Zereshk polo (barberry rice)
Saffron rice with tart barberries, usually served with chicken.
Well-cooked hot 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
- 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.
Nutrition (per 100 g)
Nutrition figures from a reliable source have not been added for this dish yet.
More from this cuisine
Related topics
Food safetyNeutropenic diet (low-microbial diet)PasteurisedCore cooking temperatureLeftoversCross-contamination
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
- FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
- Food Standards Agency (UK). Chilling
- World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food manual
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
- National Cancer Institute (NCI). Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment
- BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2019. Neutropenic diets to prevent cancer infections: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FoodData Central — Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS)