

  • basmati rice
  • barberries
  • saffron
  • butter
  • sugar
  • chicken
  • onion
  • turmeric
  • salt

How it is prepared

The rice is par-boiled and steamed; barberries are briefly fried with butter and sugar; chicken is cooked separately.

Food safety with low immunity

Well-cooked hot dish

Usually a well-cooked dish served hot. Follow the general rules: cook it fresh, eat it hot, cool leftovers quickly and refrigerate them.

  • Cool cooked rice within an hour, refrigerate it and eat it within 24 hours: bacteria that make toxins can multiply in rice left at room temperature.
  • Chicken and turkey must be fully cooked; keep raw poultry away from other foods and wash hands and boards after handling it.
  • Wash fruit well and peel it where possible. Do not use bruised or mouldy fruit.

How to prepare it during treatment

Wash dried barberries well and heat them through.

Your diet during treatment is agreed with your doctor. Sample 7-day menu for the treatment period →

Storage

Cool rice dishes within 1 hour, refrigerate and eat within 24 hours. Do not keep them at room temperature.

Reheating

Only once, until steaming hot. Never reheat rice a second time.

Symptoms it may suit

  • Low appetite. Gives a lot of energy and protein in a small portion — can help when appetite is low.
  • Taste changes. Aromatic spices, herbs or a little sourness can help when food tastes bland or metallic (if there are no mouth sores).

These are general observations: what suits you can change from day to day.

Treatment phases

  • Before treatmentmay suit
  • During a coursemay suit
  • Low counts (neutropenia)Freshly cooked and hotmay suit
  • Between coursesmay suit
  • After treatmentmay suit

Phase notes are general. During low counts, follow only your care team’s food rules.

If you have other conditions

  • Diabetes. Rich in carbohydrates (rice, potato, dough). With diabetes, discuss portion size and blood sugar with your team.
  • Diabetes, Obesity. A sweet dish. With diabetes or weight concerns, discuss portion size with your team.
Talk to your doctor

Diabetes, heart, kidney, liver or other long-term conditions can change what suits you. Discuss portions and suitability with your care team or a dietitian. This is not a personal diet or medication advice.

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Nutrition figures from a reliable source have not been added for this dish yet.

More from this cuisine

  • Ghormeh sabzi (herb stew)
  • Fesenjan (walnut and pomegranate stew)
  • Ash reshteh (noodle and bean soup)
  • Kabab koobideh
  • Abgoosht (dizi)
  • Sholeh zard (saffron rice pudding)

Iran: food database → · Country page →

Related topics

  • Sample 7-day menu for the treatment period
  • Food safety
  • Food hygiene: everyday kitchen habits
  • Nutrition basics during treatment
  • What is neutropenia?
  • Poor appetite and nausea
  • Fluids and hydration

Food safetyNeutropenic diet (low-microbial diet)PasteurisedCore cooking temperatureLeftoversCross-contamination

Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
  2. FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
  3. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
  5. Food Standards Agency (UK). Chilling
  6. World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food manual
  7. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
  8. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment
  9. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2019. Neutropenic diets to prevent cancer infections: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
  10. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FoodData Central — Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS)
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

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